Scales and Hearts | A Skyrim Fanfiction

Chapter Six: Bleak Falls Barrow

Druthza

Our trek back toward Whiterun gave both me and Derkeethus some time to get to know one another, and some time to explain our combat dynamics.

And after that latter conversation, I found myself thinking we'd make a good team, but I wasn't sure if I wanted to assume that just yet.

Keeth was skilled with a bow, and explained his proficiency in being able to take out distant targets with ease whilst keeping his general location mostly hidden. But when it came time to get physical with his enemies, he was competent enough to properly use a one-handed weapon to his advantage.

As for me, a sharp blade and a shield (if I had one) were my go-to choice to take down any who stood in my way (even if I could use a bow if necessary,) and if that were coupled with an archer like Keeth, I still had that feeling of certainty that we wouldn't have too many problems arising in the whole "combat" scheme of things.

In terms of personalities and social interactions, he and I weren't too different. Derkeethus was a rather laid-back, calm Argonian, with a generous amount of courtesy, curiosity, and intelligence mixed in, alongside a bit of audacity which gave his personality a bit of flare for an otherwise level-headed individual.

Overall, he seemed pretty nice thus far, even if we had been traveling and talking for about two and a half hours as of now, the distant structures that represented the two towers I passed early this morning (apparently called the "Valtheim Towers" on my map) eventually came into view, causing me to smile faintly.

Speaking of my map... "hey, Druthza, what are those arrows supposed to represent?" Derkeethus wondered, pointing towards the two inkblot arrows which were positioned beside each other. The white arrow still represented me, but with the edition of the new emerald-green arrow, I came to the conclusion that I represented my new companion.

"Those are you and me," I clarified, "the white one is mine, and the emerald one is yours. And if you're going to ask: no, I don't actually know how this map is able to do this, it's baffling me."

"Hmmm..." he hummed with curiosity, and then his olive-green brows perked up as his pale silvery-green eyes twinkled with confusion, his drab white shirt fluttering gently as a breeze blew by. "I don't think you ever mentioned it, or maybe I'm just being forgetful, but: where exactly are we going?"

"Bleak Falls Barrow," I stated calmly, pointing towards the mountain just northwest of Riverwood on the map. "But... maybe I should just start from the beginning and tell you all that's happened to lead up to this moment."

I then summed up everything that had happened to me thus far: the execution, Alduin's sudden appearance, the message I sent to Whiterun, and then, finally, my current quest.

After relaying all that information to Derkeethus, he just seemed speechless for a second, eyes wide in shock before he quickly regained himself. "So...you're telling me that the World Eater himself has returned, destroyed Helgen while you escaped, and Jarl Balgruuf's mage gave you the task of retrieving a stone which'll show different dragon burial sites...?" He wondered, seemingly not convinced about my information. "Forgive me, Druthza, but I'm not sure if I believe all of that."

I sighed heavily, "something told me you'd say that... even if you don't immediately believe it, that's exactly what has transpired for me over the course of yesterday and into today." I said, "and I hope you decide to stick around and help me out once I get to the Barrow."

Keeth nodded his head, "I asked to come along, didn't I? I think it'd be customary to help you as you helped me. It's only fair." He told me, that courteous smile of his stretching across his olive-green snout before another question left his mouth. "How long do you think it'll take for us to get there?"