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Dragonheart: Trials of the Arch Mage	By : Lady_Kae Category: +A through F > Elder Scrolls - Skyrim Views: 1754 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own TESV Skyrim nor am I making any money from this fiction.

Chapter List
- 3
- 4
Dragonheart: Trials of the Archmage
Chapter 4: Prepartations and Ruminations
An Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Fanfiction

Tarrowlyn smiled as her horse nuzzled her happily and she gave the mare an affectionate scratch on the neck. “ I cannot tell you how happy I am to know you’re okay Tanaris.” she whispered into the inky black pelt.
A soft whiny echoed that and Tarrowlyn sighed as she reached for the brush on the shelf nearby. Her mother had mentioned while they had been cleaning up that Tanaris looked as if she had been burned on different areas of her flank and torso, but there was nothing, absolutely nothing, in the forests surrounding the dwemer ruin that should have caused wounds like that. The wounds and damage to her saddle and scabbard had been from fire. Not even a dwemer centurion had the means of blasting flame, just steam and that was entirely different kind of burn.
Even now, Tarrowlyn could still catch the faintest scent of burnt hair and charred flesh.
Farkas joined her at the stable and he put her saddle on its stand. While not as good as Eorlund Gray Mane, he could do a little smithing of his own and make small repairs to leather items. “ I repaired the stitching of the stirrup that we both noticed, as well as the frayed ends that you caught over the saddlehorn. You may want to have an entirely new saddle made in long run though. Even with the minor repairs, this one isn’t going to last much longer. Are you sure there’s nothing that could have caused this? It looks like fire damage.”
“ Short of another mage attacking my horse? I don’t know about that in all honesty, but while plausible it’s far fetched at best. The thing that worries me is where the burns were…” Tarrowlyn traced the clear line of demarcation between Tanaris’ coat and the now healed bald skin. “ I’ve never seen any dwarven machinations outside of the ruins. Not only that, it’s not a steam or an electric burn. You’re right about it being from fire.”
Farkas nodded in return as he saw the wound pattern. “ The blast came from above and traveled up her flank here. I’m amazed that she had the strength to walk home in all honesty. If I had been in her place, I wouldn’t have been able to move.” He commented. Tanaris snorted and bumped his shoulder as if to knock him off balance and Farkas chuckled. “ That was a compliment. I’ll go grab some extra blankets. It feels like there might be a small snowfall tonight or tomorrow morning.”
Tarrowlyn chuckled as she followed Farkas to the door. She needed to grab a few things from the side shed towards the back of the manor anyways. “ Just set them in her stall. I need to give her a bath first. She still smells a little like burnt hair.”
An indignant neigh answered that claim and Tanaris stomped her hooves loudly and irately. Farkas looked between mare and mistress and his brow rose high in curiosity. “ She’s smart.” He deadpanned, looking back over to the mare as she turned in her stall with her rump towards the entrance. It was as if she was trying to tell Tarrowlyn to kiss her ass.
“ Ridiculously so.” Tarrowlyn laughed and she looked over her shoulder before passing by the cold forge and smithing area that dominated the left side of the house on the ground level. “ Ask my ma to have a couple towels ready for me? Knowing Tanaris, I’m going to end up soaked for that comment.”
Once more he chuckled at the thought, and Farkas waved to show he heard her before going in the house. It wasn’t hard to find Dahlia, as she was up on the second level in the east wing library and Farkas knocked on the door frame. Dahlia was standing over a large tome, her brow furrowed as she searched for something amongst the pages. She looked up at him at the sound and her caramel colored gaze met his in silent inquiry. Her finger was marking her place on the page as she waited to hear him speak. “ Two things. Can you show me where to grab a few more blankets for Tanaris? There’s snow on the wind.” He asked
Dahlia grabbed a piece of parchment to mark her spot and she smiled as she walked around the table that was laden with many tomes and scrolls. Farkas was starting to wonder what she was looking for. “ This way, my lad. What was the other thing?”
“ A couple of towels for Tarrowlyn. She’s giving Tanaris a bath.” Farkas replied with a small shrug.
Dahlia chortled as they rounded the corner that led to the bedrooms and the master suite. She opened up a hall door and a smile lit up her face. “ Here’s a few heavy woolen blankets for Tanaris, and a couple of towels for Tarrowlyn. She’s going to need them by the time she’s done with that stubborn mare. I should put out a bucket for her wet things for that matter.” She muttered the last bit under her breath. “ Do you know how to fish?”
“ Yep. I use to do it all the time with my brother when we were still whelps in the mead hall. If it’s still allowed, I can also see about hunting down some game if we need food for the larder.” Farkas replied. He hiked up everything to have a better hold on it and the two began walking for the entrance hall on the front of the house.
“ We’ll need to go to Markarth for a hunting license and the like, besides, I have a friend there that can help me draw up some papers for you. We need to sneak you into the system as it were and come up with a believable reason for why you’re going to be spending so much time in my daughter’s company.” Dahlia opened the double doors for him and she smiled as she saw Tarrowlyn gently scrubbing Tanaris’ withers and she dunked the brush into a large metal tub was filled to the brim with soapy water. She was working her way down the mare’s back to her haunches, and she was whispering the entire time that Tanaris was going to be pampered beyond reason today.
“ That works out, as Tarrowlyn and I need to get my septims exchanged so I can pay her back for the clothing she bought me in Riften. We figured out the excuse was that I found a hidden cache while serving as her bodyguard in Mzulft. In fact, that would be the perfect cover story for why I’m constantly around her now. I can be the bodyguard that you rehired in a fit after finding out she got hurt.” Farkas offered.
Dahlia thought it over as she tapped her chin. “ Which would fall under the realm of believability, considering how protective I am of her, and gives us the perfect excuse to have you around her all the time. Your weapons and armor will have to stay here at the manor for now, but we’ll be sure to replace them with something contemporary that you approve of. Again, yet another good reason to be at Markarth. I think you might well be on to something, Farkas.” Said the matron with a twinkle in her eye.
As much as she knew they needed to try every avenue to send him back, Dahlia would not be averse in the slightest to having him in the family. She was already treating him as she would Mikhail and Tarrowlyn.
The praise in her tone brought a roguish grin to his face and Farkas shrugged his shoulders a little. “ I’ll admit my brother has more of a head for this kind of thing, but I can roll with the punches as needed.” He replied, trying to keep himself humble.
Dahlia opened her mouth to say something, but without warning, Tarrowlyn’s irate shout filled the stillness of the air. They looked over in time to see Tanaris turn just enough; despite Tarrowlyn’s attempts to push her the other way, to make the red haired mage trip over the side of the tub and fall completely into it. Tarrowlyn came up from under the water just as fast, her crimson tresses plastered to the side of her head, as she sputtered in shock.
Farkas and Dahlia couldn’t help it, they quickly dissolved into guffaws of laughter at the sight. That horse was too damn smart for Tarrowlyn’s good!
“ Sweet Mara that water went cold fast!” Tarrowlyn screeched as she tripped over herself trying to get out of the tub. This only renewed the raucous laughter that she could hear from the other two. Once she had gotten out, the younger Dragonheart mage cast a stern glare to the mare, who looked rather smug with her actions. In fact, Tarrowlyn was almost positive that Tanaris was snickering at her if the way she was tossing her head back and forth was any indication. “ Forget the carrots and me braiding your mane and tail.” she deadpanned.
Tanaris snorted a little in her face, blowing a few wet locks backward, before her tongue came out and swept across Tarrowlyn’s cheek in an affectionate gesture. The mage couldn’t hold her temper at that and she smiled tenderly as she pushed some of Tanaris’ mane away from her eyes.
Farkas smiled at the sight, as the love mistress and mare had for one another was sincere and could be seen by even the most daft idiot. Silently, he set the blankets and towels down for Tarrowlyn to grab later on and he turned to Dahlia. “ Just tell me where the poles are and I’ll see about catching some good sized salmon from the lake. I’ll be over on the other side til tonight.” Farkas said softly. The melancholy that was washing over him was powerful and he needed some time to himself. He needed to run free away from prying eyes. The mountain bordering the holds was as good a place as any to do that.
Watching Tarrowlyn with her horse brought back memories of yesteryear of he and Vilkas, before they had joined the Circle and before they had really started going their separate ways on the path of the warrior. There was a time that their bond had been that strong, and they tried to keep it that way still, but their interests varied too greatly nowadays. Vilkas was more of a scholar and historian, especially with old Vignar getting up in the years and Farkas was the brawn. He could throw down with milk drinkers and other big talkers that couldn’t put their money where their fists were. It caught him off guard just how much he missed his brother just because he was watching Tarrowlyn with her steed. The crux of the matter was that he did.
Very much already.
Once he had everything he needed, Farkas set out towards where the three standing stones where. That would be the fastest way to get to where he wanted to and he made good time.
Just an hour. I just need one hour to run free. He thought to himself. Farkas hadn’t had the courage to tell Tarrowlyn and her mother what he truly was. There was a stigma against his kind in the fourth era and he doubt that much had changed in the following eight ages. He would be hunted by the Vigilants if they knew what he was.
That Farkas was moon born. A werewolf.
Crossing the water was easy enough, as someone had built a small bridge before the rapids. Finding a decent spot for now, Farkas set down the fishing gear and he began running further into the forest and up the mountain side. His eyes slowly shifted from blue to golden as he caught the scent of an elk and he smiled predatorily as he came to a complete stop. This was as good a place as any and he wouldn’t be seen this high in the forest. Faster than lightning, he stripped out of his clothing, leaving it tucked away against the roots of a nearby spruce, and he took off running once again, this time barefoot. His footfall was eerily silent as he sped closer towards his quarry.
As he ran, black fur began sprouting over his body. He grew taller, his shoulders broader, and a muzzle filled with razor sharp fangs grew out where his nose and mouth would be. Vicious claws extended from his fingers and toes, and the ball of his foot began morphing into a wolf’s paw to allow him better traction. Farkas had needed to let the beast inside him run free. He had felt it biting and clawing to run, and in his emotionally compromised state, he was amazed he had lasted five days. He transitioned to all fours, running faster, stronger in this form than he could of as a human. Within minutes, he was on top of his prey and Farkas snarled as he pounced.
It was over just as soon as it began.
Farkas let the wolf feast on the elk, but he made sure to keep the time in mind. He needed to get back to that tree so he could dress again and then he needed to get a couple of fish for the table that night. While he was doing that, Farkas planned on doing a lot of thinking. It might make his head spin a little, but Vilkas nor Kodlak were here to put things into perspective for him any more. He had to do this on his own. When the beast was finally satiated, Farkas trotted back over to where his clothing was and he felt the transformation begin waning. Just in time. he thought with a wry grin. Dressing was monotonous enough and Farkas allowed his mind to wander.
There was plenty that had to be done before they could even go to Winterhold. There was getting him into some sort of system that Dahlia had mentioned. That could be some sort of life and death log used to keep track of people. There were certainly more around now than there ever were in his time. Before they had been beset upon by the bandits in the mountain pass, he and Tarrowlyn had been talking about depositing the funds he would receive from his septims into a banking account. This way he wouldn’t have to hold all of it on his person in the form of coin.
It might not hurt to have at least one hundred or so on the side just to be safe. His coin pouch held just under seven hundred due to the payment that he and Vilkas had received while doing a job in Kynesgrove. In the event Farkas was returned back to his time, it might be right back to the spot he was plucked from near Mzulft. He wanted to have enough to take a carriage back to Whiterun from Windhelm.
Even with the new boots, his footfall was near silent as Farkas continued his ruminations while going back down to the shore line. Without a word, he picked up his pole, baited it, and cast his line out over the water before taking a seat against the grass.
Was there any sort of work that Farkas could do here in the meantime while Tarrowlyn was working on her magic thing? While he could read, write, and do some math, Farkas didn’t have any sort of formal education. Tarrowlyn had talked about having been through primary and secondary school before she was accepted into the mage’s college.
What if he was well and truly stuck here with no way back to everything he knew? Was there really anything here for him to fathom living out the rest of his days here?
An image of Tarrowlyn, her face bronzed by fire light as she laughed before taking a sip from her bottle came to the front of his thoughts in an instant, surprising Farkas with the intensity of the feeling he already held for her.
She was beautiful, intelligent, and fierce. She was also genuine, and had done everything in her power so far to keep him as comfortable as possible over the last week. Well, they had been asleep for about half of it, but still the fact of the matter stood that Tarrowlyn was the kind of woman any man would be honored to be on his knees before. Depending on how things went, Farkas couldn’t help but wonder if he could even stand a shot with her. She was a mage though. Surely she would want someone like herself.
“ I always wanted to be a companion…” Tarrowlyn’s words from their first night traveling together rang through his mind and Farkas’ brow furrowed a little. He felt a small nibble and he twitched the line just right to get the fish to bite.
It worked like a charm, because he landed a huge salmon for his efforts. If he could catch another one like that, Farkas might make it back to the manor before night fall.
Still, those words echoed through his head, and Farkas stared ahead into space. He was no stranger to matters of the heart. Mara and Dibella had yet to offer him the blessing of finding true love though, and he was relatively convinced that he’d die in a blaze of glory before getting the chance. Either way, he wasn’t actively looking nor was he waiting on the same note. If it happened, it happened.
Even then, he had never felt this strongly for a woman so soon or so fiercely. The pull Farkas felt to Tarrowlyn was intense, but natural at the same time. It was as if she filled something that he hadn’t even realized was missing with just her presence. Despite his situation, Farkas felt whole around her. She had even quieted his beast and they had slept three entire days in each other’s embrace. That had never, ever, happened before since he had become moon born. Farkas wanted to believe it was the rush, because he was experienced with that. He had courted one or two women in the past after all. But now? Every thought felt as if it kept coming back to Tarrowlyn. His heart thundered at the sight of her smiles, his happiness was more complete when he heard her laugh. Her touch was gentle and assuring even as it made his blood race. Her embrace made him feel as if he would be warm even in a blizzard. Everything he was feeling towards her felt so powerful, so right that Farkas didn’t want to be away from her company long.
What Farkas might have been scared of the most was just how much of a hold such a tiny little woman held over him already and how much he wanted to lose himself in it. In the end, he knew there was nothing for it. If something did happen, Farkas knew deep down he couldn’t stop it even if he wanted to. Tarrowlyn felt like home, where or when she was didn’t matter to him.
The end result would break both of their hearts, he knew, but Farkas would rather mope about for a while having explored how much he cared for her and having that returned than to live out the rest of his days regretting everything that could have been.

Tarrowlyn exited the bathroom while toweling off her hair later that afternoon and she looked over the barrister into the main portion of the hall where the dining area was. By the look of things, Farkas had not returned yet. Well, it was a long walk back considering he went to the other side of the lake. Maybe that place held memories or he remembered it to be a good fishing spot?
Walking down the stairs, Tarrowlyn looked around her ancestral home as if in a day dream. Would her predecessors have ever known that the base of their great manor still stood, even today? The second floor held four spacious bedrooms, two baths, and the master suite dominated the left side over the kitchen. To the right was the library that was filled floor to ceiling on two walls with books and a few computers. It overlooked both the lake and the greenhouse ever since the manor had been expanded. Towards the front of the manor, over the entry way, was the magical laboratory and it held an adjoining door to the library for quick reference. The arcane enchanter, the staff enchanter, and all the lab equipment necessary for potion making were in there along with a hearty stock of ingredients and soul gems. The right side of the bottom floor held a gorgeous kitchen that was the living wet dream of any aspiring gourmet, and the left was a completely glass encased greenhouse that had been extended out and over the rocky ledge. Two bathrooms and an office were also on the bottom floor, as those had been added over the years. The cellar was accessible from the armory, though cleverly hidden, and it was primarily used for storage. Her fallen father’s and brothers’ things were still kept there for now, but they had been laid to rest in full armor in the family crypt years prior. The armory itself was seated on the back of the house, which had held the staves, blades, armor, and shields of the clan since the fourth era.
Besides wanting to learn more about the truth behind the civil war that had nearly torn Skyrim in twain, that was the big reason for Tarrowlyn’s delve into trying to create the Histomirror. Now she would have to start from scratch all over again, but she had a leg up this time. Building the device would take her only a quarter of the time, especially since she had the skill to machine all the parts herself. Not only that, she would make more than one now that she knew it worked. Tarrowlyn just needed to know what had gone wrong at the oculory. Had she turned up a single dial too high?
The front door to the manor opened and Tarrowlyn stopped in her tracks as Farkas walked through the double doors leading into the main hall. She had seen how sullen he had looked when leaving the property today, and her breath caught in her chest at the smile he cast her when his stormy gaze met hers. That smile reached his eyes and Tarrowlyn couldn’t help smiling in return even as her heart thundered in her breast.
Oh Mara and Dibella save her…
“ I’m back.” He announced softly.
Tarrowlyn took his catch from him and she allowed her fingers to trail a little longer than necessary over his skin. Her hands lingered with his a moment longer when he didn’t pull away. “ Welcome home…I mean back! Sorry…” she replied sheepishly. Her cheeks stained pink at the verbal faux paux and she cast her gaze down to the floor in her embarrassment.
Farkas’ palm settled against her cheek, and the warmth of it combated the heat in her face as he gently guided her gaze back up to his once more. “ Home is good…” he whispered as he leaned in.
Tarrowlyn felt her heart race even faster, despite the fact that she closed her eyes in preparation. Despite the fact that her lips barely parted to welcome his. It terrified her just how much she wanted to feel this man’s kiss, but Tarrowlyn felt as if she needed that kiss if she were going to draw her next breath.
“ Tarri? Was that the door I heard? If Farkas is back he needs to get an overnight bag prepped for when we go to Markarth!” Dahlia decreed from upstairs. She hadn’t left the library yet, so had not been privy to what was going on down below.
Her mother’s voice seemed to jolt her out of a stupor and Tarrowlyn jumped back as if struck by lightning. Her gaze was worried and confused as she looked Farkas in the eye, and her mouth open and closed like a fish gapping out of water. “ Yes Ma, he’s back and we both heard you. I’ll pack after supper. I’ll cook tonight!” she called out, though by some miracle she kept her voice steady. The look in Farkas’ eyes was something that thrilled and scared her at the same time. It reminded her of a wolf gauging its prey and he looked like he wanted to devour her.
Oh sweet divines help her, Tarrowlyn knew deep down that she wanted to be devoured.
Farkas watched the petite red head all but jet into the kitchen. The wolf in him wanted to chase down this new prey, but neither of them were in the mood to be interrupted again. Still, Tarrowlyn’s flight response had only engaged his predatory one, and Farkas grinned. He could tell that whatever this was between them, it was not one sided in the slightest. His beast knew this was an entirely different kind of prey, that this one wasn’t for eating. This one was for chasing, savoring.
Tarrowlyn might not realize it, but she had the world’s biggest target sign on her now.
Farkas went upstairs for now. This was a game of cat and mouse now, which tickled his humor as he was a werewolf. The first stop was into the bathroom to wash his hands, and the second was to the room he was using for now here at the manor. He pulled out the pack that Tarrowlyn had purchased in Riften and he began filling it with at least two days worth of clothing. It was better to be safe than sorry after all. His thoughts turned back to the almost kiss in the main hall and Farkas’ eyes softened in tenderness. It was comforting to know if things went to shit in trying to get him home, if he was unable to return home at all, that he had someone to look forward to. Tarrowlyn had wanted Farkas to kiss her just as much as he had wanted to in that moment. It could definitely wait for now. He had no intentions of letting this lie from here on out. Timing would be the deciding factor though. It would have to be when they were alone.
The only downside was that there was no telling when that would be.

Dahlia walked down the stairs while looking over a preserved piece of vellum that had writing on it. “ Tarri, are you busy at the moment?” she asked as she walked towards the kitchen.
“ I got my hands full, Ma. What’s going on?” Tarrowlyn replied as she looked over her shoulder. She had managed to neatly push back the feelings over what had nearly happened for now, but the young mage knew that she would need to sort them out before long.
“ I found something interesting while I was researching things from the fourth era. Look what name is down here. This is the original contract written by Jarl Siddgeir to Thane Dragonheart. Look at the name on here!” she exclaimed. Dahlia was not only excited about the name. She was excited about the find itself. Tarrowlyn was sure to share in that as soon as she realized their sudden fortune.
Tarrowlyn turned down the heat on the stove top before wiping any oils and grime from her hands on her apron. Gingerly, she took the vellum in hand and she read it over. “ Thane Tarrowlyn Dragonheart? Yeah, Pa found this years ago too from what he told me when I was ten. He loved the name and told me often I was named for the ancestor that started our line. I always kne….” Tarrowlyn began and then her eyes brightened in realization. “ This is the original contract from the fourth era! It’s enchanted for that matter, hence how it’s still in one piece!”
“ That means we have something that we can use to attune the machine with!” Dahlia finished exuberant. “ I can have a copy made when we go to Markarth in the morning. Jerra with have no trouble with that, plus he has the means of making it as official as possible.”
Tarrowlyn threw her arms around her mother and the two women bounced around in a small circle in their shared excitement. That was the scene Farkas walked in on and he looked at the two confused.
“ What’s this about needing something from the fourth era?” he asked before grabbing a bottle of mead from the refrigerator.
Tarrowlyn stopped and she handed her mother back the vellum before returning to the stove. “ Do you remember me talking about the contraption I built that exploded? The one that caused the anomaly that brought you here?” A nod answered her along with a muffled ‘Mmhmm’ as Farkas took a drink from the bottle in his hand. “ Well it needed something from the time I wanted to look at to attune to if my experiment stood any hope of succeeding. I was worried because the machine also destroyed the item in question, even if very little of it was left, but in the end I didn’t have anything to use on hand to get everything going again. Now, Ma’s found the original contract for the homestead that was given to my ancestor when she purchased it from the Jarl! It’ll take me about three months to rebuild the machine! That’s it! And from there I can try to recreate the anomaly to get you back home Farkas!” she explained, even if it was more excited rambling than anything.
Farkas absorbed what she said like a champ even if it was fast and excited and he took a long drink from his bottle. “ If you needed something from the fourth era, why didn’t you just ask me? Everything I arrived here with is from that time.” he inquired earnestly. “ In all honesty, I can part with the armor, so save your heirloom. That was the entire reason I saw the smith when I got measured. I had commissioned a new set to be made.”
Both Dahlia and Tarrowlyn stopped dead in their tracks and gave one another a deer in the lamplight kind of look. They hadn’t even thought to ask Farkas to use anything of his. Farkas saw the shared look and he threw his head back in laughter at them. For as smart as they were, they hadn’t really covered all their available options. Dahlia chuckled a little at first when Tarrowlyn snorted, and without fail both of their laughter joined his. The tension that had lingered with Tarrowlyn evaporated in that instant for that matter.
If all went well, it wouldn’t be long at all until her promise was kept!
“ Nonetheless, it won’t take near as long for me to get you home as we initially thought, Farkas!” Tarrowlyn exclaimed happily as she took her pan off the heat. Heartache stabbed her even as she said it, surprising the younger mage with the sheer agony of it, but Tarrowlyn said nothing and tried to show no outward reaction. Farkas would be happy about that, right?
While he was smiling, it wasn’t quite reaching his eyes as he looked at her. His gaze looked confused, worried even. Why would he look like that at hearing that it would take less time?
“ That sounds great.” Farkas said thickly after a few moments, although it was covered up with a long drain from his bottle. That was not as much of good news as it was supposed to be. He should be happy, as Tarrowlyn was going to be able to pinpoint what went wrong faster and then she would send him home to when he belonged. He’d never see her again or hear that laughter. Farkas knew that he would never see eyes as green as hers ever again. He’d miss everything about her. That thought hurt.
A lot.
“ I’ll be outside on the dummy run for a while...Call for me when supper’s ready.” Farkas drained the last of his bottle and he walked towards the stairs to get his sword from the weapon rack in his room.
Dahlia stayed silent through the exchange, though both their reactions had not gone unnoticed by her. Neither of them were happy with the idea of him going back so soon. There was nothing for it though. Farkas couldn’t stay here longer than a year or else the very fabric of time and space might be torn from events not being completed as they were supposed to be. “ I’ll be back up in the library, Tarri. I’m knee deep in my research right now and I still need to pen Iliana a letter to appraise her that we need a meeting upon our return to Winterhold. We have a week at most before we need to return to the college. You and Farkas may well be going to Markarth on your own tomorrow so that I can keep working on what I’m doing.” the matriarch said as she walked towards the main hall.
Tarrowlyn hadn’t asked her mother just what she was researching, and her curiosity was definitely piqued. “ Just what exactly are you looking for, Ma?”
Dahlia smiled sadly. “ I remember your great grandmother telling me stories from journals the first had kept. How she had kept detailed accounts of the treasures that she had found, which included not one, but three elder scrolls. I’m looking for clues as to where they could be just in case we need to look at other means of sending Farkas home. So far, everything just keeps pointing to the Throat of the World. More specifically the Grey Beards.”
Tarrowlyn nearly dropped her stirring spoon in surprise. The Grey Beards were a reclusive lot, just like the Psijics, though as far as they knew no Dragonheart had ever had contact with either sect. Well, it seemed as if that line of thinking was very far from the truth indeed. “ The Grey Beards?! That requires a trek to High Hrothgar! It’s not that far from here either on the same note.” the last part was added quietly and Tarrowlyn began stirring thoughtfully. The more she thought about it, the more it felt like she had to be the one to walk the seven thousand steppes. “ I’ll make the pilgrimage after we return from Markarth. This is my responsibility in the end.”
Dahlia nodded silently as she began walking back to the library. She needed to gather as much information as possible for Tarrowlyn in the two or three days that she and Farkas would be gone. Not only that, she would pen a detailed letter for Jerra with what they needed for Farkas. But before that, Dahlia grabbed a soul gem and she walked through the door to the lab. Attuning the gem to an orb on the center of the back wall, Dahlia smiled when her daughter in law Hela and her six year old granddaughter Misha came into view. “ Hela. Can you hear me?”
“ I hear you Ma. Mikhail is in the other room. Misha, go get your pa.” Hela said with a smile as she looked towards the mirror. “ It’s been a while since you’ve contacted us this way. What’s going on? It has to be important.”
“ I need Mikhail here tonight if possible. I know it’s a three hour drive from Markarth, but it’s important. He’s on leave right now anyways as he’s recuperating, right?”
Hela nodded and she rolled her eyes. “ He’s so ready to return to work he’s driving me mad. Getting him out of the house for the night will be perfect. Did you want to tell him or should I just pack an overnight bag and kick him out again?”
Dahlia snorted in her mirth and she looked at the faint glimmer of the soul gem. She had maybe a minute of time left as it was just a common one. “ I’ll let you kick him out. It keeps him humble and in line. Thank you my dear for being so understanding. Maybe you and Misha can come visit me in the next few weeks? We’re going back to the college soon and Misha keeps talking about wanting to see all the magic.” Dahlia said as she saw her granddaughter come running into the room.
She didn’t see Hela shiver strongly at the mention of the college.
“ Hi Gran-gran!” the young girl exclaimed as she jumped up in front of the mirror.
“ Hello my little love! I don’t have a lot of time to talk today, but I can tell you that Aunt Tarri is back home for a little while and you’re going to see her very soon!” Dahlia cooed lovingly. Her heart always pitter pattered when it came to Misha and the high mage reveled in being a grandmother to such a wonderful little human being.
Hela nodded in understanding even as she picked up her daughter to set her on her hip. “ Aha. I’ll prepare the one of the guest rooms for Tarrowlyn then.” She didn’t want to show it in front of her mother in law or her daughter, but Hela was worried. Something was coming and it concerned the mage’s college. What it was, however, Hela could not discern. She only got feelings of things.
This one was clearly an omen.
Dahlia held up one finger and she waggled it from side to side. “ Actually, Tarrowlyn is going to be traveling with a Companion. You’ll need to set up both rooms. I would love to talk more, but I have quite a bit I need to ready tonight before Mikhail gets here. I promise you we’ll talk more soon though.”
Hela nodded and she shifted Misha’s weight a little before giving her daughter a kiss on the forehead. “ We understand Ma. I’ll tell Mikhail he needs to head over to Lakeview as soon as possible. We love you!”
Dahlia smiled sweetly and she blew both of them a kiss. “ I love you as well. Goodbye for now!” The connection went dark just as soon as she had and Dahlia hurried back into the library. She needed to get to work!
Mikhail entered the room just as the mirror lost the image of his mother and he looked to his wife. He was fairly tall, just over six foot, and he had broad shoulders like his pa had when he was still among the living. He had ruddy red hair, nowhere near as red as his sister’s of course, but he had their ma’s eyes and face. Mikhail fancied himself to be quite a handsome and strapping man for his age, considering he was nearly thirty after all, and he was just entering his prime. “ What did my ma need, Hela?” he asked as he crossed the room. He took Misha from her and the little girl smothered his cheek in kisses. He laughed a little, and Mikhail blew raspberries against her neck. Misha’s bright laughter rang bright and loud in his ear as his beard tickled her, and Mikhail set her down once more. “ Bath time, little fairy. Go on now.” His sword arm was almost back to full strength thanks to his own brand of physical therapy.
Keeping up with his young daughter.
Hela gave her husband a kiss as well before cupping his cheek. “ You need to make haste over to your mother’s. Tonight. She couldn’t give me any details over the crystal call, but Tarrowlyn’s back from Mzulft. There’s something big brewing, husband. I’m not so sure I like the feeling I’m getting.” Hela whispered.
Mikhail nodded simply and he returned her kiss. Hela had an amazing intuition. “ Is it extreme unease or is it just small right now?”
Hela sighed as she looked at the mirror. “ It’s small for now. I’m worried about later on though.”
Mikhail looked at the darkened mirror worriedly. The last time Hela had gotten a feeling like this, his brothers had been killed. She had old magick that ran through her veins, but in minute amounts that she couldn’t use it herself. This kind of foresight though? It was right every single time even if all she got was a feeling. “ What else did Ma say?”
“ They’re going back to the college soon. Probably in the next few days or else she’d be here with Tarri as well.” Hela whispered as she rubbed her arms as if to warm herself.
Mikhail pulled Hela into his embrace and he kissed her lovingly. “ We’ll roll with the punches as we go, love. I’ll pack an overnight bag and get over there. I love you and I’ll see you tomorrow with my sister.”
Hela smiled fondly. Mikhail’s loving warmth always banished the chill she got when her gifts activated without warning. “ I’ll see the three of you then. Ma said Tarri has a new traveling companion.” Her hazel eyes dilated wide and she smiled broadly as euphoria made her feel a little punch drunk. “ The two of you are going to get along famously. That’s good to know that this feeling isn’t associated with whoever your sister’s new friend.”
Mikhail mirrored her smile as they began walking from the room, and he began wondering about this mystery person. Had his sister finally brought home a man for their mother to approve of? He doubted it, but one could hope. Misha was splashing in the tub already and Mikhail decided he was going to finish cleaning her up and tuck her in before he left.
It didn’t take long for him to finish things up at home and Mikhail left Vlindrel Hall, a home that had been in his family for ages upon ages, after giving his wife one more loving kiss goodbye. There was a parking garage for those like himself that had magicars near the stables and Mikhail put his overnight bag in the backseat before climbing into the driver’s seat. During the drive, his thoughts turned to what had happened to place him on medical leave, and his hands gripped the steering wheel tightly enough for his knuckles to turn white.
Mikhail still hadn’t told Dahlia or Tarrowlyn what had happened to cause the injury that had nearly taken his arm. He hadn’t told them that the night he had been on watch for the Tomb of the Fallen, the final resting place of the Dragonheart clan since the fourth era, someone had broken in and he had tried to apprehend them. The blade that had clashed with his had been a summoned one. He hadn’t even told Hela all the specifics, but once he had come to and he had at least stunted the bleeding wound in his arm, Mikhail had noticed some bones were missing from his father’s crypt and the stone casket that was supposed to hold the remains of the first was broken and empty. The stone casket was only there for show, as the first of their line had been Harbinger of the Companions and had been laid to rest fully in the tomb of Ysgramor. It wasn’t on paper whatsoever to prevent mishaps like this.
He knew he had to tell them. Mikhail wasn’t sure how or when.
The manor was dark save for the library when he arrived, and Mikhail entered silently through the front hall in case if everyone was sleeping. A small spring snow had just started lightly falling when he pulled up, and he kept his footfall as quiet as possible as he moved towards the stairs.
“ We already know you’re here, Mik. We’re all awake, just in the library.” came Tarrowlyn’s voice from above.
Dahlia was writing furiously at her desk as Tarrowlyn sorted the books on the table into piles. His mother didn’t even look up to great him and Mikhail groaned. How had his mother settled into this state in just a matter of hours?!
“ Thank the divines you’re here. Maybe you can help me kick her out of here for the night. She only came down for supper and then she was back at it again. I already broke the enchantment that she normally uses to keep things from being put away, and now we just need to get her into bed.” Tarrowlyn said wearily. She pointed over to a slightly dazed man that was sitting in the chair looking as if he was just coming to. “ He ran right into her barrier when he came up to check on her.” The apple did not fall far from the tree where she was concerned. Tarrowlyn had the same bad habits when she got like this.
Mikhail crossed over to the man as he was close enough and he held out his hand in salutations. “ I’m Tarrowlyn’s brother Mikhail.”
“ The name’s Farkas.” He replied. There was a bit of dried blood coming from his nose and Farkas rubbed at it. He hadn’t been expecting that. It was like walking into a thick glass door! He took Mikhail’s offered hand and the man helped him up to his feet.
“ Named for the famed Companion of Jorrvaskr then?” Mikhail asked with a grin. Hela had been right that they would get along well.
Tarrowlyn chuckled as she shook her head. She was shelving the books at this point. “ Not exactly.” She said and Mikhail gave her a confused look and she looked over to her mother and then to Farkas. With a shrug, Tarrowlyn nodded to Farkas to continue and the man chuckled.
Dahlia was going to be pissed she missed it, but she wasn’t letting anything derail her at this point in time.
Farkas clapped his hand on Mikhail’s shoulder. “ Let me try that again. I’m Farkas, a Companion of Jorrvaskr and member of the Circle under Kodlak Whitemane.” he said clearly. Tarrowlyn’s brother went white as if he had seen a ghost and his jaw dropped in shock.
Without warning, Mikhail’s brown eyes rolled up into his head and he fell backwards, unconscious.
The thunk of a body hitting the floor snapped Dahlia out of her frenzied writing state and she turned around. She screamed in shock at the sight of her ashen faced son laying there unconscious, and she looked between Tarrowlyn and Farkas as they gasped for breath from laughing too hard. “ I thought we agreed I’d be able to watch his reaction!” she cried out in dismay.
That only made them laugh harder in the long run.
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Dragonheart: Trials of the Arch Mage