Skyrim's Saviors

29: Red Meridwulf

I've been crying for ages. Xylene is dead. I watched the life fade from her eyes. She died by impaling herself on my sword. I don't even know how that happened... or why. Did she take her life?

I stand up and pace my cell, unable to go far, as there's chains wrapped around my ankle. I pace and pace, thinking of tomorrow, or maybe even later today.

They're making us face off against each other in a fight to the death. We will have to kill each other. Will I have to kill Farkas? Oh, gods, I hope not. I love him. I can admit that. But if I were to lose him ....

I shake my head. I can't think that way. I have to face the fact that things are going to change, but at the same time, I feel like I must fight it.

I look down at my leg, where the chain is wrapped tightly around me, and I pull as hard as I can, but it is no use. I grumble under my breath, and just as I am about to sit, the door to my cell opens. I clench my fists and ready myself. I am going to get out of here, and I'm going to rescue the others.

But it isn't a Silver Hand asshole who walks in. No, it is Taaren, whose legs are chained together, and as she limps into the cell, she closes the door behind her, and stands just out of my reach.

Taaren tilts her head to the side, watching me closely. "You look like shit."

"Gee, thanks," I growl. "Probably because you let my friend die!"

She shakes her head. "I didn't do anything."

"Exactly!" I shout. "You could've healed her, or done something. Anything. But no. You hid."

"I didn't hide, I was in the stands," she snaps. "They wouldn't let me do anything to help. I tried though, I really did. And I got this for it." She raises her hand, and I gasp. Her hand is broken. She tucks it back into its cast, and then glares at me deeply. "The Silver Hand act like I am one of them only when they have prisoners. I am not their friend, I am their prisoner. And when I tried to rebel, well, it didn't work."

"What if we all did?" I ask.

She shakes her head and slowly tries to stand up. She walks towards the door, and as I struggle to get her to come back, I realize she's not going to help us.

"Tomorrow, we fight to the death. If Farkas dies .... and you don't do anything .... I will kill you."

She smiles. "Not my first death threat, girl." She limps from the room, closing the door and locking it behind her.

Fresh rage embraces me, cold and unyielding. I stand up and unleash my wolf side. Fur ripples over my skin, and I feel my body twisting. I morph into my wolf form, and I snarl and rip the chain out of the wall, leaving a small hole in the wall.

I charge at the door, ripping it apart with my claws, and then I run towards the other end of the hall, and I follow the scent of Taaren and Farkas, of anything or anyone else who might be trapped here. I run and run, until I finally round a corner, and I am struck hard enough to make me stumble and fall.

Looking up, I snarl as I face the leader of the Silver Hand, staring at me, aiming an arrow right at my chest.

"Move, and this arrow will pierce your flesh," she snarls.

I smack the arrow out of her bow's grip, and I lunge at her, tearing into her body, as she screams, but soon, is silenced. I end up blacking out, and when I come to, I am back to my humanoid form, and I am soaked head to toe in blood.

I killed the Silver Hand leader.