Skyrim's Saviors

34: Safilrah M'ith-Si

When I come to in a cold cell, with stone walls all around me, save for a metal gate between me and freedom. I stare at the gate for a while before finally dragging myself to a standing position. Shockingly, my legs and arms are not bound. Perhaps they think me trapped in here, alone, with no way out.

I scoff at that.

I dig into my pockets and pull out my lockpicks, and by the time I get the door to open, I am face to face with a High Elf girl who looks at me with a worried look on her face. "You are one of three prisoners here, aside from me. I was sent here to heal you. So that, I will do. But if you wish to escape ...."

"Who are you? Where am I?" I ask her.

"Taaren Salingahl, and the Silver Hand have found you, Companion. They've already killed two of your friends. And if you don't hurry, they may kill more."

She leads me down a corridor and up some stairs. We round a corner, and come into a large chamber filled with cages. I see people trapped inside three of them, and when I realize who I see, my heart stops and sinks. Liethel and Red, both of them are fine. But Xylene and Farkas? Where....?

Oh. Oh, no.

I run to Red's cell, and she just sits there, holding her stomach with one hand, and staring off into space. They've already killed two of your friends. Farkas and Xylene. They are both gone?

Judging by the haunted look in Red's eyes, I suppose they are. I look at Taaren. "We have to get them out of here."

She nods. "Well, can you pick the locks?"

I walk over, readying to open the door to Red's cell with my lockpicks, when she shakes her head and speaks. Her voice is broken. Haunted. Torn apart by the pain she feels.

"Why bother?"

She's given up.

"Come on, Red," I say. "We've gotta go back. Aela and Vilkas will be worried sick."

She laughs, a dry, mirthless sound. She tilts her head to the side and looks at me. "You don't get it, do you? Farkas and Xylene are dead. Vilkas, Aela, and Vorstag won't want to see me anymore."

"That's a lie and you know it."

"Is it? They both died by my sword. My blade killed them both."

"Technically, my blade killed Farkas," says Liethel from her cell.

"It  doesn't matter! We need to get out of here now, Red!" Taaren snaps.

"Why? Where can I go where I'd be wanted?"

"With Aela!" I exclaim. She looks at me. "Don't tell me you didn't notice how she looks at you. Aela loves you, Red. And if that's not enough.... I don't know what is."

"You still have to purify Farkas's spirit," says Liethel.

"And, not to mention, what we found out earlier. I was not lying to you or saying what you wanted to hear, I was telling you the truth. Red. You are pregnant. With Farkas's child. And if you don't get out of here right now .... all will be lost."

We all gape at Taaren. She looks away, shaking her head. "Come on, we've got to do this. Please. Let's just go and get home safe."

I pick the locks and Liethel emerges, and I turn to Red, seeing her stand up slowly, her hand still on her stomach. She stares at her belly, her eyes full of tears. "Okay. For Farkas."

I smile at her and nod. "For Farkas."