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Chapter Text

Chapter 1 Fortune’s Fool

Aurelian surveyed the spot he had chosen, it was a nice quiet little corner of Green Emperor way, shaded by a statue of Talos that the Elves had defaced in the War. It was protected from sight by the main path through the acres of parkland by a thick hedge that was originally cut in the shape of some long dead Akaviri potentate that had after years of neglectful gardening resembled nothing so much as a thick sausage bent at a peculiar angle. Aurelian’s favourite thing about the spot that he had chosen was that he knew he had plenty of options to get away if this hand-off went poorly. He remembered what Harrald would say about relying too much on a plan to go well; Plans are like playing cards, you can’t rely on things going your way. Aurelian decided to check his gear one last time before he settled into wait just in case the old was right. His rapier and dagger were old and well used but he made sure to sharpen and oil them every night, they were the only thing he had ever gotten from his father after all aside from his rugged good looks. His battered third or possibly fourth-hand leathers were in as decent condition as was possible. They must have been made for a man with a much larger frame than he or perhaps they belonged to some long dead Orc mercenary for they hung loose on him particularly around the chest and shoulders. Aurelian was not overly confident of them stopping much more than errant dagger. Lastly, he had the item that had caused this trouble. He had been scavenging in the ruins of some old mansion outside the city wall on Lake Rumare shores. It had been destroyed in the war by the Elves when they had taken the city. Aurelian had been hoping to find some jewellery or something that he could sell but instead he’d found some old shield decorated with a sigil of a sword wrapped in thorns. Obvious even to his incredibly rudimentary magical education it was potently magical. So, he’d done the obvious and brought it back to the city to try and sell it. Someone must have told the Indarys’ Family what he was trying to do, apparently it was some sort of family heirloom from when they used to be the Counts of Cheydinhal. He’d heard they were looking for him. So, he figured that he would try and cut a deal, sending them a letter offering to sell the shield for a thousand septims at this spot in Green Emperor Way.
A flawless plan truly. Strong arm one of the most vicious crime families in the Imperial Cities. Aurelian thought to himself. The truth was he was desperate for the money. A thousand septims would be enough for him to finally leave this Divines-damned rat hole of a city. Maybe head up to Sentinel or Daggerfall. Somewhere he could start again away from the filth and scars of the war that haunted everyone in this city.
I can do this. Just be calm and confident. Aurelian repeated to himself while he waited minute after torturous minute. After what felt like an eternity, he heard the sound of footsteps approaching his little alcove. Taking a deep breath Aurelian assumed a posture that he hoped suggested confidence.
“My my my, quite a little hidey-hole you have here Sera” A voice with a rich Nibeanese accent intoned as around the corner of the hedge walked three mer. There was a slim dark elf dressed as though he had just come from an audience in the emperor’s court in fine silks and velvets. His bright red eyes peered at Aurelian with a mixture of amusement and curiosity. His smooth grey skin made it impossible to guess his age. Rings glittered on every finger. There’s my thousand septims on the hand he wipes himself with Aurelian observed dryly. Behind this richly dressed mer stood two other dark elves. They looked like they had just got off the boat from Morrowind all hungry stares and gaunt features. They were armed and armoured in good quality chain shirts and both of them carried an assortment of wicked looking blades.
The richly dressed Dark Elf looked Aurelian up and down. Aurelian was fairly sure he saw a flicker of contempt in the Dark Elf’s eyes. They were always tough to read, didn’t use much facial expression, apparently it was all in the eyes.
“My name is Ralis Indarys, you claim to have found a piece of my family's property?” Ralis inquired with an intensity that disturbed Aurelian.
“That’s right,” Aurelian replied stiffly, desperately hoping he hadn’t bitten off more than he could chew.
“May I see it?” Ralis enunciated carefully as though speaking to an idiot.
“Do you have my gold?” Aurelian was surprised by his own confidence.
“Oh, by the Eight, Dalvus show him” Ralis clicked his finger to the mer on his right and Dalvus reached into his belt and opened a pouch to show Aurelian a couple dozen sovereigns, each worth twenty-five septims each.
They actually bought the money. By the Nine I might just pull this off.
Nodding in his acceptance, Aurelian reached for the sack at his feet and reached inside carefully pulling out the shield. It was a beautiful piece; it was made from some sort of silvery steel and even in the later afternoon sun it shone brightly. The sword in the sigil looked as though it had been wrought with real silver and the thorns that wrapped around it looked like copper. The magic radiating off it suggested an enchantment that fortified stamina. Frankly Aurelian thought a thousand septims was getting off cheap.
“Give me the money, then I give the shield, sound fair?” Aurelian offered.
“It’s almost seeming like you don’t trust us. Imagine a common little gutter-rat like you impugning the honour of my family like that. It’s quite aggravating”.
“Think of it as paying me for a service rendered’ Aurelian retorted.
“Services rendered? For picking over the bones of my family’s summer home?” Ralis’ voice gained a dangerous aspect and Aurelian swallowed nervously.
“Look, just give me my money. I’ll put the shield down and we can all walk away happy.”
Ralis considered it with the same air of a fat merchant considering what to have for desert next.
“No, I think not. I came here on the off chance you were somebody worthy of my consideration but instead I find a scrawny boy in ill-fitting armour demanding a thousand septims for something that I already own. Dalvus, Nelyn kill him and bring me the shield”.
Molag’s Balls Aurelian cursed. He started looking frantically around for the route of escape that would ensure get him the Oblivion out of here. Something caught his eyes, a banner flapping from the White-Gold Tower. It was just the empire’s flag. A black dragon on a red field, Aurelian had seen it every day of his life. This time was different. Something about the way it moved in the wind made it seem like the dragon was in flight and it stirred something deep in him. How could he run from these thugs here? Amidst the graves of his ancestors, who had fought tooth and nail to bring peace and justice to Tamriel. How could he run from these thugs and still call himself an Imperial? Screwing up his courage Aurelian decided to attack. He remembered some half-mumbled piece of advice Harrald had given him years ago, when Aurelian was getting his milk teeth knocked out by the local kids every week; If you’re outnumbered, be aggressive keep them on the back foot. More foes, more glory Aurelian remembered that excited grin Harrald had said to this day, if only he was here to see this.
He took a deep breath and threw the shield at Ralis like discus in the old Nibean games. However, the thing about shields that Aurelian realised all too late was that they are not really designed for throwing. The shield went wide and instead of hitting Ralis square in the face, it clipped Nelyn on the shoulder. In the precious seconds his shield toss had brought him Aurelian drew his rapier and lunged towards the distracted Nelyn. It was a good quality blade. Forged in the Breton style, long and slender with a basket shaped hilt. Aurelian had always moved quickly, a product of his upbringing in the slums of the Waterfront. He closed the distance towards Nelyn and slashed an overhead cut towards his unarmoured face. Nelyn distracted by the shield toss had barely had a chance to turn around and face Aurelian before the blade hit him. Silvered steel bit into grey flesh sharply, dealing a devastating cut across the Mer's face blinding him in one eye. At this point Aurelian remembered there were other enemies he needed to worry about. Turning to his right Dalvus was advancing on him with a Shortsword drawn. Ralis on the other hand was watching with the mild amusement of an audience member at the Sundas Matinee in the Arena. Nelyn was frantically pulling a potion off his belt. Aurelian knew he had a precious few seconds to deal with Dalvus. He thrust his rapier at the Dummer’s throat, hoping for a quick kill but it was parried with almost contemptuous ease by the Mer. Getting frustrated Aurelian brought his rapier down in what he hoped would be a devastating strike, but Dalvus was too quick for him, bringing his Shortsword up too block. Their blades were locked together, both of them straining against the other. Aurelian risked taking his left hand off the rapier and drawing his dagger from the sheath on his back. Then quick as a snake he stepped forward and stabbed the towards Dalvus’ unarmoured groin, hoping to get the Mer’s major artery. Aurelian must have surprised him because he tried to grab at the dagger as Aurelian stabbed at him, but this time Aurelian was faster. The dagger pierced cloth and flesh, and suddenly Aurelian’s hand was drenched in blood, wrenching the dagger out Aurelian turned to face the remaining mer as Dalvus collapsed to the ground.
Ralis surveyed the bloody scene before him; “Well, it appears this rat has some teeth after all” Before extending his arm and twisting his wrist in a way the Aurelian recognized as casting a spell. Aurelian charged towards him hoping to strike him down before the spell was cast. Aurelian covered the fifteen feet between them quickly but as he thrust his Rapier towards Ralis’ unprotected chest he saw a blade materialise out of the air and block his thrust. The blade was jagged and made of twisted red metal. The nine-damned heathen had conjured a blade from Oblivion. It was rare to see conjuration magic practised publicly in Cyrodiil these days, it was a great way to get the Vigilants of Stendar kicking down your door.
Aurelian knew that he had to end this quickly, Nelyn was probably almost back in the fight. Pressing so that Ralis and he were as close as lovers with only the blades between them. He brought his left knee up sharply towards Ralis' groin hoping to break the Mer's concentration. Instead, he found his own concentration tested as a sudden gout of flame erupted between them. Leaping back surprised and hurt. He felt the heat blistering his skin through the burnt leather that was his armour.
Ralis laughed in malicious delight as the flames licked his fingers. I have to finish this Aurelian thought grimly. The Mer was too strong with magic for a frontal assault. Deciding to take a risk Aurelian threw his dagger at Ralis face, it was not a dagger designed for throwing but it achieved its purpose in distracting Ralis long enough for Aurelian to call forth his magicka, with his newly freed hand Aurelian shaped the energy into a jagged shard of ice and shot it at Ralis’ unguarded left knee. The shard of Ice hit with a brutal crack as the bones in Ralis’ knee shattered from the impact. The Mer screamed loudly and fell to his one good knee letting his blade fade back into oblivion as he desperately called forth healing magic to try and repair the damage.
This was the opening Aurelian needed, he charged forward, grabbed the Mer by his hair and pulled t so that he was looking Aurelian in the eye. Aurelian saw his fear and pain, but he too worked up too care.
“You should have just paid me your stupid bastard” Aurelian uttered through gritted teeth as he rammed his father’s blade through the Men's chest killing him. As the blood the pooled around his feet Aurelian took a moment too survey the carnage around him. There were two dead or dying Dunmer at his feet. Hang on, wasn’t there a third? Aurelian suddenly realised Nelyn was nowhere to be seen. That's not good Aurelian thought. Looking around Aurelian snatched up his dagger and grabbed the pouch of Sovereigns that by all rights should be his. He neglected to take any of Ralis’ jewellery or the shield as they were too recognizable. He did take some potions of Dalvus’ belt, quickly drinking one and felt relief as the healing magic healed the burn he’d received. He was just finishing putting his newfound gains away when the tell-tale cry of the Imperial Watch that had haunted lawbreakers in the Imperial City for generations.
“STOP RIGHT THEIR CRIMINAL SCUM”
Turning to face the shout Aurelian saw a member of the Imperial Watch in their distinctive horsehair crested helm. In that moment he was thankful for the degradation the empire had suffered, a couple of centuries ago he would have been swarmed by a dozen guards. Now there was just one old and tired looking watchman. Not bothering to try and defend himself, Aurelian turned from the guard and bolted through the garden. He ran hard and fast out of Green Emperor Way. With a mixture of stealth and knowledge of the paths favoured by the criminally inclined Aurelian made his way to the waterfront district and the hovel his mother had left him. He took a rather circuitous route through the Market district hoping to lose and confuse anyone following him. He stuck to the back alleys and paused only when he saw his reflection in the shop window of some dingy little shop called ‘The Copius Coin purse’. He paused somewhat shocked by his own appearance. His black hair kept short to avoid lice looked normal as his light blue eyes, that his mother said where just like his father’s. The biggest shock to Aurelian was streak of blood over what his mother has kindly called a ‘classical Nibeanese nose’ cursing himself for not checking sooner Aurelian furiously wiped, satisfied he looked poorer and more desperate than criminal again he moved on from the ‘The Copius Coin purse’. Walking through the Imperial City was always a depressing experience for Aurelian everywhere he looked he could see the shadow of the Gret War hanging over the city. The Thalmor had occupied the city for nearly two years after the emperor had fled north to Skyrim. He’d eventually returned and liberated the city but not after two years of every Thalmor soldier had treated the city and people in it as their personal playthings. The elves had run riot for two damned years robbing, raping and killing as they pleased. Everywhere he looked Aurelian saw defaced statues and destroyed buildings and temples. The City’s population had almost halved after the occupation and those that had survived most were desperately poor. Aurelian was distracted from his thoughts as he made his way through what was the Old Talos Plaza district which was now called St Alessia Park. The sounds of ragged cheering and shouts of ‘Make way, make way’ caused Aurelian to turn around and see a crowd had formed alongside the main street as a beautiful richly dressed young woman whose every gesture and expression suggested beauty and refinement. She was young maybe Aurelian’s age, with long golden hair done in an elaborate style with braids and feathers. The rest of her features spoke strongly of Colovian ancestry with her strongly featured face and fair skin. She was flanked by a unit Penitus Oculatus. Aurelian back around and saw a one-legged Redguard beggar watching the display with a world-weary expression. Aurelian, cursing himself for his curiosity pulled out a septim and placed into the Beggar’s bowl.
“Morwha’s blessing upon you stranger” The redguard said looking up at Aurelian.
Aurelian inclined his head respectfully “Who’s that?” gesturing towards the woman who was handing out alms to a line of beggars that had formed.
“Don’t make it to the Plaza much I’m guessing. That is her Imperial highness Livia Mede, our Emperor’s only daughter. She does this every week or so, you know show the people she cares and all that. Of course, she has to do this in the wealthiest district in the city. They only let us in here on days when she’s doing this” The redguard muttered, every syllable dripping with contempt. Aurelian nodded, it all made sense, not many Nobles could qualify for a Penitus Oculatus escort. Typical of the Medes he thought all about appearances no damned substance. Saying his farewells to the Redguard Aurelian turned and continued his walk home.
When the Thalmor had been driven from the Imperial City the slums of the Waterfront district had been one of the fastest rebuilt areas as the people there were used to making do with not much. When his mother had been discharged from the Legion because of her injuries she’d had enough coin put by to buy a little one room shack in the Waterfront district. She’d died when Almar was ten leaving him to fend for himself as well this hovel. It was soon after that Aurelian met Harrald. Harrald had come across some of the local urchins preying upon Aurelian and despite having no hands Harrald managed to drive them off. Afterwards Aurelian had offered him a place to stay for a little while and nine years later he was still there. Theres was a strange companionship, Aurelian and Harrald worked together in the limited ways a child and a double amputee could survive. Harrald refused to let Aurelian become a thief and helped him find odd jobs here and there, helping out merchants and the like. He’d also taught Aurelian as much as he could of fighting before his mind started to go. The sad reality was that after nine years together Harrald was starting to lose his mind, and his health was deteriorating rapidly and Aurelian knew he had to get out of the City as soon as possible. But what to do? He couldn’t bring Harrald with him, but he couldn’t just leave him there for the Indarys to find. He had some money now, a hundred septims could buy him a bed in the Temple of Stendar’s hospice, it wasn’t perfect, but it would have to do.

Aurelian opened the door to his hovel taking the familiar sight of the room. It was a dark and dingy space. There was a small fireplace in one corner and a few threadbare carpets over the stone floor. The few bits of furniture looked like they would collapse into kindling if you tried to use them. Harrald was sitting in front of the fire where Aurelian had left him. Harrald was a sad ruin of a man, in the sense that you could see the foundations of the proud warrior he used to be. He was a tall nord, with long dirty blond hair and a beard to match that was starting to turn grey. He was dressed in ill-fitting clothes that Aurelian had stolen for him years ago. Harrald turned towards the door and seeing it was Aurelian he turned back to the fire.
“Ah Aurelian, how did it go?” he asked in the thick northern accent that infused his speech.
“Not fantastically. They tried to stiff me on the payment and kill me, so I had to defend myself. I killed an Indarys.”
Aurelian saw Harrald's body tense in shock. He turned around to Aurelian.
“Shor’s Bones boy, I didn’t think you had it in you.” Harrald said in the tone that he used whenever Aurelian did something that could loosely be interpreted as Nord-like
“Yes, it was a great victory but now I need to get out of the city, they’re going to be looking for me.”
“Ah don’t be so afraid. Dark Elves are all cowards, show them some steel and they’ll back down” Harrald said with that far-away look in his eye that meant he wasn’t really listening.
“Look Harrald, I don’t know if you can hear me, but I have to go away for a while, maybe forever. I’m going to leave you some money and feel free to take anything in the house but then you need to go the Temple of Stendar. Thank you for everything you taught me, I’m sorry I have to leave you like this. Goodbye Harrald”
“Going out are you lad? Could you get me some mead I haven’t had some in an age”?
Stifling his sobs Aurelian counted four sovereigns and left them on the battered dining room table. Quickly writing He quickly gathered his cloak and his pack and made it. He didn’t take any of the little food they had, he wanted to leave that for Harrald.
He made his way through the Imperial City heading through the north gate on the road to Bruma. He figured that Skyrim was as good as any place to hide out in, apparently there was some sort of rebellion brewing up there. Plenty of opportunities in a province in chaos. There was also a famous school of Magic up there, Winterhelm, Windhold, something like that, that might be worth checking out. Skyrim would be great; he had a good feeling about this.

Chapter Text

Aurelian frowned at the sight of Darklight Tower. It was a large imposing structure, hidden down here in this remote corner of the rift. All moss covered and cracked stones. He had heard some of the useless thugs that masqueraded as guards in Ivarstead talking about the ruin, apparently there was some foulness to the place. ‘Necromancers, or something like that’ they’d said. To a Nord Guard; ‘Necromancer's or something’ could mean anything: bandits using a few novice spells to intimidate merchants or a secret chapter of the Worm cult. Still Aurelian couldn’t afford to be picky, he needed some coin quickly. Delphine was sending him to Riften after their little escapade into the Thalmor Embassy. From everything he’d heard about Riften, he would need coin for bribes and such. Being the Dragon-Born was a great honor but it did not pay particularly well. With a sign of resignation, Aurelian drew his sword, a beautiful sky-forged steel rapier, readied a ward spell and entered the tower.

He crept carefully up the winding path and gently pushed the door open. He could hear the sound of a struggle. Spells were being thrown about. He peered inside and saw two black-cad and cowled women locked in a desperate battle. Aurelian watched as the woman farthest from him conjured a swirling storm of ice and threw at the other woman. The spell completely overwhelmed her defences and she was cut to pieces but the razor sharp ice.

The victorious woman looked down with horror at what she had done. Aurelian knew he should charge, cut this witch down before she realized he was there. But he couldn’t seem to move; he was transfixed. The witch was young, around eighteen to nineteen about the same age as him. Her golden eyes were wet with tears, her pale elegant features etched with grief.

She seemed to notice him then. Her eyes widened in shock as she saw him.

“By all the gods. I know this looks bad. Let me explain” She exclaimed holding her hands up to show she meant no harm.

“Please do” Aurelian replied carefully, keeping his rapier up and watching her movements closely

“ I I I, my mother… We thought we’d be safe here but this place is evil. The Hargravens are evil.” The witch said, still panicked.

“Why did you kill that woman?” Aurelian asked calmly. The mention of Hargravens piqued his interest and concern. He had they were nasty creatures by all accounts, some sort of twisted combination of bird and woman, revered by the Forsworn of the Reach.

“I didn't want to, but she attacked to try and keep me from leaving. I just can't be a part of this place any more! The things we do here - evil, evil things. No more!" The witch exclaimed

“What sort of evil things?” Aurelian asked, sheathing his sword. The witch was either telling the truth or was one of the greatest actors of the era. Even if she was lying, the Thu’um was an excellent card to have up his sleeve.

“We were supposed to find a sacrifice. Human sacrifice. I told her I couldn't do it and she attacked. I've done horrible things living here, but never taken an innocent life. I couldn't just find some person for them to kill." She explained, seeming to grow slightly calmer as she talked.

“A sacrifice? What for?” Aurelian asked, curious despite himself. His magical education had been extremely patchwork but even he knew sacrifices were potentially very magically powerful.

"The Initiation. My mother is going to become one of those things. I can't be a part of that. Gods, I can't run away from this. I have to stop her. I'm going up there to stop her. This cycle must end. I don't know what brought you here, but I could use your help, if you're willing."

Aurelian stared at the witch in surprise. He had expected her to plead with him to let her pass. It was a rare thing for a person to be confronted with an evil and decide that it must be stopped, not hidden or escaped from but faced. The poor woman is asking me to help her kill her mother. Not Rescue or Stop. Kill. Aurelian felt a moment of sad respect for this strange woman. She was under no illusions about what she had to do and was resigned to do it regardless of the cost to her.

“I will help you. I’m… sorry that this has happened to you. I’m Aurelian by the way.” He said awkwardly.

“I’m Illia. Thank you, Aurelian” She replied while taking several deep shuddering breaths.

“Do you need anything before we start? I have some potions if you need to replenish.” Aurelian offered, already shrugging off his pack to fish them out.

“I’m fine. I can keep going” She replied with resignation, meeting his gaze for the first time.

He wondered what she saw in those haunting yellow eyes of hers. He probably looked half a bandit, with his untidy black hair and patchy beard. Only the quality of his weapons and armor would serve to disabuse that notion.

“Well then, Shall we?” Aurelian asked, gesturing towards the stair leading up the tower.

Aurelian took the lead, sword drawn and ward ready for the casting. He and Illia proved to make a devastating pair. Most of the mages they encountered were only trained to cast basic spells with no chance of piercing either of their wards. The mages they fought were all women, Aurelian felt a tinge of remorse in cutting them down. In those last moments as their wards failed and his rapier struck them, they looked so scared.

Illia tried to offer them mercy, pleaded with them to flee and escape the evil they were doing. None took the offer, all of them were drunk on the promise of power from the Hargravens.

His suspicions about Illia’s power was confirmed. She was able to continuously cast powerful destruction spells throughout their fight up the tower. Between her frost and his lightning the witches were destroyed.

They climbed their way up the tower, eventually reaching a metal gate. That served to seal the highest levels of the tower off. As they approached, Ilia frantically signalled for him to wait and to be quiet.

“What is it?” Aurelian whispered.

“There is a Hargraven waiting for us behind this gate,” Illia replied quietly. Her eyes wide with fear and exertion.

“I see. Let's think about this. I close in and keep her occupied from the front. You go behind and hit it with those Ice Spikes of yours. We’ll wear her down.”

“Are you sure? They are powerful mages and they have these wickedly sharp claws” Illia warned.

“I’ve fought Dragons, I think I can handle some half-feral bird woman” Aurelian replied, sounding much cockier than he felt.

“If you say so” Illia replied, eyes narrowing with doubt at his proclamation.

They opened the gate and crept through the darkened hallways, then around the corner. They saw it. It was stooped and scrawny but still vaguely woman shaped. It had stringy black hair, feet and hands that ended with hooked talons. Feather dotted its body like festering sores. It screeched with rage when it saw them, then to Aurelian astonishment it spoke.

“Traitor… Rend the flesh from your bones… Girl” The abomination screamed at Illia, beakish face snarling and spitting at the girl. Illia, to her credit, did not freeze or panic but raised her ward as the Hargraven unleashed a fireball.

Aurelian barely got his own ward before the burst of flames engulfed the room. It was a powerful spell. Still Aurelian stuck with the plan, he charged at the Hargraven. The creature turned its beady gaze towards him.

“Fool… Man… your blood will fuel our magic” and slashed down with her talons with startling speed. Aurelian hastily stepped aside as the claws swung by. Close as he was, the smell of the creature was enough to make him gag. It stank of mould, and the coppery scent of old blood.
“My blood is more than you can handle, freak” Aurliean retorted as he slashed the beast across the chest. The Hargraven howled with rage but his blade seemed to have no effect. It was like cutting through old leather with a blunt knife. He would need more force to harm this creature.

The Hargraven began to ready a fireball in its right hand, to blast Aurelian away. A sudden thunk of an icy shard shattering across the creatures’ back distracted it for a moment. The hargeaven squawked in surprise as the ice cut into skin. Aurelian seized the opportunity and thrust his blade with all his might into where he hoped the creature’’s heart was. Whatever foul magics created these creatures gave them strong hides. It was like trying to force a nail into wood with no hammer. Still Aurelian kept pushing, dodging the Hargraven’s furious talon’s. There was a wet pop as Aurelian’s blade finally punctured the skin. Thick dark blood oozed from the wound as the blade pierced the creature’s skin.

Aurelian looked into the beady black eyes of the creature once more. Expecting to see fear, or pain. Some faint flicker of the woman she was before she was transformed into this monster. Instead there was nothing but an alien rage. With what little strength the creature had left it flailed its arms out at Aurelian. Aurelian operating under the assumption that most creatures stabbed in the heart were typically dead and not really a threat was not prepared. As such the Hargraven’s claw raked Aurelian across the chest. Slicing through his armor and leaving great bloody gashes across his chest. Aurelian staggered to his knees and looked at the twisted bird-woman savage glee. He felt the rage of the Dovah build in him, before he realised what he was what doing he shouted

“FUS RO DAH”. With the force of a thunderclap the creature went flying into the far wall. There was a satisfying crunch as her bones cracked and broke when being slammed into the wall.

“If she is not dead from that I give up” Aurelian declared woozily. The wounds on his chest were bleeding heavily. He tried to reach for the potions at his belt, but his hands felt thick and clumsy and he couldn’t get his hands around the bottle. He collapsed onto the ground.

“No No No no, don’t die, please” a faint voice called. It sounded vaguely familiar to Aurelian. He suddenly felt someone pick him up and rest his chest on their lap. Then there was a soft golden light on his chest. He looked down as the wounds began to slowly close.

As his wounds closed, his senses began to return. He looked up and saw Illia. In the fray her hood had come down. Her long dark hair loose in the back but braided in a way that kept it out of her face. Her eyes were like watching the sunset over the ocean, he felt a sense of peace looking into them.

“Thank you” Aurelian managed in between ragged breaths and grimaces of pain.

“It's alright. I’m just glad you're still alive.” Illia replied, her elegant face frowning with concentration. Aurelian was no great healer but he had enough of Restoration basics to know how much magicka she was pouring into him. His wounds were severe without Illia’s aid he’d probably be dead.

“I’m glad I’m alive too.” Aurelian replied with a grin. His wounds were mostly healed. He needed rest now more than anything. Illia stopped her casting. She looked pretty exhausted too. They both got to their feet and staggered out of the Hargraven’s chamber. Illia led them back to what had been a common room for the witches. This was where they had their meals and such. There was still food and drink on the table. Exhausted and famished they both sat down and started eating.

“So do you believe me now when I say that Hargravens are dangerous?” Illia asked with a faint smirk on her face.

Aurelian smiled faintly in return. He had made a bit of an ass of himself to be sure, yet long experience at being such an ass had taught him it was better to laugh it off than dig his heels in.

“I will heed your advice more closely in future,” Aurelian replied.

There was a moment of silence between them then. Filled with more eating and drinking.

“Can I ask a question, Aurelian?” Illia inquired, blue eyes focusing intently on him.

“By all means”

“What was that spell you did? After you stabbed the Hargraven. I’ve never seen anything like it.

Aurelian did his best to suppress a sigh. He would have to tell her now and that would change everything. Once people knew you were a destined and prophesied hero they looked at you differently, assumed everything you said and did had some great mythic import. Still there was a point lying to her, judging by her accent she had lived in skyrim all her life and no one could live in skyrim for long without hearing the legend of the Dragonborn. She would figure it out soon enough.

“It was the Thu’um. Ancient Nord Magic” Aurelian responded, keeping his tone as neutral as possible.

Ilia nodded at that revelation and returned her attention to the apple she had been eating. She took a bite and then looked back at Aurelian. Eyes wide with shock

“Wait, are you the Dragonborn?” she blurted out, mouth full of half chewed apples.

“Yes, the heir of TIber Septim and slayer dragons stands before you” Aurelian replied with a weary sigh.

He looked at Ilia expectantly, most people would express shock or some degree of reverence but one thing was guaranteed, he would no longer be Aurelian in her eyes, just the Dragonborn.

“Thank you for helping me,” Illia finally said. Aurelian looked at her, there was nothing but earnest gratitude in her expression and voice. Aurelian found himself off-guard to such an earnest response

“That's okay. Haven’t actually done the job yet” Aurelian replied, trying to inject some levity before suddenly remembering that the job was killing Illia’s mother.

There was another silence then. Aurelian cleared his voice awkwardly.

“Well, we should probably get back to it” he suggested, rising from his seat on the bench.

“Yes, we should,” Illia replied equally as awkwardly.

As they walked back through the tower Aurelian reflected on his strange behaviour around Illia. As both the Dragonborn and an Adventurer plenty of people asked him help with personal difficulties but Illia hadn’t sought him out or known who he was beforehand. She had just asked for help. She was in a truly terrible situation, Aurelian could not imagine having to kill a loved one like this.

And yet, despite the terrible circumstances they found themselves in, Aurelian found himself drawn to Illia. She was gorgeous, clever and brave. He knew it was wrong to be even thinking about romance at a time like this but he couldn’t but consider some possible future that involved spending more time with Illia. Then again, he reflected it was entirely possible that after helping Illia to kill her mother she might never want to see him again. He would exist as a permanent reminder of the worst day of her life. Still he had said he would help her and these creatures needed to be stopped.

“Aurelian can I ask a question?” Illia spoke, distracting him from his thoughts.

“Uh, yes of course” He replied

“If you can do that Thu’um thing, why don’t you use it more?” she asked.

“Well two reasons mainly. Firstly it can be very destructive to the environment and people around me. Secondly and more importantly it draws dragons.” Aurelian replied grimly.

“Draws Dragons?” She asked, confused by the idea.

“Amongst the Dragons, to use one’s Thu’um in another dragons territory is considered a challenge”

“Oh” She replied, beginning to appreciate the danger they were in.

“Should we be worrying about a dragon attacking the tower?” She asked nervously

“It's possible, being inside the tower might have muffled it for lack of a better word”, Aurelian explained.

“I see,” Illia replied.

They walked in silence then striding towards their destination. They climbed to what Aurelian assumed was the top of the tower. Illia stopped them then. She looked terrified. Aurelian waited for her to speak.

"All right. Mother is just outside this door. I have a plan." Illia spoke, she sounded desperately afraid

“Whats the plan?

"I'll present you as the sacrifice. Just play along. While mother begins the ritual, I'll strike. Then, together we can... we can kill her."

“Kill her?”

"I've thought this through, and it's the only way. She's too far gone, too corrupted by the Hags. At least in death she can be free again. Enough. Let's go." she finished bluntly.

Aurelian nodded his agreement. Sheathed his sword and tried his best to look oblivious and unsuspecting as he followed Illia out the door. They entered a strange sort of grove at the top of the tower. Crude and evil looking totems dotted the landscape carved from bone and rock. Mutilated sprigans stood as trapped guardians of this accursed place. Aurelian followed as Illia led him past all the totems eventually reaching the center of a crude camp. There was a large bonfire roaring in the surrounded by crude hide tents stretched over bone frames.

A woman emerged from the tents. She was cloaked and cowled like Illia.

“Greetings Mother” Illia called upon seeing the woman.

Daughter. Who is this you have brought me?" the woman, Illia’s mother Silvia responded sounding dangerously eager.

"I found a willing subject for you. Payment has already been discussed, of course." Illia replied, gesturing to Aurelian. Aurelian gave an empty-headed smile, trying to look the part of the dumb brute.

"Splendid! Please take a seat on the chair behind me, would you?" Sylvia gestured towards the chair. Aurelian sat down in the directed chair, as he did he caught a glimpse of Sylvia’s eyes. They were just like Illias but a crazed fire burned within them.

"I'll just prepare the subject now..." Sylvia said. She was standing in front of Aurelian and reaching for something behind her back, most likely a dagger. Years of rough living in the Imperial City had given him somewhat of a skittish reflex. His instincts screamed at him to attack or run, or do anything but the one spar of reason he clung onto was the fact he had promised Illia to wait until she struck.

"I can't let you do this, mother. You have to die now!" Ilia screamed, flinging a blast of icy crystals at her mothers head. Sylvia hissed with rage as she dropped a wicked looking bone dagger and raised a ward barely in time. She was still standing in front of Aurelian, facing Illia so her exposed side was open to him. So he lashed out with a savage kick to her stomach.

Sylvia grunted and bent at the waist in pain. She turned mad blue eyes towards him, a ball of crackling lightning held in her off hand. Aurelian jumped to the right in the last moment before a blast of lighting vaporised the chair he had been sitting on.

Aurelian ducked and rolled spring his feet with his own ward raised. He was just quick enough to see Sylvia leap backwards with an unnatural force towards a crude stone altar where a staff lay.

Molag’s Balls, this will be hard Aurelian had a moment to think before Sylvia snatched up the staff and pointed towards Illia and him. The long crooked staff spat a stream of fire towards them, when the fire hit the ground it erupted to create a wall seven feet high. Aurelian watched dismayed as another blast of Illia’s icy crystals traveled through the and dissipated into vapour.

“You foolish girl. Everything you know, you learnt at my knee! We could been powerful and safe. Free from the cruel whims of ignorant nords” Sylivia screeched behind the flames.

“I won’t help you kill people” Illia retorted defiantly, in the face of her mothers terrible power. She sent another barrage of icy blasts towards her mother but between the flames and her mothers wards they did nothing but weaken the wall of fire for a moment.

Illia was a more powerful mage than he, so there was no chance his spells would get through her mother’s wards. If they wanted to survive this, he would need to get close and attack with his sword.

“Illia do that again” Aurelian called, leaping out of the way of another blast of fire from that infernal staff.

“It didn’t work. I can’t get through Illia replied through gritted teeth

“Just Trust”

Illia glanced at him questioningly but then nodded and unleashed another barrage of icy blasts.

Aurelian chased the blasts as they smashed into the wall of flame. The steam was hot on his face but there was his opening. The icy blasts had weakened the fire wall enough that Aurelian was able to jump through it. He could feel the heat of the flames scorch the soles of his boots. He winced as he landed, but he was through!

Syvlia hissed it outrage and leveled the staff at him. She was only ten feet or so away from him. He charged, to close the distance. Sylvia dropped her ward and began to charge another lightning spell. A chunk of ice hit Sylvia then squarely in the shoulder just as she was about to release the lightning spell. With her attention divided the fire wall was weakened enough for some of Illia’s spells to get through. Aurelian closed slashing with his sword. Sylvia raised the staff in an attempt to defend her from the attack.

Aurelian’s sword bit into her knuckles. Sylvia yelped with pain and dropped the staff. Aurelian thrust forward hoping to press his momentary advantage. Sylvia leapt away with unnatural agility. Blasting lightning at him, Aurelian raised the ward hoping it would be enough.

It was. Instead of the raw power she had displayed earlier Sylvia attack was weaker. She must be weakening. Aurelian began to move forward. He was stretching his magical reserves to the limit holding his ward for this long under this sort of attack, but he kept moving forward. Aurelian glanced out of the corner of his eye and saw that the wall of flame was slowly dying down. Soon Illia would be able to circle around her and finish this.

“I don't know what lies you told my daughter to turn her against me, but you will die for it”. Sylvia screamed whilst trying to overcome Aurelian ward

“You did that yourself, you mad bitch. I’m just the muscle” Aurelian replied before wrenching his ward upwards so it directed the stream of Sylvia’s magic towards the sky. Quick as he could he dived under the stream of lighting that pointed up. He rolled to close the distance with Sylvia, sending out a blast of flame at her legs that sent scrambling back with a hiss of pain. Aurelian pressed his advantage, leaping up and slashing at her chest.

His blade struck true slicing through her robes cutting into flesh. He felt more resistance than he was expecting and quickly realised she cast one of those oakflesh spells that were so popular in Skyrim. His blade drew blood and had hurt her but it was not the fatal blow it should have been.

Sylvia glared at him in contempt as she lowered her palm down towards him, fingers crackling with lightning. Aurelian raised his own ward to try and block her onslaught.

A sudden barrage of icy chunks thudded into Sylvia’s back as Illia appeared behind. Sylvia groaned and stumbled to the ground. Aurlian seized the opportunity Illia had presented. He grabbed Sylvia by the scruff of the neck and rammed his blade through chest. Her skin resisted, bulwarked by her spell. But her magic was waning and Aurlian’s rapier punched through and pierced her heart.

Sylvia collapsed to the ground with a groan. Illia ran to catch her mother in her arms.

“Daughter…Your betrayal will haunt you forever” Sylvia hissed with last breath.

They stood in silence then. The significance of what they had done began to sink in.

“I’m sorry Illia” Aurelian offered

“Don't be sorry for me. I just - if I would have known it would come to this. Mother... Keep Mother's staff. Think of it as payment. I want to leave everything from this cursed place behind. Goodbye. And thank you."

“Uh, you're welcome,” Aurelian replied awkwardly. He grabbed the staff from the ground, just by touching it he could tell it was a potent bit of magic, hopefully some mage in Riften would be interested in it.

He poked his head into the tents and grabbed a few of the loose septims and gems scattered about. As he did so he couldn’t help but watch as Illia went about building a pyre for her mother. She looked so painfully alone, the last woman standing in this tower of corpses. Aurelian could not help but imagine what her life would be like here. He imagined that she would try to bury the rest of her former sisters. Then what? If she stayed here sooner or later some bandits, vampires or some other evil would try to take this tower and use it. She would most likely die then alone and unmourned. No, she was too brave and good to die like that.

Aurelian went over to where she was trying to drag her mother over to the crude pyre she was building. Without a word Aurelian picked up her mother’s and helped Illia carry her over to the pyre.

“You don’t have to help,” she said in a small voice.

“I know,” Aurelian replied, remembering his own mother’s death and Haraald’s help. “I want to”

They worked in silence, long into the night. They built a large pyre on the summit of Darklight Tower. They burned Illia’s mother first, Aurelian used his skill with fire magic to keep the pyre burning bright. They took turns feeding the flames with whatever they could find, furniture, bedding and unused firewood. It took ages to gather to cary all the bodies up the long flight stairs but none of these women deserved to be left to rot or used necromancers. Aurelian had some doubts about the Hargraven. It was a twisted and evil creature but it had once been a woman. Who knew what choices had led her down this dark path? So for the sake of the woman she was, Aurelian dragged her body up and placed it on the pyre. They worked late into the night, kept going with the meagre supply of stamina potions Aurelian had. Eventually all the women were brought up and they watched as the pyre consumed the flesh and the wind scattered their ashes.

“What will you do now?” Aurelian asked as they watched the pyre burn down under the light of the moons.

“I don’t know. I suppose I’ll move on eventually, though. My mother was all I had in the world.” Illia replied, shoulders sagging with weariness.

“You could come with me,” Aurelian offered without thinking. As soon as he said he realised the magnitude of what he was offering, he did not regret the offer.

“At least as far as Riften I mean” he added awkwardly.

“What are you going to Riften for?” she asked curiously.

“Well to keep it simple I’m looking for a renegade blade survivor who can hopefully explain why the dragons have returned and what I’m supposed to do as the dragonborn”. Aurelian explained, painfully aware of how absurd it all sounded.

“I suppose it would be better than sitting around thinking about all this. I could also do some good for a change. Sure, I'll go with you." she replied. They stood there as the sun rose watching the flames consume the last of the Witches of Darklight tower.