Beautiful Insanity (A Skyrim/Oblivion Fanfiction) ((ORIGINAL))

Russet

RussetPOV

I turned over in my bed, desperately trying to catch some sleep before I set out on the journey tomorrow. My family and I were all going to the Shivering Isles and there wasn't a being in the world-- or outerworlds-- that could stop us. However, it seemed that a dream could reroute us.

"Russet." I wandered in a violet hall, lit with black flames. "Russet." Somehow, I knew I needed to follow the voice, find its source. "Russet."

"Where are you?" I called out. My words bounced off the walls in an echo. "Show me who you are!"

"Russet." A woman materialized before me, clad in a midnight-black gown with ravens perched on her arms. 

"Nocturnal!" I gasped, taking a step back. I had no weapon, I had no means of escape. 

"Calm yourself, my friend." I peered into the dark hood and recognized the stare of Karliah. My heartbeat slowed.

"I swear to the Nine--"

"Listen to what I have to tell you, Russet." She sounded scared, and it immediately set me on edge. "There is stirring among the Princes. The living Princes, that is. I have heard tell of what they say 'Sheogorath' is doing... and it's not good for anyone."

"Sheogorath?" I answered skeptically. "And which Sheogorath are you talking about? The first, my daughter, or--"

"Nocturnal in your daughter's body," Karliah finished. "Yes. Things have... gone missing. I would hardly pay attention if it were, say, a bag of fly amanita or spriggan sap. However, these are things that add up to a most grisly end."

"Spit it out!"

"She has collected items from Tamriel's greatest heroes, from the days when Tamriel was nothing but a small arena to mere decades ago, when Skyrim's problems dominated the world. Bones of Jagar Tharn's killer, soul of the man bringing about the Numidium's resurrection, weapon of the Nerevarine, brain of the Champion of Cyrodil after the Oblivion Crisis, and finally... the blood of the last Dragonborn."

"I've given her no blood."

"No, but she does have Regina's." Alarm shot through me. "Yes, your daughter is the last Dragonborn. She will never use a Shout, but that makes her no less a descendant of Akatosh." My head spun.

"I understand the importance of these items... but what do they create?" This time, Karliah did not withhold the answer.

"A portal into the Halls of the Damned." I glanced up, surprised.

"Then we can retrieve Regina," I reasoned. "Bring her back! Perhaps her little scheme, whatever it is, will be to our advantage." Karliah hardly seemed to share my enthusiasm.

"While this is true, my friend, the open door will be just that. We will be forced to stand back and watch the innumerable damned spill out all over Tamriel. Are you going to condemn every nation just to retrieve her?"

"I would destroy the world if it meant Regina's safe return," I hissed. "A mother's love for her child is absolute, Karliah."

"I do not doubt your passion for her, Russet. However, she will live in a world with evil so intense that there will be no escape from the horrors of the Princes. There are thousands dead, and it has taken countless years to lock most of them-- us-- away. The Halls are meant to stay closed."

"Then how do I get Regina back?!"

"Russet, please. There isn't much time." She clasped her hands. "I know one thing-- her portal won't open. You need to get the artifact before she does, Russet! She can't open the portal until she has the--"

Just like that, I awoke. It took me a moment to register. "Lass? Lass, by the Nine!" I was brought into Brynjolf's arms. "Love, I haven't... gods, I thought it was over." He sighed, suddenly sour. "She's found a way to you once more, hasn't she? Damn!"

"Bryn, what are you talking about?" I removed myself from his embrace. He looked sorrowed as he touched my hand.

"Lass... look." I glanced down, understanding his concern the second I laid my eyes upon my skin. The color was fading away, but it was a sight I hadn't seen in over twenty years. My skin had turned an ashy black. "Nocturnal was after you again, wasn't she?" I couldn't speak. "Lass!"

"I--" Instead of answering him immediately, I turned my thoughts towards the dream. It was likely Karliah's summoning of me through the dream that had caused the old darkening. "I think... it's because of Karliah." I started to explain what had occurred during the dream and what Karliah had revealed. 

"Sorry, lass." He sounded truly regretful. "I... I've ruined our chances." Sympathetic, I inched closer to my husband and kissed his cheek.

"You were only worried for me," I whispered. "It's alright. We'll find out one way or another." Brynjolf frowned. "Get some sleep. We've got a long day ahead of us tomorrow. The Shivering Isles isn't going to be an easy place to find." I laid down beside him, yet my mind refused to let me sleep. 

Whether it was through worry for Regina, the dream, or even just the anticipation, I remained awake into the wee hours of the morning. I knew the toll it took on Karliah... or Nocturnal... to contact me through a dream. I wouldn't ask her what she needed for some time yet. The College of Winterhold was a natural place to start, but it would take far too long to go through all of the books-- and possibly end up with nothing. 

The Greybeards. 

My former mentors were Tamriel's greatest experts on otherworldly lore. They'd dedicated their entire lives to learning about the Voice and the Nine. If they knew about what Nocturnal had wanted so many years ago, perhaps they could tell me about this portal she intended to open.

I could hardly wait until Brynjolf woke from his own slumber. In fact, I decided not to wait. In the few hours that remained, I managed to gather up everything we needed and a map to the Throat of the World. It was possible that the Greybeards wouldn't let Brynjolf or Kary in, but that meant little when it came to finding Regina. 

When Brynjolf finally opened his eyes, I yanked him up out of bed before he could even fully wake up. "What the--"

"Get your ass up. We've got work to do."