DovahTale

Chapter Eleven

I rushed after Toriel. She hurried to the stairs and went down them. I practically ran down after her. The lighting made our surroundings seem purple again. I went down the stairs and we entered a very long hallway. Toriel's presence was all too serious right now, and I became serious as well. The hallway was dark and empty.

Toriel walked a bit down the way before she stopped. I approached her back and she began to speak with a serious, and almost sad tone. "You wish to know how to go through the Barrier, do you not? Ahead of us lies the end of the Ruins. A one-way exit to the rest of the Stormcloak Holds. I am going to destroy it. No one will ever be able to cross ever again. Now be a good one and go upstairs."

She walked off again at a brisk pace. I stood back for a moment before pressing onward.

A ways away, Toriel stopped again. She spoke with the same sad voice. "Every human that comes here meets the same fate. I have seen it again and again. They come. They leave. They die." Her voice cracked a bit, seeming as though she was choking back tears. "You naive adventurer... If you leave the Ruins... They... Asgore... Will kill you. I am only protecting you, do you understand? Go to your room."

She tried walking faster without running. I kept the pace, determined to stop her and be on my way across the new holds.

I caught up to her in a bend in the hallway. "Do not try to stop me. This is your final warning." She continued.

So did I.

We stopped at a door bearing the same symbol that was on Toriel's gown. Toriel stopped and looked at it. Without turning to me she continued talking. "You want to leave so badly? Hmph. You are just like the others. There is only one solution to this. Prove yourself... Prove to me you are strong enough to survive.

Everything went dark again. I knew what was happening. My soul reappeared, and I unsheathed my sword. Toriel turned to me, blocking the way. I saw a hint of a Flame spell licking at her hands. She put up her hands and a rain of fireballs came right for me.

I desperately tried to dodge them in our small space, practically bouncing off of the walls. One of the fireballs suddenly struck my in my side, scorching my armor which then burned my skin a bit. I tried to ignore it as much as possible while still moving wildly. I had had injuries far worse than this.

I did not try to advance on Toriel. As much as a threat she was,  she was still kind and I did not want to do anything to hurt her.

Toriel stopped the rain for a bit, looking through me, tears threatening to run down her furry cheeks. I tried to talk to her, but couldn't think of any conversation topics. She started the rain of fire again.

I did not want to hurt her, so I came up with a plan. The Become Ethereal shout was perfect, because it's effect made it so I couldn't hurt, nor be hurt. I stopped and shouted it quickly.

Toriel stopped in shock, her face had a hint of terror. Her hands covered her mouth.

"D-D-Dragonb-born?"

I nodded quietly. She tried to hit me again, but couldn't not.

"I know you want to go, but..." Toriel stopped acting aloof. "Just please... go upstairs."

When she saw I would not budge, she continued.

"Why are you making this so difficult? Please..." After a bit of silence she continued again. "Ha... ha... Pathetic, is it not? I cannot even save a single person. No, I understand, you would just be unhappy without this new adventure. My expectations. My loneliness. My fear. For you, my Dragonborn, I will put them aside."

We exited the Fight, and I stepped closer to Toriel. "If you truly wish to exit the Ruins, I will not stop you. However, when you leave, please, do not come back. I hope you understand."

Toriel stepped closer and put her arms around me. I returned the hug. When we finally separated, she said her farewell.

"Goodbye, my Dragonborn."

I continued through the door, and walked down another long hallway. I could not hold back a single tear, then I finally reached another door.

I went through into a little cave. A hole in the roof made a spotlight of light in the middle of the room. What was it shining on?

Drago the Dragon.