Mists on the Mountains

Chapter 3: A Short Stop on Life's Journey

Chapter 3

A Short Stop on Life's Journey

"By the Nine Divines boy! Don't just run from ruin to ruin and fight to fight! Rest awhile, laugh, create, eat, make love. It's a dark world and those little breaks make it worth living."- Words to Would-Be Adventurers, written by Rigile Doubleswords and published 3E 421

"So these are the legendary Guardian Stones, huh?" Hammel asked casually. "You know I've never actually seen them with my own eyes." He shook his head, "I never got around to it, didn't see the point, I guess. Then I spent so much time out of Skyrim that I didn't have the chance."

The trio of Standing Stones stood proud, lording over the nearby river. They were crafted from a dark marble, too impossibly smooth to be natural. Each had a constellation carved into them, the one farthest was The Thief, then The Mage and finally The Warrior. The grouped Stones reminded Hammel of brothers who, despite their differences, could always depend on the other. Hammel didn't want to admit it but he could feel something, some sort of strange power originating from the Stones.

The three escaped prisoners had been walking around the valley for some time, munching on bread, drinking mead, and making very little progress towards civilization. It was getting dark and Hammel didn't want to spend the night outside. Even a lone wolf could kill him in his sleep.

They hadn't spoken to each other for most of the journey and it wasn't until they came across the Guardian Stones that Lianna and Ralof showed any real emotion beyond exhaustion.

"That's too bad," Ralof said, "I always found a visit to the Standing Stones helps calm my mind." He moved closer and looked on reverently, "Aside from that comfort, I finally know where we are now."

"They're that special?" Hammel asked, trying not to appear incredulous.

"I'm disappointed that you even ask," Lianna said with disdain, "The power of the stars isn't to be ignored."

A woman's face appeared in his mind, pretty but worn out, with a few teeth missing. He looked up at her face and heard her words. "The stars are our friends, and our allies. They'll protect you even when I can't. The Lady who marked your birth will guide you along the way."

With sheer force of will, Hammel blocked the images of Ellaina Greymist. Thinking of his mother wasn't something he did by choice.

His internal conflict resolved, he shrugged, "Sorry. I always trusted more in my swords than the stars."

"These stones," Ralof explained, patting The Warrior casually, ignoring Lianna's outburst, "Allow you to harness the power of the constellations. Simply put, pick one of the stones, accept its blessing and you'll be better at certain things. What do you have to lose?"

He admitted, the logic was there. Still, "I was born under The Lady, and I don't know if she ever helped me."

Lianna snorted but Ralof responded simply, "Perhaps you need a different guardian, eh?"

Perhaps I do.

Hammel approached The Warrior. He'd been always told that The Lady was one of The Warrior's charges, so perhaps her battle-hardened master might serve him better. Stretching out his hand, Hammel brushed his hand against the Warrior Stone. He couldn't feel anything through the fur gauntlets so he removed them. When his bare fingers made contact he realised it was the smoothest thing he'd felt in many years as he heard the strong Nordic voice faintly in the back of his mind, "Do you accept my gift?"