What Happens In Solstheim

Chapter 5

It was a quiet walk back to the Skaal village, where they took a turn in the direction of the Wind Stone. Frea was already there waiting for them, claiming that she wanted to be there when her people were freed. It was still a horrible sight to see; innocent people being enslaved to do someone's bidding, not even knowing that they're no longer in control of their own minds and bodies. Farah trudged through the shallow water, stopping three feet from the stone. The energy coming from it felt wrong and she had to admit, the pull was there. A small part of her encouraged her to approach it, to just reach out to it...

She shut her eyes to get rid of the thoughts. She was stronger than that and she had to prove it to Miraak. Teldryn kept close to her, also staring at the stone warily. He had enough will power to resist its call, but didn't trust it still. As long as he remained close to his patron, he assumed he's be alright.

"I have no idea what will happen when I use the shout on the stone." Farah warned the two people at her back, "Whatever happens, get the people to safety first and try to be careful." After Frea nodded, she inhaled deeply and shouted, "GOL!"

A green wave of power traveled from her to the stone. Almost instantly the people around it regained their minds. They dropped the hammers and pick axes, staring down at their hands and at the other around them, completely oblivious to how they got there. Frea was ecstatic. She ran into the crowd of Skaal villagers, embracing some and welcoming them back. However, the happy reunion was interrupted when the stone pillars around the stone started cracking. Farah cried out for the people to take cover, but it was too late.

The pillars exploded into large pieces debris, thus breaking Miraak's power over the Wind Stone completely. But it also created an opening for a Daedric lurker to rise from the water. Farah recognized it from the temple. That creature was the statuary they saw there - and it was enough to scare the living dragon crap out of her.

"Red, watch out!" Teldryn tackled her to the water as the lurker spit at them, hundreds of slimy green tentacles jumping from its maw. He rolled them behind the stone to take cover, conjured his atronach to keep the bastard busy while thinking of a plan to bring it down, "Any special shouts to kill that thing?"

Farah swallowed, "Nope. I'm afraid it's all swords and spells this time."

"Bring it on."

The rolled from their hiding spot at the same time, him blasting the lurker with fire spells from the left and she attacking it with her blade from the right. Frea jumped in to aid them as soon as she managed to get the people to safety and with the extra blade, they managed to kill the beast rather quickly. All three of them took the time to study it, since none of them had ever saw a creature like that.

"I'm going to have nightmares for days." Frea muttered and then turned to the Dragonborn, "Thank you for freeing my people. I don't have enough words to tell you how grateful I am. Just know that you will always be welcome in the Skaal Village. You are a friend of the Skaal."

"Thank you, Frea." She replied, "It won't be long before all the stones are cleansed. I'll return after that to speak with your father again. Take care of your people."

"Save travels, friend."

The two companions took their leave of the Skaal after that, heading into the direction of Kolbjorn Barrow to see what a certain treasure hunter's problem was. Teldryn wasn't looking forward to seeing Ralis at all. It had nothing to do with how he eyed Farah up and down the first time they met - or perhaps it did a little. What bothered him the most was that he had this feeling that this particular Dunmer was only after the money and the fame his little treasure would bring him. Azura knows, he might be planning on finding the treasure by himself and make away with it without informing Farah about it! Though he also knew that he wouldn't be able to talk her out of it. She was invested in this treasure hunt and by now he already knew she was way too curios to let that opportunity slip through her little adventurous fingers.