King-Fall

XII. Relocation

Rest is not for the wicked, I thought as we flew back to Skyrim. I don't know if I've slept since I shouted that priest to dust. I would be fine if I had Beastblood but I don't, so the lack of sleep was affecting me in numerous ways. However when I did sleep, I had nightmares full of paper and if you ever have been into Apocrypha you should probably have War-Shock flashbacks at any stacks of paper being turned rapidly.

I keep seeing a Dragon Priest wearing the wooden mask, standing at the end of a hall of burned, aged paper. Dragonbane was on his back and tentacles came out of his robe at the hems and sleeves. He turns to look at me and the mask slips off his face to reveal my wife and son horrifically morphed, begging me, "Kill us."

Then I wake up.

I'm not shaking.

Or crying.

I just wake up and continue on.

I don't know if that's more disturbing than the dream itself. Feeling nothing, knowing that if I fail that dream can become reality. I dozed off again and then I was woken by Serana. "We're here Talion, Mzinchaleft."

"Good, good," I croaked in exhaustion, "the most straightforward entry. Paarthurnax!" I went to his head and hugged him, my voice cracking, "Thank you, thank you so much! Farewell."

Paarthurnax nodded and soared into the air.

"Do we need a key?"

"The Attunement Sphere. Should be in there."

"You left it there?" Serana asked, walking towards the entrance. "Hope no-one used it."

"If they did we should still be able to get in." I groaned getting in the elevator.

"Talion," Serana asked, "are you..." she hesitated, shifting her weight on her feet, "alright?"

"Peachy, how else do you think?" I snapped.

"I meant do you need sleep?"

"I need to get to Blackreach!"

Serana grew quiet and got into the elevator with me. I pressed the dwarven button and we descended into darkness. I sighed, "I'm sorry."

"Your the silent and moody adventurer," she teased, "I know."

"Oh? And you're my loyal concubine?"

I saw her eyes look at me in the darkness as the elevator's gears continued to whir. She continued to stare at me for a moment and my heart fluttered. I shouldn't have said that, I thought.

"Oh Divines!" Neloth boomed in our heads, "Get a room already! I won't tell."

Serana and I both cursed as our ears rang, in fact we both cupped them in pain.

"Oblivions, Neloth you sound like a bloody Divine!"

"Ha! I always have, you fool!"

"No!" Serana grimaced, "Like you're so loud if you don't quiet down our ears are going to bleed!"

"Well having my voice to be the last thing you hear wouldn't be too bad. Here, I'll see what I can do to fix this issue, you go do whatever it is you're doing." He shouted behind him, "Servant! What's your name again? Where's my Nirnroot tea?!"

As if on cue the elevator reached the Great Lift, or simply, another elevator or lift that goes into Blackreach. I walked towards the lift and noticed the light shining from my bag. I took out the lantern Neloth gave us and observed it giving off as much light as a normal lamp.