Skyrim's Saviors

37: Red Meridwulf

Aela and I ride and ride until reaching Falkreath, and we tid our horses to a tree outside the city, and head straight for the prison. The guards let us go down and see the man, who is shirtless and wears a pair of brown pants, and as he approaches us, his eyes,  so haunted and ashamed, look from me to Aela.

"You ... you're werewolves. Like me," he says.

"Yes, we are. What is your name?" Aela says.

"Sinding," he says. "Have you come to gawk at me? Kill me, perhaps?"

"No. We need to speak with you about Hircine. Do you know where to find him?" Aela asks.

"This ring is his. If you take it to Bloated Man's Grotto, after slaying the White Stag that wanders the outside of Falkreath, it is said Hircine will appear. That's where the Wild Hunt will begin."

He holds his hand out, grabbing mine through the bars of his cell. And then he forces the ring into my hand. "That's the only way you'll see him. Put it on, but be careful. It can make you randomly take the form of a werewolf."

I reluctantly put it on and look at Aela. Suddenly, Sinding starts morphing. He morphs into his werewolf form, and leaps up the wall of the cell, and up out of sight.

I look at Aela. "Let's go find this stag."

××××××××××××××

It isn't hard to find the huge, white stag that is bent over a small river, and Aela nods at me. I draw my bow, nock an arrow, and aim at the stag. Aela stands off to the side, her bow and arrow at the ready as well.

I sent the arrow flying. And then, I watch it pierce the eye of the stag. It shrieks and collapses, and Aela and I run to it. Suddenly, a white mist bursts from the stag, and it forms into the image of the stag before us.

"Well met, hunters. You have done well, killing my stag."

"Prince Hircine," I say, bowing my head. Aela does the same.

"No need to bow before me, wolves. I have been watching you closely and know of the deal you wish to make with me."

I glance at Aela, who stares at the aspect of Hircine before us. I look back at him.

"You seek to reunite with your dead lover, hunter. But I am here to say that is no easy path."

"What must I do to get Farkas back?" I ask.

He chuckles. "So eager. But first ...." He turns to Aela. "Go, follow Sinding to Bloated Man's Grotto, and kill him. Tear the flesh from his bones and wear it as armor."

"It will be done, my Lord," she says. She looks at me. "Good luck, Harbinger." She then races off into the woods.

I turn back to Hircine.

"Now, I will take you to the Hunting Grounds. If you survive all the way to your lover, perhaps a deal can be made. But you must first find him within my realm. Think you can do that without taking on your beast form, oh pregnant servant of mine?"

"I can certainly try."

He nods. "Very well."

There's a flash of silvery light, and then, I am standing alone in the middle of the woods, a blood-red sky and moons hanging overhead.

"Good luck, young hunter."

I start to walk.