Skyrim V: Shadow over Markarth

Chapter Four: The Abandoned House

Vlindrel Hall was a big house. It was bigger than Breezehome, but smaller than the Homestead. But for a house in the city it was impressive. I sat on one of the chairs, holding Aaiden as he slept in my arms. Lucia's feet pattered around the house as she ran around each room, exploring it all. Vilkas stood looking at the fireplace while Sinding sat on a chair across from me. Arodil had his back against the door while Serana stood between him and Vilkas. 
"So, that's pretty impressive you were able to get Ulfric and Tullius to agree not to kill each other." Arodil said, his golden eyes studying mine.  
 I smile, "Hopefully. We have a month to see. Balgruuf said that Elenwen will be coming to court in three days. He said that Jarl Igmund has to play the card of a good host in order to find out more." 
  Arodil's face blanched. "The Thalmor will be here? In the city?"
"We will make sure they don't see you, brother. I promise." I say, but he shook his head. "No, I want them to see me. I want her to see I have sided with you, with the Dragonborn. My family." 
I look at Sinding and he sighed, combing his hand through his blond hair. "We have three days. There is time to decide what will happen when the third day comes." Sinding said. 
 Vilkas nodded, his back still to us. "I wouldn't worry about three days from now. And to be honest, I don't think it will be Elenwen we will see."
I look at my shield-brother and say, "What makes you say that? Balgruuf himself said that Elenwen will be here."
"Aye, Balgruuf did say that, but maybe he was told wrong." Vilkas said. "Elenwen could come, or she could change her mind and have other Thalmor agents sent in her stead." Aaiden whimpered in his sleep and I gently rocked him as I looked at Arodil. "Did you know any other high standing Thalmor? Other than....Vulono?" 
Arodil shook his head, "Not many by personal standards, save for two. Their names were Ondolemar and Ancano. Ondolemar used to work here alot in the Reach, from what I heard, he was moved due to 'good performances' to work in the Capitol, in Solitude. Ancano, he was a very close friend of our father, Taniiaae." 
  I tilt my head, my stomach getting tight. "Where does Ancano reside?"
"He is a college advisor in the College of Winterhold up north east." Arodil said, taking a seat. "But where his true intentions lie, I honestly believe it's just another way for him to gain more power." "Do you think he would cause any threat?" Vilkas said, turning around. Arodil nodded. "If it is him that shows up in Markarth, we are in as much trouble as it would be with Elenwen. While she is a good courtier, once he sets his sights on something, he gets it."
"I heard in town back home that some mages in the college found a giant sphere that they are calling the Eye of Magnus." Ronthil said, coming into the room. "I don't know if that means anything important."
"If it ends up being a powerful item, than Ancano will see to it." Arodil says. 
Ronthil looks over at Serana, "I believe that Vingalmo from our former coven was part of the Thalmor....but at least he's dead, or even I would be really concerned."
  Serana looked over at me, and we shared a concerned glance. Ronthil's eyes lit up in fear. "He's alive isn't he?"
"We were told when came back to Castle Volkihar after we retrieved Auriel's Bow, that Vingalmo was no where to be found among the dead." Serana said, "You and Hestla were the only ones we helped escape. So Vingalmo is somewhere out there."
 Ronthil got quiet as Serana said, "What's wrong, Ronthil? Without my father, he is helpless."
"He was a Thalmor Agent before he turned, years ago.....he could prove himself useful to them." Ronthil said, his amber eyes fearful.
"We won't let that happen." I say, "I won't let that happen. If this meeting proved useful to Ulfric Stormcloak and General Tullius, then we will have more allies against the Aldermari Dominion." 
Ronthil still didn't look like he was too sure.
....................................................................

It was storming that night. Lucia was fast asleep in her bedroom, while the other members of the house slept in their rooms. Sinding and I were given the master bedroom. Aaiden's crib was next to ours and he slept soundly. I was looking at one of the written agreements that Igmund's scribe at written down of our meeting.  Sinding turned over beside me while I sat up in bed, reading the script of our meeting and props himself up on his pillow.  "You have that look on your face, Tanii." 
I look over at him in surprise. "What look?"
Sinding chuckles as sits up. "Where you think things are too good to be true."
"I don't think that, not about halting the Civil War." I say. 
"No, not exactly the Civil War, but the War itself.....the one with the Aldermari Dominion." Sinding says softly. 
  I sigh and set down the script on the bedstand. "I'm worried that we won't be able to the stop them, the Thalmor. And that Skyrim will be launched even more into a Civil War. I take that Balgruuf and Igmund are meeting with Elenwen in regards to the trade halt."
  Sinding nods, "If they can't sway the Thalmor, then the people of Skyrim will go into a frenzy."
"That's my only hope that Ulfric and Tullius can end this war with each other. Other countries such as Valenwood would jump on over throwing the Aldermari Dominion. I've heard Malborn speak freely of what he really thinks of the Thalmor when he drinks." I say. 
 Sinding smiles, "I have too." 
I turn towards the bedstand and blow out the candle. The room turns to darkness and I burrow down into the bed. Sinding wraps his arms around me and holds me close as he says softly. "I'm sure everything will be figured out for the better." 
I didn't reply, I wasn't so sure.
........................................................................

Serana.

Serana didn't like this city too much. It was beautiful, but so confined. The stone walls reminded her of the coffin she was locked up in for hundreds of years. She found herself leave her room and walk outside. Outside around the steps of the house, one of the many waterfalls loudly flowed down the side of the foundation to the stones and streams below. Markarth was beautiful indeed, but something about this city didn't feel right. She looked up at the starry sky when she heard something on the breeze call her name. "Sssserannaaa." She turned back to the house. No one was there when she heard the voice again. "Sssserannnaaa."  It was coming from the middle of the town. She looked back at the house, but when she realized that it wasn't anyone from her household, she decided to walk down towards the city's heart. It was quiet. The sound of the flowing water and laughing from the local tavern were the only sounds she could hear from the city. Except for the voice, which kept calling out to her. She stopped at the edge of an abandoned house. It's golden door was dulled by time, but the door was cracked open, as if left that way. It was nestled nicely into the side of the stone mountain of the city. Serana shook her head. "I'm hearing things." She said, turning away when the voice, now sounding like her father, called her name. "Sssserrraaaannnnaaa."  She whipped around towards the house. She knew she shouldn't go in, her father was dead. But almost, as if in a trace, the voice called her again, and then she felt herself move and open the door, and walk into the abandoned house, shutting the door behind her. 
  It was dark in there, dusk and mildew coated the walls, but a strange light illuminated from down the hall. "Serana, come closer my dear." Said a voice, like her father's. Serana looked around and saw nothing out of the ordinary.  Except for the dull light at the end of the tunnel. 
"Come here, Serana." Said the voice. Serana rested her hand on the wall and followed the light.  The hall kept winding and winding down, getting darker except for the glow at the end, but once she saw what it was, Serana's blood went cold. At the bottom of the hallway, was a Shrine. A large mace stuck out of it's center, but behind it, was the sharp dark face of a Daedric Prince all to known to her. Serana's hand reached for her throat in terror as a dark chuckle surrounded her. "Ahh, I knew you would come back to me, Serana." Molag Bal's voice rang in her ears and she found herself running through the tunnel towards the front of the house. Pots and pans flew wild as she entered the main living quarters. Plates flew against the side of her head, causing blood to stream down her forehead and cheek. She reached for the door, and tried to yank it open, but it was stuck. 
 Molag Bal's cold voice broke the chaos as the chandeliers snapped back and forth. The light kept flickering in and out as more dishes crashed to the floor. "Oh Serana, didn't you realize, just because you killed the one who cursed you, doesn't mean the curse is broken? You are still mine." The room shook violently as Serana tried to pull and push down the door. She screamed, "Help!!" She banged on the door with her fist as hard as she could as Molag Bal said. "You are mine. Come back to me, Serana." 
Weakened and hurt, she slid to the floor and curled up in the corner, covering her ears as blood streamed down her face. She screamed, trying to drown out the voice of the Daedric Prince when the door broke open. Light from the city's night lamps streamed in, and a disheveled Arodil stepped into the house as it shook. His gold eyes were large as he saw Serana huddled in the corner and he helped her to her feet and guided her out as the house shook. "You will never escape from me, a curse upon you, daughter of Coldharbor."  Bal's voice bellowed as Arodil led her out. As soon as they exited the threshold, the house collapsed from the inside and the sounds of screams filled the city as Molag Bal's Shrine desecrated itself. Serana gripped unto Arodil's jacket as she panted. Arodil stood there in shock, but he moved his hands to wrap them around Serana as he said. "You are alright, you're safe, I promise." 
  Serana nodded, "T-thank you." She wheezed, gripping hard unto the elf. "I--I don't know what that was....at first, I thought I heard my father.....but-"
"It wasn't him, was it?" Arodil responded.
Serana shook her head as she used the back of her hand to wipe away some of the blood, "No, that was Molag Bal....Daedric Prince of Domination. He--my father had sold our family to him. I---I thought when he died it was over, the curse..." she panted and Arodil held her close. She didn't argue as she clung on to him. Arodil looked at the destroyed house. He could still hear her screams in his ears. It was pure luck that he couldn't sleep and decided to take a walk outside. It was when he heard her screaming and the sounds of demonic laughter in that house that he ran towards the middle of the town. 
   "What's going on here?" said a new voice. 
Arodil turned towards the voice above him and stilled. Serana, sensing something wrong, turned as well and stared at confusion at the sight of the tall Altmer. He was dressed in Thalmor robes, his golden hair long and loose behind his ears. His pointed face smirked when he saw Arodil. "Arodil, it's been a long time since I last saw you." 
Serana stiffened as she gently looked up at Arodil. "Who is that?" 
Arodil's eyes were large with fear and he said nothing.
"It's a shame really. Vulono always said you were so promising, but here you are....in this city." 
The Thalmor snapped his fingers and three Thalmor soldiers surrounded them. They roughly pulled Serana away from Arodil and she shrieked, "Arodil! Who is this? Take your hands off of me!" She said roughly trying to pull away from the elves. 
"Ancano!" Arodil shouted, "Let her go! Whatever business with me, she has no part in it!"
 Ancano smirked and waved his hand. "Let go of the girl."  The thalmor soldiers through Serana to the ground and she landed on her knees. She looked up at Arodil as Ancano said, "Arodil, son of Vulono, former soldier of the Thalmor. You are under arrest for treason against the Embassy. And for not defeating the Dragonborn and aiding the secrets of the Aldermari Dominion to the people of Skyrim." 
  The Thalmor soldiers took out handcuffs and manacled Arodil's hands together. "Serana, tell Taniiaae not to come after me, please tell her whatever she does, do not come after me." Arodil said, urgency in his voice. Serana shook her head, and got up on her knees, "Arodil, what is happening? I'll get help!"
 Ancano backhanded her and fell back to the ground. 
"Don't touch her, Ancano!" Arodil snapped before he received a backhand as well. Serana looked up, her lip now split as Ancano smirked.  "I thought you learned when your father taught you not to back talk to your superiors." He looked at his soldiers, "When you take him to Cidhna Mine, give him twenty lashes for just his backtalking." 
"No!" Serana said, magic forming in her hands. "Serana." Arodil said, looking at her,  his eyes pleading. Serana closed her eyes and bowed her head, clenching her fists as Arodil gave her a look of relief. He was dragged away as Ancano smirked down at her. "No one disrespects the Thalmor. Remember that girl." With that, he turned and followed the others, leaving Serana stunned in the streets. She clumsily got back up to her feet and ran towards Vlindrel Hall. Blood coated her mouth and head but she didn't care as the adrenaline surged through her veins as she raced up the stairs, past the waterfalls and she burst into the house. Everyone was still asleep but she didn't care. She ran into Vilkas's room where he and Ronthil shared. 
She walked over to Vilkas's bed, and she grabbed his shoulder. The Harbinger of the Companions jolted awake, reaching for a dagger when he relaxed. "Serana? It's late, what's wrong?" He grabbed a match and lit his bedside candle before he stopped in horror at her bloody face. "It's Arodil, the Thalmor..... they took him." Serana said.