Skyrim IV: The Ghost of Hamvir's Rest

Chapter Sixteen: God-Cleaver

"Well, well, well. Looks like you weren't all as worthless as I initially thought." Clavicus Vile's snarky voice rang in his temple, above where his Statue stood.  If the statue could move, he would be making a nasty expression on his face towards us. I'm glad it couldn't move for many reasons. We all looked for the worst. Sinding, while much better, still held a hand over his side where he was wounded. Most likely he would always carry a scar there now. Serana looked angry, her arms crossed. I think she was ready to be done with this as much as I was. Barbas stood in front of the statue, his paws on the stones. "Alright Vile, we brought you back the Rueful Axe, now take me back and give them the real axe they want!"
  "But what fun is in that?" Vile's voice said slyly, and my stomach dropped. 
"No, you promised us if we did this, if we returned you the Rueful Axe, that you will give us the God-Cleaver and be done." Karliah said, her voice thick with anger. "Now, fulfill your oath to us!" 
"Maybe that worked with Nocturnal, or even Hircine...." Vile's voice was sickly sweet, "But it won't work with me......how about I give you a better bargain?" 
   My hands bawled into fists. 
"Kill Barbas, and you can walk away with the God-Cleaver and the Rueful Axe." Clavicus Vile said. 
  The room went dead quiet. No one spoke a word. Barbas turned and looked at us. "He's lying."
"Funny coming from you," Aela says, "You do now that since we started this little quest, that both the Dragonborn and her spouse's lives were at risk? Maybe it we just took care of you, our problems would be over."
I grabbed Aela's arm, "Aela... don't fall into this trap. I know how the Daedra think, he's goading us."
  "I don't know, Tanii. That damn dog has gotten us into enough issues. And imagine two axes in our grasp, and not in the Thalmor's." Her green eyes flickered at Arodil.
  I looked down at Barbas, who had his tail in between his legs and was cowering. "I made a promise to you." He said. "While Vile will try to make it seem that I was lying, I plan to stay true to my word." 
  I look at him, and I can tell, he was speaking the truth. I look at Karliah, and she meets my gaze as I grasp onto the Rueful Axe. I give her a nod, and she helps me lift up the war axe and we lift it and set it on the altar to Clavicus Vile's Shrine. 
  The room went quiet and I saw as Barbas quickly start to wag his tail. "I KNEW I COULD TRUST YOU!"
  "Ugh!! DAMN YOU!" Vile howled. "Way too smart!!!"
"A bargain is a bargain, Clavicus Vile." I said, "We kept our word, you keep yours." 
 "FIIIINNNNNEEEEEE." Vile huffed. "You will find the God-Cleaver in Hamvir's Rest. The Headless Horseman always rides back there by dawn. The Axe should be there since he is now free. But, under one condition....both you and Nocturnal's friend here will have to take it from the Headless Horseman's hands. And then it will be yours he and will be free." 
  "That's it? No loopholes?" Aela asks.
"None, I'm tired of you all now." Vile made a sighing sound. "Come on, Pooch. Get up here. Things have been a little boring without you...and I miss my full power." 
  Barbas wags his tail and barks at us, "I appreciate your help. If you ever need anything, just pray to me and I'll see what I can do." He stepped up unto the platform and looped around Vile's legs to stand at the side with the outstretched hand. Barbas lifted his head up and started to grow to match Vile's height. Once he was at his full size, he faded away into stone and the room went very silent. 
  No one said a word. 
Not one.
Until Sinding said, "Just for the record, I won't be praying to him for any favors."
"Agreed." Karliah nodded. "Now let's go get our Axe and be done with this."
"Aye." I agree.
......................................................................................

  We road hard and fast towards Hamvir's Rest. We made a two day trip into one, only stopping to give the horses water and rest before we kept moving on. By the time we could see the old ruins of Hamvir's Rest, I was sore with blisters from being in the saddle. I just wanted to go home, and soak in the tub. But not yet, but we were almost done. 
  We approached the tomb a few feet away. Dawn was about an hour away, but there was no sign of the Headless Horseman. I stumbled off of my horse's back when Karliah comes up besides me. She was now off her own steed and she held up a hand to the others. "I think it's safe if Taniiaae and I just go ahead. Let us finish this and be done."
"The Spector isn't even there." Aela grumbled.
"Maybe because he's waiting for just those two." Serana said. She looked at Sinding and then back at us. "I don't mind waiting. Let them finish this, as the Dragonborn and Heir of Baranziah. Then we can go home." 
  I wanted to hug Serana for that remark.
Sinding nodded, "I agree." He turns towards me, "My love, do what you need to do, and then we can rest."  The idea of rest made me want to go home even more. Karliah smiled. "We will see you shortly." 
  We parted ways with the others and got closer to the tomb. The ruins were rounded by the cliff side, with small  barred windows in it's side. Burial stones stood around it in a circular formation, making it stand out from some of the others tombs I have seen.
    "Who goes there?!" cried a ghostly voice. My blood chilled as a ghostly rider sits astride his spectral steed at the end of the formation by the barred window.  
 "That's him, is it not?" Karliah said. I nodded. The specter sat on top of his horse, headless, with the large battle axe, God-Cleaver strapped to his back. 
We slowly made our way over to him, as to not scare him off. 
"We are here for the God-Cleaver." Karliah said, softly. "We freed you from your debt from Clavicus Vile. We were told by him that if we free you, you would give us the axe."
"And you believed him? The Daedric Lord of Bargains?" The Headless Horseman responded. 
  I look over at Karliah, my chest clenching. It couldn't end like this....
"We had no choice, sir." I say, "If the Thalmor get their hands on it, Skyrim's war will be even bloodier than it already is." 
 The rider's horse stomped it's feet impatiently, leaving the rider to pat it's neck. 
 "I'll give you the Axe, because I have no further need for it....and because you broke a debt of mine. Take it, and leave me to be free." 
  He lifts it up from his back with huge strength, and Karliah and I hurry over. We both grasp our hands on the hilt when the earth shakes. The Rider laughs. "That my friend, is the sound of a burden broken......thank you for your deeds. And remember to use that Axe for only the good of heart.  And keep my name alive....Ragnar the Red." 
  And then he disappeared, leaving Karliah and I alone, holding the God-Cleaver in our hands. We look at each other, and then break into shaky laughter. 
   
    When we made it back to the others, Sinding leaped off Alsfigir and wrapped me into a big hug. I clung unto to him tightly as Aela said, "I can't believe it.....we actually have back the God-Cleaver."
" And now it will stay out of the hands of the Thalmor....and Mercer Frey..." Karliah says, "And knowing that Frey will never get it, gives me peace of mind." 
"Where will you go?" Sinding asked, "You ar welcomed to stay with us." 
I nodded in agreement but Karliah gave a sad smile. "While I wish I could stay but..."
"You need to take care of a few things, don't you?" Sinding asked softly. 
Karliah's violet eyes gleamed and she nodded, "I have to find a way to avenge Gallus and stop Mercer Frey, but until I figure that out, I have to go. Maybe once I finish my business with him....I'll visit and stay for a while." 
 I pulled away from Sinding and wrapped Karliah into a hug. I could feel her stiffen at first, but then soften and return the embrace, hugging me tightly. "If you need help with Mercer Frey, let me know. I'll help you." I whisper in her ear. "I won't let you deal with this alone." 
Karliah pulls away and gives me a sad smile. "Thank you. I will take you up on that." 
Sinding puts a hand on her shoulder and gives a squeeze. 
"So, why did you do all this?" Aela asks Karliah as the Dunmer mounts her horse. "Just to get the Axe back to us?" 
 Karliah gives us a smile, "I had my own reasons, one was to keep it away from Frey....another....well, you know you make friends in the most unlikely circumstances." She winks at me and then says, "Farewell for now, we will meet again." She clicks her tongue to her horse and  she disappears into the rising dawn.
   Arodil joins my side, followed by Serana as she breathes in the fresh air. "I will never get used to the sight of the Sun over the Horizon." 
I smile at my friend. "You know, I've never noticed how beautiful it is." I look over at Sinding and lean my head on his shoulder. 
I didn't know what the future would bring, but I knew that it was going to be ok. I knew our family was going to be fine. Our found family, and now our biological family.  For once, the sound of turmoil didn't ring in my ears, but peace.