What are Friends For

"Wow!" Lydia stated quietly.

That was pretty much my sentiment, the five of us standing in line as we just took in the enormous cavern which greeted our eyes, though to call it a cavern would have to be incorrect. From what I could see, the buildings in the distance, it had to be another Dwarven city. The colours were unlike any I had seen before. The sheer size of Blackreach boggled the mind. How did the roof not collapse? How far underground were we? Was there anyone alive down here?

"So where do we go?" Aela asked.

"We're looking for the Tower of Mzark. That's what Septimus said. Lydia, is that right?"

"It is, my thane. Though he said nothing about its location except it was somewhere down here."

"So, ideas? I'll be honest, I don't particularly want to suggest splitting up, simply because we have no idea what's down here."

"Why don't we investigate that building over there?" Farkas suggested.

"It's a start."

A lone Sphere was patrolling the road in front of us. Once we'd turned it into scrap metal, we checked the road left and right for any more enemies. There were none visible though assumed that Dwarven contraptions and Falmer likely inhabited all of Blackreach, so we knew the fighting wasn't done just yet. Outside the building were what appeared to be glowing mushrooms. But it wasn't just the fact they glowed. I don't know whether it was my ears playing tricks on me but they also appeared to… sing. And if it wasn't the mushrooms, it was something else. There was a gentle ringing sound that echoed across the entire cave, incredibly soothing in a way, bringing a sense of calm, to myself at least.

The building we entered was empty of life though there were signs that someone had once made a home there. A skeleton by the fireplace was a sign of whoever had once inhabited the building so we investigated to see who the skeleton may have been. The room was full of Dwarven artefacts, though nothing which I would consider treasures. Then we found a journal, giving the skeleton a name of Sinderion.

"This must be crimson nirnroot," I stated, the journal in one hand, the nirnroot sitting on the table.

"I thought nirnroot was green?"

"It is, Farkas. It must have a different colour down here."

"What do you think killed him?" Lydia wondered.

"Falmer?" I asked in return.

"No. More than likely one of the Dwarven contraptions," Aela replied, "That spear next to his body is Dwarven. The Falmer don't use those as weapons."

"The man was definitely an alchemist. Look at all these ingredients!" Lydia exclaimed.

"Want to make some potions?"

"No, my thane. It's just rare to see someone keep so many varieties. I just wonder what he was doing here?"

"Looking for this nirnroot. His words suggest he was rather obsessive about it."

"To be killed over nirnroot?" Aela asked.

"As you said, the Dwarven contraptions are guardians of these places. Perhaps he annoyed them with his presence?"

"Hmmm, good point."

"Come on. There's nothing really in here for us. Let's find that tower and head home."

I think we were all feeling rather weary. We had no idea what time it was having spent so long descending in either darkness or the light made by the Dwarves. I had no doubt that whenever we found ourselves back on the surface it was going to be dark, if not already the next day. I'll be honest. Part of me would have loved to explore every nook and cranny of Blackreach, finding all its secrets and treasures. Given its size, I figured exploring its entirety would take days, and considering the enemies I figured were residing in Blackreach, perhaps that wasn't the most sensible idea. So I put any idea of exploration to the back of my mind but wondered if I should perhaps return one day and see what I could find. It was an idea at least

Turning right upon exiting the building, we trudged along in a line, eyes on the buildings we walked by or on the horizon, constantly on the lookout for enemies. Aela and Lydia shot down a couple of Falmer guarding a nearby building, a cursory search providing little. Walking by a Dwarven Centurion was a rather butt-clenching experience, all of us expecting it to wake up at any moment, until Farkas pointed out that there was a lever next to it, suggesting someone had to actually wake it. We chose not to.

Then I heard a noise far ahead, thankful I still had the beast-blood, as I had my first ever sighting of a Chaurus. Two of them. Both were pure black and just looked… evil. I can't even begin to describe what it actually looked like. It was definitely ugly, walking on four legs, continuing to make a strange sound as the two walked towards us.

"Watch it carefully as it will likely spit poison," Vilkas warned as we enclosed on the pair.

Then it spat at us. I lifted by shield to block, hearing the acid sizzle against my shield. "Get in close!" I yelled and four of us charged forward, only Aela hanging back as she wasn't suited to melee attacked. The Chaurus were well armoured, feeling and hearing my sword crack against its outer shell. The Chaurus attempted to bite me with its pincers in return, lifting my shield to block and then bash its face, forcing it backwards. I stepped forward and hit its face, dazing it. Vilkas flanked to my left, lifting his great-sword high above his head and swinging down, cutting the Chaurus in half. The smell that arose from the broken body was indescribable, its blood oozing around us and even that appeared acidic, Vilkas and I stepping back quickly.

"And that was a small one," Vilkas stated.

"Seriously?"

"Oh, yes. There are those we call Reapers. At least twice the size. And uglier. The only good thing is that you don't find too many of them."

I was told where we found Chaurus, there would be Falmer. And we ran into a whole bunch of them. Aela took out the one in the distance with a fantastic shot from her bow as the rest of us fell upon them with sword and shield. I tried breathing through my mouth as we dealt with them, the smell from their bodies pungent, trying to ensure they didn't breathe on me at the same time as I blocked their swings, their faces coming in close to mine. I thrust forward, feeling my sword break skin and then press forward. I pulled the sword back, seeing blood drip from body or sword, kicking forward at the same time and turning slightly to my right, cutting down on another Falmer. Fighting in these sort of numbers is always hectic, but my Shield-Brothers and Housecarl would protect my back as I would protect theirs, turning in time to block another swing that would have connected with Vilkas a second later, cutting down and seeing that same sword clatter to the ground, a Falmer hand still attached.

We pushed the Falmer back as a line, the two great-swords of Farkas and Vilkas cutting the Falmer to pieces. Lydia and I protected them where we had to or joined in on the killing otherwise. Aela continued to let loose behind us, not a single Falmer breaking through our line, leaving her in peace, picking off whichever enemy she chose.

Once the last Falmer fell, we stopped, taking a moment to look behind us and the number of bodies now lying on the ground. "Shor's bones, how many are there?" Lydia asked.

"We could stand here and count but is there any point? At least they're dead," I replied.

"I'll be honest about one thing, Uhtred. I much prefer fighting bandits," Farkas stated.

"Or wild beasts. These Falmer are… something else entirely," Vilkas added.

We had to spend a minute or two cleaning the blood off us, finding a stream of water nearby, taking a moment to wipe our faces and armour while also taking a moment to quench our thirst. As we were cleaning and drinking, I looked up and noticed the building on the other side of the river. The buildings were large and appeared to be in very good condition, considering their age. Formidable was one word that came to mind. Any human army would think twice about scaling the walls I could see.

"What do you think those are?" I asked.

"No idea. But none look like a tower," Lydia replied.

"You want to explore, Ragnar?" Aela asked.

"Part of me does. Part of me just wants to find the Scroll and get out of here. We've been on the go for hours now. Let's follow the path we're on and see if we have a bit of luck finding this tower."

We kept to the path alongside the river and the city, as that is definitely what it was, unveiled itself as we rounded the bend. None of the buildings were what I would have called a tower but I had to dampen the urge to climb the stairs in the distance and see what we could find. Any notion of exploring was further dampened by the appearance of a couple of Falmer. One was armed with a bow, Aela replying in kind, while the second ran towards the four of us. Vilkas simply called it an idiot before nearly splitting it in half.

"Did the Falmer kill the Dwarves?" I wondered.

"I don't think so," Aela replied, "From the books I have read, the Dwemer disappeared through their own design. One day they were here. Next, poof, they were gone. However, one book has explained that the Falmer tried to overthrow the Dwemer before they disappeared."

"Why were they trying to overthrow them?"

"Because the Falmer were kept as slaves."

"Good a reason as any then."

"Another one of the reasons why we can hate but pity them at the same time."

We crossed a bridge and a tower appeared in the distance. At least, that's what I thought considering it was rather dark. I pointed it out to the others and they agreed that it was worthy of investigating. The path continued to curve around to the right, around the city to our right, so we found a path leading off to the left, towards the tower in the distance, with each step closer becoming clearer. I don't know why, but in my gut, I knew this was the tower we were looking for.

We eventually passed another building, similar in appearance to the very first building we had entered upon reaching Blackreach. This time we didn't bother entering. All our eyes were focused on the tower. I walked slightly quicker, feeling the excitement build, knowing we may be near the end of the mission and the Scroll would soon be in our hands.

"This is definitely it."

"What makes you so sure?" Lydia wondered.

"I just am. I'm the Dragonborn, remember?"

I just heard her groan as the other three tried to hide their laughter. I bounded up the steps towards the tower, gesturing for my colleagues to hurry up. I opened the twin doors and was slightly disappointed to see a room with a lever in the middle. I glanced back as the others joined me.

"What's this?"

"Ah, it must be an elevator," Aela replied.

"A what?"

"Another one of the devices built by the Dwarves. Instead of stairs, they built machines which allowed them to travel up and down quickly. Allow me to demonstrate," she stated, grabbing the lever. She must have noticed I looked a bit unsure. "You won't need to hold on. These things are incredibly safe. As well built as their guardians which still patrol their cities."

"Before you do," I stated, turning to Lydia, "We are definitely coming back here."

She smiled, looking unsure herself. "Of course, my thane."

I nodded, turning back to Aela. "Very well. Pull the lever."

I was impressed by how smooth the journey was. It was loud, much like all their other machines, but I wasn't left in fear during the ascent. I glanced towards Lydia, who appeared to enjoy it. The Companions were relatively unperturbed as well. 'All in a day's work, I guess.' I don't know how long we ascended but I could only imagine it was far quicker than walking up stairs. Or climbing.

The doors ahead opened as the elevator finished ascending, a large chamber greeting our eyes, illuminated by a Dwarven light in the middle of the room. The room was in a slight disarray as there was evidence of a previous visitor. We split up and checked to see if anyone was actually alive down here. I check the campfire and realised it had not been lit in a long time. The cooking pots hanging over the fire were empty and cold. Shelves against the wall were full of books, all of them ruined. There were some Dwemer instruments plus an armoured helmet, appearing to be Dwemer in design.

"You can have that," I stated to Lydia, handing her the helmet.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. If you don't want it, one of the Companions may have it."

"Lydia can have it, Uhtred. We put our trust in whatever Eorlund builds us," Farkas stated.

"There we go, Lydia. All yours."

"Thanks."

I shrugged. "It's a shame we haven't come across any of their armour. I think Dwarven armour would be incredibly strong."

"May have to traverse more ruins then. Right, my thane?"

I noticed the sarcastic smirk and simply laughed. "Find anything else?"

"Nothing to indicate who was living here," Aela replied.

"Very well, let's move on and get this Scroll."

The next door opened up to something simply astounding. Its sheer size was incredible. I had to rap my knuckles on it to make sure it was real. And it was, made of metal. I had no idea what it was called, Septimus had not told us. But I knew this is where we had to obtain the knowledge he wanted. And, somewhere in this giant metal thing, was the Elder Scroll.

I turned right and started looking for a way up. I knew I'd taken the wrong turn when a raised walkway went above my head. So I simply turned around, weaving my way through my colleagues, who decided to laugh at me, and I headed left and soon headed up the raised walkway. I'll admit, once I'd climbed part of the way, I did take a look at the roof, and could see things attached to the roof. It looked like glass, or perhaps they were crystals? I couldn't be sure. But it was what I found on the floor that first had my attention. Another skeleton. Again, no idea who this may have been but there was a tattered journal next to its body. It was almost falling apart but I managed to decipher some of the writing. It didn't give us a name of the machine, as that is what it was, according to the notes. It also stated it needed a 'box', so I guess that was the lexicon Septimus gave us.

The top of the walkway gave us a perfect view of the machine. Circular arms, with glass inside, were attached to the roof. In front of me appeared to be the controls of the machine. I'll admit it right now. I had little idea what to do. But I figured there was one thing I could do.

"Lydia, you have the lexicon?"

She handed it to me and I placed it where I think it should fit. Once it was attached, the machine started up. I almost jumped out of my skin at the sound as the arms attached to the roof started to move. Once my heartbeat calmed, I noticed two of the button were now lit up.

"Okay, what now?" I asked quietly, more to myself rather than anyone else.

"What does the journal say?"

I flipped it open again. I think there was a suggestion about pressing one of the buttons four times. Or, at least, that's what I took from it. I handed it to my colleagues and stated what I was thinking. Farkas and Vilkas didn't have a clue. Aela and Lydia agreed with me. So I pressed the first button four times. Nothing happened. So I pressed the second button four times.

The lexicon opened and shone brightly. The third button then lit up. I turned to Aela. "It can't possibly be this easy. Puzzle rooms in Nord ruins are more complicated than this!"

"I don't think it's meant to be a puzzle, Uhtred. It's about transferring knowledge to the lexicon."

I pressed the third button and watched the arms move in circular patterns. I had no idea what they were doing but I was confident the outcome would be positive. I pressed the button a second time, the arms moving again, light now appearing from each of the crystal discs, and there was a noise from the lexicon. It still shone brightly but was now closed.

"I think whatever Septimus wanted is on the lexicon," Lydia stated.

"Don't forget to grab it once we're done here. The Scroll must be… in this thing. Whatever it is…"

The fourth button was now available to press. My heart was beating rapidly as this would surely unveil where the Scroll was. I looked at my colleagues and could see they were just as nervous as I was. I'll admit my hand was shaking slightly as I pressed the fourth button. The arms moved in another pattern before a crystal container attached to the roof detached and was lowered as the arms ascended, almost like a counterweight. I watched as the container was gently lowered before it then opened.

"Is that it?" Lydia asked quietly.

I didn't reply as I silently walked down the path towards the crystal container. Inside was a cylinder and I knew this was the Scroll. I held my breath, trying to stop my hand shaking as I reached forward and grabbed it. 'Wow, far heavier than I thought it would be.' I held it in both hands, turning it this way and that, as my colleagues joined me.

"Stop smiling, Ragnar."

"I can't believe we've got an Elder Scroll," I stated quietly.

"Just don't read it," Aela warned, "I've heard reading it can make you go blind."

I raised eyebrows at that one. "Really? How am I meant to use it then?"

Aela shrugged. "I have no idea. Perhaps someone else can help you…"

"I've got the lexicon, my Thane. So the question is; what do we do first?"

"Find a way out."

"There's a door this way," Vilkas called, pointing down another corridor, "Perhaps there'll be another of those elevators all the way to the surface?"

"Let's have a look."

I looked through my pack and found some string, tying it to both ends of the Scroll and I threw it over my shoulder. It felt slightly awkward on my back but it was the only way I could carry it. Once I was comfortable, Vilkas led the way to the next door and we found an elevator. Once all set, Aela pulled the lever once more. Natural light soon greeted our eyes, realising it was daylight as we ascended. Once the elevator stopped, another lever opened the gates and I realised we were nowhere near Alftand.

"Gods, where in oblivion are we?" Farkas asked.

"No idea, but someone has made camp," his brother replied.

A quick check proved the campsite had been long abandoned. But we needed rest. "Any idea of the time?" Lydia asked.

"No idea. But, I'll be honest, I'm beat," I replied.

"There are bedrolls in here," Vilkas stated.

"I can get this fire started," Lydia added.

We had nothing to eat but we definitely needed to rest. I had no idea how long we had been going but we'd ended up somewhere else in Skyrim. Add to that all the fighting and the walking and it was little wonder we didn't just collapse into the bedrolls. But since we didn't know where we were, we agreed to sleep in shifts. Two to guard, three to sleep, swapping until the next morning. I agreed to take first watch with Lydia, allowing my Shield-Brothers the opportunity to rest, figuring Vilkas and Farkas would be feeling exhausted now they no longer had the beast-blood flowing through their veins.

"Any idea where we are?" I asked.

Lydia shrugged. "Think the best thing to do would be to head south. If we're still in the north, then we should come across either a major road or a village soon enough."

We sat back and talked about nothing of consequence for a few hours, watching as the light slowly started to disappeared. Thankfully the weather didn't close in before we woke Farkas and Vilkas, instructing them to wake me with Aela after a few hours, suggesting we didn't need as much sleep considering the blood in our veins.

I know I slept like a rock, groaning when I felt Farkas shake me by the shoulder what felt like only minutes later. It was early morning, the fire still roaring to provide warmth as, although there was no snow, we were still high in the mountains so it was still bitterly cold, Aela and I wrapping ourselves tightly in our coats and sitting as close to the fire as possible.

"Stars are bright tonight," I stated.

She gave me a look and chuckled. "You remember?"

"How could I forget? It was quite the offer."

"It still stands."

"As I said, I'll take you up on it one day."

"What would your housecarl say?" My face must have fallen as she laughed again. "Easy, Ragnar. I have to say Lydia is, well, I'd say she's a friend. What I do know is that we share one opinion."

"And what is that?"

"You're a good man."

"I'm just doing what I think is right."

"Then keep doing that. We'll let you know if you divert from the path. What are friends for."

We eventually sat in silence, only the crackle of the fire providing ambience and warmth as the sun slowly started to rise over the mountain nearby. Once there was enough light, we roused the other three out of their bedrolls. With stomachs grumbling from a lack of food, we tried to figure out the way south. After one or two wrong turns, we finally started to descend the mountainside, the snow turning to grass and we eventually came upon a road. And, glory of glories, we saw Dragonsreach in the distance. A speck at the moment but I know our pace quickened immediately.

I doubt the Bannered Mare had ever seen five hungrier people come through their doors and I felt a bit sorry for Saadia at the order we made once we'd sat down. We were absolutely ravenous but, to her credit, our plates were never empty for long as we gorged ourselves on meat, vegetables and no end of mead. Once we'd sated our appetites, and consumed more mead than we should have done, all of us rolling drunk after half a dozen or so tankards, we headed to our respective homes, agreeing to rest for the day and make our way back to Winterhold the next day to collect our horses.

Lydia was in bed by the time the sun disappeared over the horizon. I sat by the fire, reading a couple of books about the Dwarves, finding myself interested in their lore, wondering who they were and how they had managed to build their civilisation under the surface of Skyrim. It was all quite interesting but even I found myself yawning and eventually headed to bed.

Mist and cloud greeted me the next morning as I exited Breezhome, feeling refreshed, Lydia doing her best to outshine me considering she'd slept from sundown to sunrise at least. We met the three members of the Circle outside near the stables and hitched a ride on a carriage to Winterhold. It was slower than riding a horse but it gave us plenty of time to relax and chat amongst ourselves, sharing stories of our lives so far, those which didn't involve each other. I found myself regaling them of my time with the Fighters Guild in Chorrol, some stories I'd shared before while one or two I hadn't, knowingly exaggerating them to the mirth of my fellow Companions.

I gave one of my first real orders to the Circle once we'd arrived in Winterhold, telling them that I was going to head to see Septimus the next morning, would then ride straight for High Hrothgar but that only Lydia would accompany me for the journey. I had not shared the detail of who or what Paarthurnax actually was and, while I felt guilty holding a secret of such magnitude from my friends, it wasn't a matter of trust in them. It was simply to ensure everyone's safety. Thankfully they understood the seriousness of my request and they cheerfully bade Lydia and I farewell the next morning, stating they would see what contracts were available and keep themselves busy until I next walked into Jorrvaskr.

Once the three disappeared from view, Lydia and I turned the other way and headed to see Septimus to hand over the lexicon. It was another cold journey across the ice, our small rowboat crashing against it as the remnants of a storm tossed us around. I think both of us were sick at one stage, both of us definitely looking a little green once I'd pulled the boat ashore near the outpost.

Once we'd handed over the lexicon, telling Septimus that if he wanted anything else done he'd have to get in line or send a note to the College, we returned to dry land, mounted our horses still waiting for us outside the Frozen Hearth in and, for what felt like the umpteenth time since I'd arrived in Skyrim, slowly headed towards Ivarstead and eventually High Hrothgar.