Through my Blood

Chapter XXV: That's Not Him

[Remus' POV]

It's been around five days since I left Fort Dawnguard.

It's night here at Hjaalmarch. It was expected that the moons will be half full, but dark clouds loomed over the horizon. Everything's faint black. There might be a snowstorm coming. I better make this quick.

I stood before High Gate Ruins, just north of Windstad Manor. I've already cleared the area years ago and looted it clean. The Draugr, including the Dragon Priest who laid rest here, Vokun, had also been taken care of.

Iona and Valdimar were also instructed to inspect the entrance from time to time to check if there are presence of scavengers. Or anyone who'd dare go in.

I told them to do so. Afterall, this is where I hid it. The key to Alduin's demise.

The Elder Scroll.

I was going to sell it to Urag, the librarian at the College, after that whole thing with Alduin but... I don't know myself why I didn't.

I scrutinized the surroundings once I got inside. I hadn't been here for almost two years. Good thing no one dared to enter the old ruins, much more go all the way through. The traps I've set to safeguard the place were many. Just to make sure no one manages to touch the scroll.

Not only that. Something would be waiting for them at the end room.

I remembered where I put up the traps and how to get past them with ease which is why I eased my way through the ruins without activating any.

I carefully walked into the ruins' throne room. In the middle of it was an empty tomb, where Vokun used to lie. The final room was just ahead. I ascended the stairs to the right, leading to the next area.

Once I was there, I looked down at the table.

There it was. Where I left it two years ago.

Placed on its stand was the Elder Scroll. As I slowly approached it, a spectral figure suddenly emerged from the Dragon Wall. It wore a set of spectral armor similar to the armor made from a dragon's bones. As for its weapon, it wielded a huge battleaxe.

The Ancient Dragonborn.

It slowly approached me, its battleaxe raised.

Then it stopped. Its figure appeared to stare at me for a moment. Then, it gave me a simple nod before going back to fade away in its place on the Dragon Wall.

I carefully hoisted the Elder Scroll from its stand and slung it across my back.

It's been a while since I last had the scroll on my person, yet the feeling was still the same. The fear and anxiousness of what happens next.

But, things worked out for me the last time. I hope the same thing happens this time around.

For the sake of many. For Serana's.

I checked on the traps on my way out, just to make sure they'll function if ever someone tries to barge in. I may have taken the scroll, but this place... it's best left alone.

Once I'm outside of the ruins, I realized that everything just became even the darker and closer to pitch black. Snow had started falling.

I grabbed a torch then lit it up with a simple flame spell before walking back to Windstad Manor.

On my way, I couldn't help but notice the dim light emanating from the village. Now that I look at it from afar, it really had been a long way since its establishment. I'm really glad everything turned out alright.