Skyrim IV: The Ghost of Hamvir's Rest

Chapter Thirteen: A Deal with the Daedra

Karliah lead us down into the cavern of Haemar's Shame. Sinding lead Arodil, with his hand on the elf's shoulder making sure he didn't fall but didn't try to attack anyone. I was right behind Karliah who walked us into a big cavern with an open space. Past a small balcony below a set a stairs was a large statue that was most likely the Shrine to Clavicus Vile. And at it's feet stood Serana and Aela, with Barbas sitting near the foot of it. 
  Serana smiled when she saw us and gave a little wave. Karliah looked at me and said, "Looks like everyone is here in one piece." She seemed a little weary from the night before, and Sinding had told me that she had confided in him over a former lover. I saw no problem with that. I trusted Karliah as a person, and saw that she was acting on personal matters for her own agendas. After all, we needed her as the granddaughter of Queen Barenziah, and she needed me as Dragonborn. As we went down the steps, Barbas yapped, "Finally! Took you long enough!"
"I apologize for being a simple mortal, Barbas, but I am only human." I say as I stand besides Serana and Aela and look up at the giant statue. 
  It appeared like a horned young man, and it held it's left arm up, holding a strange mask in it's left hand. 
  "Ooo, I like her, Barbas...she has fire." Said a strange sounding voice from the statue. I quickly put it together that it was most likely the voice of Clavicus Vile.  I hear a sound like a laugh. "Barbas, you ole mutt, not only did you send the slaves to Hircine and Molag Bal here, you brought me one of those Nightingales, two mortals who smell of both Hircine and Bal and a elven killer. You really trying hard at trying to win back my favor, pooch." 
   Sinding gestured for Arodil to sit down which the elf clumsily did with his bound hands. Sinding stayed by his side and nodded for me and I stepped forward, Karliah by my side. 
"Clavicus Vile, I have come to speak to you." I say, raising my voice to let the Daedric Prince know I was serious in my personal matters to him. Karliah is silent as I speak, her violet eyes searching the room. 
   "Oh I know you have, Mortal." Clavicus Vile purred, "Old Barbas here told me you would come, and that you wanted to make a deal with me." 
My chest clenched as I said, "I never told him I agreed to de-"
Vile's laugh shook the cave as he said, "So predictable!" 
  Barbas growled in response and Vile's laughing halted instantly, "Fine, I'll listen to what you say, mortal. But out of curiosity, what is tearing at your little brain that you would want to know from me? How to end the war? The secrets of the Thalmor? I can give you any of that, but it may cost you that child in your belly."  
  I stiffened in fear at the latter comment and I could hear Clavicus Vile chuckle, "So tense, little mortal. I have no interest in the affairs of an unborn baby, not until they can offer me something. But in all seriousness, what is it that you want?"
  I saw Arodil look up in the statue in horror, but I remember that while Vile mentioned my unborn baby, he mentioned the Thalmor Secrets that would of made Arodil's skin crawl. I saw Sinding slowly shake his head at me when Karliah speaks up. "Enough of your games, Clavicus Vile and let the girl speak." Her voice was clear and loud, showing no fear. Only determination.
  "One of Nocturnal's spawn." Vile made a sound that sounded like he was clucking his tongue, "I'm surprised to see one of you here. From what I heard down the grapevine, there are no more Nightingales of Nocturnal. So this comes across as a shock."
   I see Karliah's cheeks flush but she says, her voice in cold fury. "At least Nocturnal loves her followers." 
   Aela made an audible sound in her throat, and I stood there stunned. From all the Daedric Princes I had met or even known, Nocturnal seemed to be the least evil. But that didn't say much. But Karliah's remark was enough for Vile to roar into laughter. I heard the sound of footsteps and saw Sinding appear by my side. He gaze me an leery look as Clavicus Vile said, "I'm sorry, I just haven't had this much fun in millennia. You mortals are so gullible!" I look over at Sinding and roll my eyes. I see Serana cross her arms and says, "You had your fun, are you done yet?" 
   "Alright, alright mortals. What is it that you want?" Vile's voice dropped and he said. "And why is Barbas so interested in you?"
  Sinding took my hand and squeezed it, and I took a breath and said. "I'm here for you to break the curse on the Headless Horseman and to return us the God-Cleaver on his back to the Companions of Jorrvasker." 
   Silence. My skin crawled at it. Aela looked at me, her eyebrows raised in concern before I heard one word. 
  "No." 
 "No?" I repeat, my hands clenched at my side. "What do you mean no?" 
"No is no, Mortal. I have no interest in your request." Clavicus Vile says. 
Barbas growls and then Clavicus Vile says, "I'll only help you with your request, if you help me with something in return."
  "And pray tell, what would that be?" 
We turn as Arodil slowly gets to his feet. His cuffed hands made him clumsy, but he wasn't looking at us. He was looking up at the shrine. "What is the cost for you helping them?" He said, looking at me. 
   I sucked in a breath, unsure of what was going on inside his head. 
"Bring me back the Rueful Axe and I will trade you the God-Cleaver Axe." Vile said, "An axe for an axe? A fair trade for a fair trade. And then I will break your curse. And I'll take the Mutt back too if that sweetens your deal?"
  Barbas barked. "If? There are no ifs, Clavicus. If you want your Axe, then these mortals need me to help them. If you don't bring me back to you, then I won't help them find the Rueful Axe and then you will never get it because they won't be able to find it." 
  "Alright, Alright, ALRIGHT!" Clavicus Vile's voice boomed in anger, causing the cave to shake and pieces of the stones to crumble.  We struggle to keep our footing. Sinding helps me stay up as we look up at the Shrine as Vile says. "Bring me the Rueful Axe from Sebastian Lort and I'll break the curse of your headless friend, give you the axe and take back Barbas. Now, be off with you all before I change my mind." 
    The cave shook and then fell into silence. The only sound heard was our breathing and our thrumming hearts. 
Barbas whimpered and said, "He really decided to make it hard for you all."
"Why?" Aela demanded. "What's so hard about getting back an axe from this Lort?" 
 Barbas sat down and scratched behind his ear and said. "Lort was devout worshiper of Clavicvus Vile, so you can imagine his horror when his only daughter became a devotee to Hircine."
   Sinding and I share a look when Aela says, "So I take it that he went to Vile to find a cure for his daughter?" 
  Barbas whimpered, "Yes, Vile gave him an axe."