Pure Blood

I didn't wake up alone the next morning, which I'll admit was a surprise. I thought Aela would have disappeared sometime during the early morning. Instead, she only stirred when I moved, moving onto her side, holding her head up with her left hand as I shuffled across in the small bed.

"Good morning," she said in a tone that suggested she was actually rather content.

"Morning," I stated, smiling somewhat awkwardly.

She laughed. "You're thinking about what happened already, aren't you?" I shrugged. "Do you regret it?"

Now I smiled 'normally'. "Of course not." Then I know my brow furrowed. "It was… I mean… It's just…"

"I'll always love him, Ragnar. But he's not here with me now. You are. And, before you start worrying about what any of this means, I'm not expecting you to wear an Amulet of Mara and then for both us to wear the Bond of Matrimony. I'll say that right now. We're simply friends who find comfort with each other and… well, enjoy what happened last night… and this morning too." I just nodded, figuring no matter what I said, it could or would be misinterpreted. "I would like to do something together one day, though?"

Raising my eyebrows in interest, I asked "What would that be?"

"Go hunting together. And I don't mean as werewolves, as your feelings about that are obvious." She smiled. "And I understand why. I mean ride our horses to a forest, thick with game, and spend the day with our bows, attempting to take down giant beasts. When we're done, we'll build a giant campfire, cook what we've killed, pitch our tent and then… well, use your imagination. I've always wanted to make love under the stars…"

"Sounds like a grand way to spend a day and evening."

"Perhaps it's something we could do once everything to do with the dragons is over?"

"Sure."

"I might hold you to that, Ragnar."

"Might give another reason for my housecarl to be…" I trailed off, wondering if I should mention anything.

"Your housecarl? You mean Lydia?" I nodded. "Ragnar, are you suggesting she is… jealous?"

I shrugged and figured there'd be no harm in admitting it. "I think so."

"Should I be flattered? Or worried?"

"Neither, I guess. But our ride to Riften recently was awkward to say the least. You and I disappearing into the Underforge for the night didn't go unnoticed, though I guess the twins upstairs won't say anything, while the rest of the Companions aren't dumb enough to even mention the subject, at least to or in front of us. But, somehow, my housecarl somehow found out and, well… She says she's worried about me. We're good friends but… well, I'm not sure but I think she may want more."

"Worried about you?"

"I think it's because of the blood that flows through our veins."

"And wanting more?"

"I think so. But I don't really want to broach the subject as I don't see her in that way. I mean, she's a woman. Certainly attractive. Skilled at her job. And I like her company. But…"

"So what about me?"

"You're... confusing. But, I'll admit, I like what we have at the moment. Let's keep it how it is."

She seemed happy with that. "Good. Should we join the others upstairs?"

We found Farkas and Vilkas were eating breakfast once we had dressed, neither saying a thing apart from wishing a good morning as we took a seat on the bench opposite them. Farkas appeared to be near enough to completely recovered from his burns. Vilkas still looked in some pain but said he would be ready to take on whatever we happened to find in the tomb.

It was beyond freezing as we exited the inn, low, dark clouds above dumping endless snowfall on the ground and on our heads as we started walking towards the tomb, having decided to leave our horses stabled near the inn. This meant having to carry Wuuthrad on my back, my sword sheathed on my right hip, dagger on my left, shield attached to my left forearm. I'll admit I felt utterly weighed down, thankful that at least my armour wasn't completely weighing me down.

Ahead was the College of Winterhold, or that's what I had learned from the innkeeper. There were a few houses but to call Winterhold a city…. Perhaps many years before it had but not now. And it wasn't long until we came across the ruins of old city walls and other buildings that appeared to have collapsed over a cliff.

"Anyone know what happened?" I asked as we descended towards the shore far below, passing under the bridge leading towards the college.

"The locals called it 'The Great Collapse'," Farkas replied, "Apparently something happened with the College, causing more than half the city to fall into the ocean. Damned mages." He paused. "Well, I guess some magic isn't so bad…"

"I wouldn't even call myself a novice. But Lydia suggested I should learned."

"Smart woman. You should take her advice more often," Aela stated, meeting her eye and returning a look that caused me to laugh.

I noticed the twins share a look and shake their heads. While I wasn't stupid enough to think they didn't know what Aela and I were up to, I wondered if they thought it was something deeper than what it actually was. I wasn't about to go and talk to them about it though. I'd let them think whatever they wanted. If they wanted to approach either or both of us about it, then we'd talk about it then.

I pulled my coat tighter as we ended up on the shoreline, the breaking of the waves echoing off the cliffs around us. The wind was bitter and I couldn't help the slight chatter of my teeth. The twins were certainly feeling it as they recovered from their own ordeal, while Aela was wrapped from head to toe in furs as well. We came to a stop as the water lapped at our feet, Farkas pointing across the strip of water.

"The tomb is over there."

"Are you sure?"

"Aye. The map never lies."

"It doesn't look too deep. We can wade across," Vilkas added.

I looked at Vilkas as if he was mad but the twins simply stepped forward and started walking across the channel towards the small island. I looked at Aela, who simply shrugged and followed the pair of them in.

"This is all we need. All four of us to catch a cold," I muttered as I followed the trio into the icy water. Not to put too fine a point on it, but as a man, when you feel real cold, certainly parts of the body react and retract. I can honestly say I walked out of the water on the other side partially a woman I was so cold. In a futile effort to warm up, I wrapped my arms around myself, rubbing my skin to generate any semblance of warmth.

The outside of the tomb was like many I had already seen across Skyrim, the four of us rushing towards it, hoping we would find warmth inside. We shut the iron door behind us, the howl of the wind and crashing of the waves disappearing as we felt enveloped by the warmth of the entrance chamber. The twins lit the braziers dotted around the room and we warmed ourselves by the fire for a few minutes before we looked around.

"I guess that's Ysgramor?" I wondered, not expecting an answer as it was obvious.

"This is the resting place of the man himself and his most trusted generals. We should be cautious," Vilkas added.

Now that we were finally here, I realised we didn't really have a plan. So I asked if we had one.

"We do," Farkas said, "You, Aela and I will head into the tomb. Vilkas will wait here."

I looked at the other twin. "Is there something wrong?"

Vilkas lowered his head for a moment, shaking it, before returning his eyes to mine. "Kodlak was right, Ragnar. We were wrong in our reaction. I let vengeance rule my heart. I know you wanted to stop me, and I thank you for not doing that. I have no regrets. We did what needed to be done, but I cannot enter this tomb until I have restored my honour."

"You mean a cure?" He nodded. "I understand. We should have brought more than one head. We could have cured everyone who wanted it."

"We have time to return again. For now, place Wuuthrad in the hands of Ysgramor and you should gain entry to his tomb."

A passage opened once I'd placed Wuuthrad in the statue's hands and I led Farkas and Aela into the tomb. Farkas mentioned that all the original companions had been buried over the years with Ysgramor and were likely the guardians of the tomb.

"So like draugr?" I asked.

"No. They won't be undead. They'll be… something else. Though I'm not sure what."

I unsheathed my sword, Farkas taking the great-sword from his back as Aela already had her an arrow ready to fire. I'll admit to feeling nerves as we followed the corridor, not knowing what we would find. If not draugr, what would the guardians of this place look like? Vilkas had mentioned something about proving we were worthy of making it to the tomb of Ysgramor himself, so I assumed we would have to fight something or someone along the way.

As we finished descending a flight of stairs, I heard voices ahead and I have to admit I came to a stop, absolutely dumbfounded by what was approaching.

"Ghosts?" I wondered, raising my shield as whatever it was attacked.

"Spirits of the Companions. They wish to find if we are worthy," Farkas replied.

"Then I guess we should prove it."

This was just another first in a bizarre line of them, as though they were ghosts, spirits or whatever you called such things, I still felt their spectral swords strike my shield, the sound of steel clashing with steel. I narrowed my eyes and looked over the ghost. An ancient Nord helmet covered a grizzled face, a veteran of war. I could even see the outline of what appeared to have been a beard. Its body covered in ancient Nord armour though the sword and shield, while looking different to my own, would have cut me in half all the same. I felt the power in the swing and could see the skill in how the ghost used his sword and shield as a combination. When I eventually managed to stagger the… ghost, I thrust forward and, while it wasn't the same feeling as running my sword into something living, there was still a sensation through the steel and hilt then up my arm any time I killed my mark. I turned to see Farkas deal with the second ghost, even more amazed to see a pair of arrows sticking out of it. A sweep of the great-sword and the ghost disappeared.

We moved on down another set of stairs into a larger room, full of sarcophaguses. I knew it did not bode well. Any time we entered a crypt or tomb and found rooms full of them, that meant potentially fighting lots of draugr. While draugr didn't come popping out this time, plenty of ghosts stepped forward to greet us instead. We got to work immediately, Aela aiming for any armed with a bow while I made a beeline for those armed with a sword. I heard Farkas shout a war cry as he charged forward as I slammed my shield into the ghostly face of an approaching enemy, leaving it open for me to thrust my sword into its… well, ghostly chest. I swivelled and met the sword of a second ghostly enemy before it was then virtually cut in half as Farkas swung his great-sword in a sweeping arc, before we barely exchanged a glance and charged forward together at another pair of ghosts, one falling to its knees as Aela continued to fire arrows from the steps behind us. I eliminated that ghost before Farkas and I made short work of the last one.

"I'll admit it, we really could have used Vilkas down here," I stated as we gathered together before moving on.

"We're still alive, Ragnar," Farkas retorted.

"Would have made this slightly easier. But, I know, got to prove our worthiness and all." I noticed Aela wrapping a bandage on her arm. "You okay?"

"Arrow grazed me. Just a cut. Nothing too serious."

We wandered the chamber for a couple of minutes as a few of the sarcophaguses were missing lids, seeing the withered, ancient remains of the first Companions. They were little but bones and dust after thousands of years. They had also been buried with their weapons and armour, remarkably well preserved over the same time. We left everything as we had found it as we prepared to move out.

More ghosts greeted us in the next chamber and it was the same tactics as before. Aela took care of any ghostly archers while Farkas and I tried to make as short a work as possible of any ghostly warriors. Even though there were three of them, and we had to be careful of the archers to worry about, we still proved our worthiness in the end, each ghost disappearing into thin air. After eliminating each one, I did wonder what happened to them. They were already dead, so did they simply return to sleep and wait for the next group to come through?

My thoughts were interrupted by Farkas, of whom if I didn't know any better, approached me somewhat sheepishly. "Ragnar, I have something to tell you."

"What is it?"

"I can't go any further after seeing what is ahead." I must have looked surprised, if not a little confused. "Spiders, Ragnar. I can handle anything else thrown at me but the big creepy crawlies? I'm man enough to admit they scare me to death. Every man has his weakness. I'll stand here and admit mine."

"Are you sure?"

He nodded. "I'm sure, Ragnar. I'll do nothing but freeze up if I were to go any further. I'll head back to the entrance and stand guard with Vilkas. Give my regards to Ysgramor."

"Of course."

I shook hands with Farkas before joining Aela on the other side of the chamber. She didn't ask where Farkas was going. I assumed she was already aware of his weakness. "Just us two again?" she asked, unable to hold back the smirk, "Whatever will your housecarl say?"

"Now is not the time."

She simply returned a mock salute before drawing another arrow from her quiver. "If you'll do the honours, I'll start killing spiders. Suggestion, too. If you have got some magic in you, try using a flame spell. Spiders hate them and they will stay back. That'll give me plenty of time to let fly with a lot of arrows."

I took the advice, sheathing my sword. I could hear the spiders on the other side of the webbing, no doubt waiting for our appearance. I glanced at Aela, who already had the arrow at her eye-line, ready to let go as soon as a spider came into view. I summoned flames and burned away the webbing, seeing three spiders appear. I stepped forward and fired a wall of flame at them as Aela stepped next to me, continuing to fire arrows. Any time the spiders looked like they were getting too close, I just summoned another sheet of flame to keep them back, hitting them at times, causing them to scurry out of the way, allowing us to slowly move forward.

Each spider died with a disgusting squelching sound, being inundated by either arrows from Aela or flames from my palm. Using magic during a fight was a completely different experience, and while I don't think my flames killed any of the spiders, it was still weird not to have my sword in hand.

I burned away more webbing covering the next doorway, immediately wishing I hadn't as I'd barely taken a few steps before an enormous spider suddenly dropped from the ceiling high above. I'll admit that a primal form of terror came over me, and I yelled if not cried out in fear as I scrambled backwards. I didn't even hear Aela firing at least one or two arrows before I bumped into her, forcing her back through the doorway. Once I'd composed myself, I got to my feet, taking a moment to calm my heartbeat, then fired flames through the doorway as the spider approached.

"Put your arrows away, Aela. I'll use my Voice."

"I thought you didn't like to?"

I nodded, as we had spoken of it before. "I don't. But, at times like this, I'm going to use whatever gifts I have… within reason. But it's a spider so any sense of personal honour doesn't really matter."

I summoned flames again with my right hand as I gestured for Aela to follow with my left, forcing the giant spider away from the doorway. Once through, I quickly assessed how large the room was and knew there was enough space to do what I wanted. I dropped my right palm and the spider immediately sprang forward. Just as it was looking to leap at both of us, I force shouted, catching the spider with a full blast of power. The spider flew across the room, slamming into a wall on the far side. It hit at tremendous speed but it wasn't dead. Not quite yet.

Aela started firing arrows again as I strode forward and summoned fire from both palms. Lydia had told me that doing so would 'overpower' the spell, though I would find it mentally and physically draining. She was right, of course, but the spider soon collapsed in on itself as I simply let the body burn.

"Remind me, Ragnar. I never want to fight one of those again."

"You and me both."

"But your gift is…" She paused. "I mean, to have that power at your fingertips…" She trailed off.

"It's why I don't like to use it against anything but dragons. It is what the Greybeards spoke of. Respect the Way of the Voice. To abuse this power is to go against the gods' favour."

"You're a pious man, Ragnar?"

I shrugged. "I've always believed in the Nine," Aela noticing I didn't say 'the Eight', "Though I would never have called myself devout. But, for some reason, I've been given this gift."

"Because you're a good man. The gods favour good men."

I returned a smile. "Thanks. But I have to be more than that when I have this sort of power at my disposal. I can see how this sort of power could be corrupting or abused. Or I could find myself a pawn in someone else's game. I'm sure there are plenty of people who would believe the Dragonborn would be the perfect ally for whatever scheme they have cooking."

We moved on, unsheathing my sword again in the hope that we wouldn't run into any more spiders. Ghastly things. The way forward continued to head downwards, leaving me wondering how deep the tomb was. The building of these tombs thousands of years ago always left me staggered in their design and just how people managed to build them.

We descended into a series of burial chambers, dealing with even more Companion ghosts. Now that there was only Aela and I, the going was tougher than ever. The same tactics were used, though. She stayed back and rained arrows down on them. I strode forward and kept them otherwise occupied. Taking on three warriors at once though? Not easy and these ghosts were smart, attacking me all at once. I found myself having to defend more often than I liked, but taking their attention from Aela helped us both.

Our work was slow but methodical. The ghosts were remnants of those first Companions, so were tried and tested warriors. But Aela and I had worked together numerous times by now, knowing each other's strengths and weaknesses and. I got in close, did the dirty work and kept their attention. She hung back and picked them off, one by one. We worked our way through at least a trio of burial chambers, each full of decomposed bodies, though most were now just bones. But each one had been a true Companion.

We climbed a set of stairs towards large double doors, standing side by side for a few seconds before opening them. "I think this is it."

"I have your back, Ragnar."

"What do you think we'll find?"

She shrugged. "The lore about this place is very old. The one thing we should find is Ysgramor's tomb itself."

I pushed open by double doors and strode forward, albeit slowly and carefully. The chamber was enormous, the ceiling above as high as the sky. An enormous brazier was hanging in the middle of the chamber, illuminating every corner, with smaller braziers on the ground. Ancient treasures abounded, hearing Aela gasp as we took in everything we could see. However, it was then who or what was waiting in the middle of the chamber that took our complete attention. I sheathed my sword as I approached the ghost appearing to warm its hands at what Aela had whispered was called the 'Flame of the Harbinger'.

"Greetings, Ragnar."

"Kodlak?" I asked, looking at Aela, who was as dumbfounded as I was.

"Is that really you?" she asked.

"Of course! My fellow Harbingers and I have been warming ourselves here. We've been evading Hircine. He is hungry for our souls."

I looked at Aela. "You see any others?" I asked quietly. She shook her head. "Kodlak, you're the only one we can see," I added.

"You only see me because your heart knows only me as the Companions leader. I'd wager old Vignar could see half a dozen of my predecessors."

"Vignar must be ancient," Aela whispered.

"But I can see them all. Those in Sovngarde. And those trapped with me in Hircine's realm. And they all see you, Ragnar. You've brought honour to the name of the Companions. We won't soon forget it."

I took the lone head I'd brought from Whiterun, showing it to Kodlak's spirit. "I brought the head, sir. Vilkas said you can still be cured, even now."

The spirit nodded. "Excellent. Throw the head on the fire. It will release their magic, for me at least."

I nodded, unsheathing my sword, looking at Aela, who already had her bow to hand. Kodlak's spirit had taken a step or two back as I carefully placed the witches head on the flames. I stepped back myself as the flames changed colour and then almost appeared to reach the ceiling high above. There was then a roar, turning to see Kodlak bent over as another spirit appeared to be escaping his chest.

"Shor's bones," Aela whispered as we watched the spirit of wolf leave Kodlak.

"It's enormous!"

"It's only a wolf. We can take it!"

The wolf growled as it turned towards us, keeping one eye on Kodlak as he stepped out of the way. Then I went on the attack, not giving the spirit beast a chance to attack us itself. I slammed my shield into its face, hoping to stagger it. Despite it being a spirit, I felt the shudder through the shield and my forearm as I connected, watching the spirit step back. I then swung my sword and know I connected as the spirit howled. I kept attacking, shield up, right foot forward, ready to strike. Surprising, I didn't hear or see any arrows, glancing left to see Aela circle around the wolf with dagger in hand.

I know what she wanted, making sure I kept the spirits attention, now stepping back, swinging my sword at the time. When she was in position, I smashed my shield into the spirit again as Aela leapt onto its back, holding her dagger in both hands, jamming it down into the back of the spirit. As soon as she struck, the wolf howled one final time before it blinked out of existence, Aela falling to the ground. I offered my hand, helping her up before we turned to see Kodlak walking towards us.

"You work well together."

"Thank you, Harbinger," we stated together.

He took a deep breath. "And I feel myself again. I feel pure. The beast has finally been slain. Thank you to you both."

"What do we do next?" I asked.

"While I can only thank both of you for helping me, there are many others still trapped in Hircine's realm."

"What can we do to help?"

"For the moment, your place is here. But perhaps from Sovngarde, the heroes of old can join me in their rescue. Imagine it! The Harrowing of the Hunting Grounds. It would be a battle of such triumph."

"Wish I could be there at your side," I stated.

Kodlak nodded. "Maybe one day, Ragnar. One day, we will join in battle and taste triumph together. But for today, return to Jorrvaskr. Triumph in your victory. And lead the Companions to further glory."

He reached out and I grabbed his forearm. I saw the smile on his face, the nod of recognition that the torch had been passed. And then he disappeared.

"Goodbye, Harbinger," I whispered.

I took a seat on the ground near the fire, looking around the chamber, Aela joining me to my left. We sat in silence for a few minutes, alone with our thoughts.

"I heard that correctly?" she finally asked.

"I think so."

"You've earned it, Ragnar. We all know the old man had ambitions for you. He was convinced the day you walked through the doors into Jorrvaskr the very first time. And that was before we found out you were Dragonborn."

"What do you think?"

"I'm no leader. I'm proud to be a member of the Circle but you can lead the Companions on a new path, free of the beast-blood." I must have returned a look as she simply smiled. "I know I will be the last Companion and Circle member to have the blood. You know I don't mind. Farkas and Vilkas will eventually return to be cured. And I have no doubt you will too."

"You speak true."

"So, what are your orders, Harbinger?"

"Ragnar." I paused a moment. "You've been speaking to my housecarl. We should go meet up with the two brothers and head back to Jorrvaskr."

We took a few moments to wander the tomb, finding that of Ysgramor himself. The artwork on his sarcophagus was exemplary. I know little of art but it appeared to dictate at least part of his life, that of their arrival on Skyrim and their war against the elves. But it was what was lying nearby that took my attention. A shield, metal still shining as brightly as the day it had been made and polished. The shield also seemed to glow.

"Any idea what this is?" I asked.

Aela grabbed a journal from her pack, thumbing through the pages. "Here! It's the Shield of Ysgramor. It is said Ysgramor carried this shield, along with Wuuthrad, into battle against the elves. With Wuuthrad, he slayed entire elven armies. With his shield, he defended the Companions from sword and bow."

"You think I can take it?"

She shrugged. "I see no reason why the Harbinger of the Companions cannot wield the shield in his honour."

"I'll grab Wuuthrad too. We should hang that back at Jorrvaskr."

We found a way out of the tomb and met the twins back at the entrance. I let Aela share the news that I was the new Harbinger. Both appeared pleased, a round of handshakes shared. I grabbed Wuuthrad from the hands of the statue, hearing the doors into tomb sealing shut once again upon its removal. With a last look around, we exited the tomb to begin the long journey back to Jorrvaskr.