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

Through the Gateway

I trudged through the long greenery, the calmness that I'd felt less than an hour ago having vanished into thin air. Brynjolf had taken his place at my side, holding my hand like I would disappear any second. I wasn't complaining, I loved my husband more than life itself, and for all I knew, he could die.

He could be dead tomorrow. 

I whimpered slightly, fearing for his life. I didn't want to lose him. I didn't want to lose anyone.

"Are you alright, Miss Russet?" Haskill peered at me, and I was unsure if it was serious concern that led him to ask after me or just obligation. 

"I'll be fine," I lied. Haskill nodded and continued walking along. He must not have known me well enough to know I wasn't being entirely truthful. Kary and Bryn, on the other hand, were obviously aware of my manipulation. Thankfully, neither of them commented on it.

"There it is," Dylora announced, pointing below at Niben Bay. "In the middle is an island where Sheogorath... or Nocturnal... has put the portal."

"That's where the entryway to the Isles has always been," Haskill informed us. "It is usually a stone structure with three faces, the gateway within the middle's mouth."

"And now?" Kari prodded, eager for information.

"I'd presume that Nocturnal has changed its shape to match her own desires."

"I wouldn't put it past her," my daughter said crossly, tying her red hair back. "She's already intruded on Regina's territory and changed it, so why not the portal?" Dylora led the way, and most of our focus went to not slipping on the countless stones.

"How do we get across?" Brynjolf queried once we'd reached the shore of Niben Bay. "I don't see a boat."

"There is no boat. We'll have to swim." I gripped Bryn's wrist, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath. 

"What, you mean like that time you spent hours searching for that damned necklace?" His eyes wandered to my neck, unusually bare, before returning to my own. I averted my gaze, unable to tell him what I'd done.

"I guess so," I mumbled. I shook myself out of it and pointed across the lake. "Come on. There's no time to waste." After releasing my husband's hand, I took a running leap into the lake. Behind me, Kary let out a snort before following, Brynjolf just behind her. A series of splashes made it clear that everyone had entered the water behind me.

It only took about five minutes of swimming to reach the island and another two when I helped my family up. Haskill and Dylora climbed up themselves.

"The gateway is up here." Dylorapointed up a dirt path and started walking, expecting us all to follow. Bryn and I shared a glance before I shrugged my shoulders and followed behind the Dark Seducer. 

A massive shape rested on the ground at the top of the hill, something I could have sworn I'd seen before. It was undoubtedly a Gate to Oblivion, and excitement filled my body. Ignoring the cry of warning from both Dylora and Haskill, I ran towards it as fast as I could.  The second I touched the blue light within the stones, I was filled with an electrifying sensation and blown backwards. My body crashed into Brynjolf, and as I fought to catch my breath, Dylora started educating me on my mistake.

"The portal is closed to all other than inhabitants of the Shivering Isles." 

"Does that mean Haskill could go inside?" Kari asked curiously, looking the Breton up and down.

"I doubt it," Dylora responded with a tilt of her head. "He's still been banished, meaning he's no longer part of the Isles." Haskill snorted as soon as she gave her explanation.

"That's ridiculous. I've been Chamberlain to the Lord of the Never-There inside the Isles for countless moons."

"If I didn't know better, I'd say you were offended, Hasky." I straightened up, surprised by the nickname Kary seemed to have given him. Haskill seemed just as unsettled by it, though not necessarily insulted.

"I dislike being unseated from my longtime position," the Breton sniffed, scuffing the ground with his right foot. "But enough chitchat. Dylora, any ideas on how we get in?"

"Of course. What kind of captain would I be if I couldn't think on my feet?" she pointed out with a belittling tone. "Brynjolf, you have the Skeleton Key, don't you?" Bryn backed away warily, and I'd feel the same way. Regardless of the fact that she'd saved our asses, she could still be working alongside Nocturnal. As if she could read our thoughts, Dylora let out an annoyed hiss. "If you didn't trust me, then you were a fool to follow." Brynjolf hesitated before pulling the Key from his pocket. We shared a glance, to which I nodded in confirmation.

"Don't make me regret this," he mumbled lowly, passing over the Key. Dylora dipped her head gratefully and took it from my husband.

"Let's pray to Sheogorath that this works." The Dark Seducer shut her eyes and stepped forwards, inserting the crooked end of the key into the portal. A blast of light shot out, knocking us all over. However, the gateway shone even brighter than before, and I could only stare at it.

"Think that's it?" I muttered, sitting up and cracking my knuckles.

"Only one way to find out," my daughter said, standing up and striding towards the door.

"Wait!" Brynjolf and I shouted in unison, darting forwards. Kary disappeared into the portal before we reached her.

"Then I suppose it's been opened." Haskill was the next to enter the gate, followed by Dylora. I took a peek at Brynjolf, seeing that his attention was solely on the blue portal.

"Well," he said slowly, "I guess that means it's our turn." I could only nod and follow him. Going through the portal felt like walking through a cloud of moths, though it was over in a few seconds. For a moment, I was entranced by the various and strange plants I was surrounded by.

The next, I'd collapsed on the ground, the intense foreboding more than I could handle. Something's wrong. Something's going to happen. I squeezed my eyes shut. Someone's going to die.