Darkness Returns - A Thief's Tale

Friend of a Friend

"We should head to Riverwood. It's not that far from here, and my uncle Alvor is the blacksmith there, he could help us get on our feet. We could split up here or make our way together. Your choice elf." Hadvar suggested after we were done hiding from the dragon after our escape from Helgen. He began walking down the rocky path, not looking back to see if I would follow or not.

I could find a way out of this hell hole, and not have to be in debt in any way shape or form to this guy. I was a petty thief back in Valenwood, I didn't like the idea of paying back. But this wasn't Valenwood, or anything near Morrowind. It was Skyrim, home of the Nords, a place full of different diversities of race but I knew most Nords weren't fond of the Elven kind due to a rough past. Elves and men had been at war so many times, but now it seemed to be a war between the Empire itself and rebels... But I wasn't exact on what in Oblivion was happening.

My feet began to follow Hadvar quietly; I wasn't fond of anything in Skyrim, and I probably had a target on my back on any surging Stormcloaks or Imperials. I knew Hadvar was on the Imperial side, and he showed no interest in killing me; but what about the others? Damned dragon saved me from getting my head sliced clean off...

I caught up with Hadvar and walked close by to him taking in my surroundings. The area didn't seem dry like it did in Helgen, it was outside the cave and not completely forested yet not completely open. Pathways with trees surrounding the area, streams of water following, yet the air was called from the nearby snow of the high rocks.

"Seems better to stick together, never know what's gonna pop out and when you'll need help eh?" He spoke out, leading me down the pathways that seemed to continuously descend subtly. "I'm glad you chose to stick with me." He added.

My eyes shifted towards him wearily. Did he mean back in the attack or in general..?

"Makes me feel better I guess." I mumbled. Hadvar laughed.

"Well it's good to show you around here elf." We continued to walked and he stopped to look at the mountains in the distance. The snow was thick over there much less than over here, where the lower we descended the thinner the snow was. A few off looking rocks in the mountains were aligned perfectly, each in a triangular arch shape, following one another each towering over- what seemed to be from here by how the ground ascended- stairs. And a large cave opening. But anything around the area was indefinite, the area too far to make out completely. The dragon flew in that direction.

"That's Bleak Falls Barrow." Hadvar said with no amusement, but warning in his tone. "It's an ancient burial crypt. But bad things are within it. Even as a kid, the place always gave me the creeps." He commented.

After that, we both stayed silent for a few more moments until the ground became leveled and he stopped at a turn on the path which descended once again, and at the corner of where the path shifted, there was a raised circular stone platform, with three pointed rocks on it.

"These are the guardian stones. They're meant to awaken your inner strength and help you strengthen those skills involving that category. Go ahead, choose one." He ushered. He seemed rather eager and warmed up towards me.. Or at least attempted to.

I stepped up towards the platform, my eyes scanning the stones. The stone to my wrote was carved in with an art form of a hooded figure and odd constellation symbols surrounding it. The Thief stone. Anything involving a thief's skills such as sneaking, pick pocketing and speech would definitely be effected by this.

My eyes moved to the stone in the middle edge of the platform. It was etched with the same artwork, yet the drawing was a hooded man, raising his hand to show some sort of energy resonating with it. The Mage stone. Anything involving magic would be effected by this stone.