Skyrim's Saviors

8: Red Meridwulf

Aela and I finally arrived in the Reach, and when we get into position, I slip into the redoubt and Aela waits outside, unless she is needed, she will remain out there, her bow and arrow at the ready. I slip into the shadows, and walk into the main chamber of this place.

That is when I see the people in cages, and smell the fear on the air. As I am a werewolf, I can smell things a lot like a wolf does. I turn to look at the man who is likely the leader of them, Madanach, I believe.

But then, my attention is brought to a girl who is now facing me, and looking at me. She is a Breton and has shoulder length red hair and dark eyes. She wears some leather armor, not anything with the Forsworn armor. She looks back at Madanach, but then shakes her head and walks up to me.

"You want to save them?" she whispers.

"Why wouldn't I? They're in cages!"

She looks back at Madanach and sighs. "I will help you. I ... Madanach has my love, Vorstag. He is in danger and we need to get him out of here. Before they kill him."

I nod. I then do the call to Aela, the sound is a lot like a bird call. Moments pass, and the girl looks at me quizzically.

"That's my friend, she's going to help us," I say.

Aela slips down into the little alcove we are hidden in, and she gets her bow ready.

"Who's this?" Aela asks me.

"I'm Xylene," says the girl. "I want to help you, they have my lover, Vorstag, he's in a cage and I know they're going to kill him if they see that I'm helping you."

"Then hide while we fight," Aela says.

Xylene shakes her head. "No. You need help. Let me go after Madanach."

"Are you sure?" Aela asks.

Xylene nods, and then she draws her sword and runs off. Aela shakes her head and readies her bow. "Harbinger, go get the prisoners out of here. I've got your back."

I nod and run towards the cages. Chaos erupts, and Forsworn lunge at us, swinging their swords and axes, and firing their arrows. I duck and skid on the ground, and then I jump up and start to pick the lock on an Orc girl's cage.

The Orc girl stands up as I open her cage, and I hear the Forsworn yelling as they advance on us. I move on from the first cage, and the Orc girl attacks a nearby Forsworn, kicking a Forsworn's sword out of his grasp and catches it in her hands. She then decapitated the Forsworn in front of her.

Aela shoots a Forsworn that was in front of me, and he collapses. I stumble towards the cage where a Nord man, who I'm guessing is Vorstag, is sitting.

"Get me a weapon!" Vorstag shouts. "I can help you fight these bastards!"

I unlock his cage and hand him two daggers. He smiles and brushes past me. He runs to Xylene's side, and the two of them fight side by side. Aela and I reach the Orc girl, and she looks at us, her dark eyes wide with shock. 

"How did you know we were here?"

"We're the Companions," I say. "We are supposed to help."

She nods. "I want to join the Companions, then. I've got nothing left for me in Markarth. So where do you live?"

"Whiterun," Aela says.

Xylene and Vorstag come up to us then. "Madanach is dead, thank the gods."

"I'll settle for thanking you," says the Orc girl. "By the way, I am Safilrah M'ith-Si. You can call me Safi."

I look at Xylene and her lover. "Thank you both for your help. I'm Red Meridwulf, and this is Aela the Huntress."

Xylene nods. "Well, maybe I should join you Companions too. What say you, Vorstag?"

He shrugs. "I dunno. I like being a sell-sword."

I bite my tongue, as I want to say, the Companions are basically glorified sell-swords. But I don't.

"Well, let's see what you can do," Aela says. "Come on, let's all head back to Whiterun. Then, we can figure out what we are going to do from there. The Companions are always looking for new recruits."

"Even if they aren't a Nord?" Safi asks.

"Athis isn't a Nord," Aela says. "He's a Dunmer."

"Ah," Safi says.

"Kodlak said what matters is their heart," I say. "What matters is the heart."

"Hmm," Xylene mutters. She looks at Vorstag. "I want to go. Do you mind?"

He shakes his head. "I'll follow you anywhere, Xylene."

She kisses him and then faces us. "Okay, let's go."