Eclipse

Eclipse: Chapter 4

Eclipse: Chapter 4

by

Spottedleaf9 and Dracanoth Dereal

(Valisilwen)

In the instant my gaze met his, I felt paralyzed. He'd recently been to a plane of Oblivion and I could see the almost-madness dancing in his eyes. I'd been there, done that; had felt the way the very magic of the place seeped into your mind and left a sticky, wet trail of evil thoughts. In my mind, the voice from before sounded and I was reminded that the vision I had seen was not by any means, a set thing. It was subject to change just as everyday life was. A split vision you have been given.

I wanted to crumple to the floor but did not allow it, and was left with the vague annoyance that it was the second vision I'd had in just as many days. I was being shown why these forces from another world needed me in specific. I saw Dracanoth upon a chair of cloth, made rather exquisitely; fighting day after day. Blood and gore and dank, moldy spaces so far from the light of day that it was almost a fictional concept to them; I was seeing what boiled down to what equaled a day of Dracanoth's life. I didn't like it. I felt as though I were somehow being tricked into feeling the pity this made me feel.

Then I saw his accomplice; not just as a shadow, but as a true, horrific sight before my eyes. Tall, red and muscular; two horns sticking out at a seventy-five degree angle out from either side of his head, this being stood taller than every Nord I knew. His brilliantly yellow eyes bore into mine; reminding me of a bird of prey. I was speared by this gaze; even though it was simply a vision. Those were eyes that held murder and chaos; for the sake of a personal goal. He was speaking to the daedric prince of knowledge; Hermaeus Mora. It figured that he'd have a hand in this whole invasion. They'd probably promised him some form of information on their home. With a start, I realized that although I couldn't hear what they were saying, it was made known to me nonetheless.

This creature...the horned reaper....needed me to escape from Oblivion because there was something only the Dragonborn could do. The Dragonborn was needed because his or her magic had a little of both worlds in it. As long as the creature kept me by his side, he would have a hold on Skyrim and could remain easily in my realm. I was to be the tool used to destroy my beloved home as I sat there and watched. With a start I opened my eyes to see that I was still standing there before Dracanoth, having had a revelation on his life and my purpose in their plans in less than a minute.

I couldn't believe that my very presence was going to be all the reaper needed. This meant Skyrim only had little time to live on as it was. I knew it would be hard to find a Black Book to Apocrypha, but it would happen eventually and then there nothing I could do but run away until headaches killed me except play dumb on the existence of Black Books. I would be cornered at that moment because I'd already been to Apocrypha. I had two of the infernal things in my house; locked up so that Erith could never get to them. "Did you hear me? I said get out. This is my room."

From the look in Dracanoth's eyes, I could see that he thought me weak and hadn't expected an outburst. "This is my room, foolish woman. I see no name printed on these doors, or servants under your power, you dumb brute. Come Michael, hand me my equipment. We have work to do." A dark elf shoved me out of the way of the door, carrying a pile of smithing metals and leather straps; the pieces to a complete set of armor only needing to be put together, and a sword.

Michael? What kind of name was that? I glared at Dracanoth. "Remove your curse at once. I cannot possibly journey in this kind of...limited state." My hand went to the bow on my back and I prepared to whip it out, but the moment the thought crossed my mind, the voice returned, reminding me that there was a split path. Mentally cursing the divines in my head, I took my hand from the weapon over my shoulders. "Fine. I see how it is. I'm essentially being held captive now, right? Well, you may find that I'm not very cooperative with people who try to control me."