An Experiment Gone Wrong

Chapter 9 - A Thief in the Dark

Mara's POV

...D.....n....

Black emptiness... That's all that was there. I felt like I was floating in the deepest part of the ocean. I had no control over my limbs, they just hung by my side. My eyes were closed physically but spiritually they were opening. 

Drag....Bo.....

Someone was calling to me... Why did they sound familiar? I struggled to open my eyes but when I managed to open them a crack a sea of light flooded into them causing me to quickly shut them back. Where were the others? What happened to the dwarves? I forced myself to open my eyes again, this time not being assaulted by light, but instead seeing an old man in grey staring at me. 

"Dragonborn," he said his features smiling, "It's been a long time. Where have you gone?" 

I looked around and saw no one else it was just me and him in a large, cold tower. "W-Who are you?" I asked quietly not feeling like he was a threat but knowing he was extremely powerful. "Who is dragonborn?" 

He chuckled and walked closer grabbing my limp hand in his, "Parrthurnax told us of your journey," his eyes wandered over my badly torn armor, my other hand, and the spot where Azog's mace landed with my head. "You've been through some serious battle haven't you my friend?" 

I ignored his question more so focused on the fact that he knew who Parrthurnax was. "How do you know Parrthurnax? Can I speak to him?" 

The grey monk chuckled, "my dear this is only a memory. If you remember you may talk to him as much as you wish," he said before snapping his fingers. 

Next thing I knew he was gone and I was watching like a movie what looked to be myself in an abandoned shack talking to this woman. She was asking me to kill someone out of the three people in front of me. I watched with slight embarrassment as I watched myself kill all three of the victims innocent or not. I tried to move my arms to look at my hands, surprised to find that I could freely move them now but not freely walk anywhere, stuck to be suspended in midair watching my life play before my eyes. My blood stained hands held in front of my face as I watched myself live through my memory of the Dark Brotherhood. 

Cicero... One of my best friends was laughing and joking as we went on different missions after the fall of Aster and the birth of the Dawnstar Sanctuary. 

"And he said that's not a Horker. That's my wife!" I heard Cicero say before laughing his maniac laugh which made my face break out into the warmest smile I have smiled in a long time. Then he disappeared...

Darkness took over again for what felt like an eternity before another memory resurfaced. This time I was somewhere surrounded by a heavy mist. No matter how much I watched myself try to get rid of it it would come back but thicker. 

I remember talking to Kodlack Whitemane. I remember him asking me to free his soul, to help him reach Sovengarde's doors. I remember meeting the spirits of ancient Nords. I remember Alduin. The World-Eater. I remember slaying him and saving my land and the souls of my friends. 

I remembered the College of Winterhold. I remembered the Companions. I remembered training to be Dragonborn and destroying Miraak in Solsteihm. 

I remembered everything, but one thing I wish I never remembered was him. The man I had once fallen in love with and swore my life to. As I thought about him my memories brought him into existence and my heart clenched. 

~~~~~~~

"You've never done an honest days work in your life for all that coin you're carrying. eh lass?" A smooth and silky voice reached my ears out of nowhere. I turned and quickly placed my hand on the hilt of my sword, Dragonbane.