Chapter LXXIX: Spelunking and Geleborian Dunking

(General POV)

Within an ancient cave lit brightly by glowing mushrooms, the sound of peaceful running water was the only thing that could be heard, save for those moments when the trolls inhabiting it would face the colony of frostbite spiders in a cacophony of violence in an attempt to feed their young.

That serene silence was suddenly broken by a foreign and artificial sound as armored boots struck stone, only to face the same interruption as the trolls realized that far more nutritious prey had found its way to their home.

Roars of aggression resounded throughout the cave, yet the silence was their only answer as they bounded across the vast cavern, their underdeveloped minds not capable of understanding that the box of spiky twigs was far more dangerous than it appeared.

As they crossed a certain threshold the invading force reacted as one well oiled machine, the pale white robed elves summoned bright light, blinding the trolls and leaving them open for the numerous spider-like automatons and their mounted crossbows. Those unlucky few that managed to reach the line of elves were swiftly impaled and cut down by their keen polearm blades, their bodies getting swiftly incinerated to stop any of them from regenerating.

Silence returned to the cave once again, only to be broken just as swiftly as one among the invaders scoffed loudly "This is no true hunt." The athletic Nord woman carried a simplistic looking bow and was dressed in what one would need exceeding generosity to consider calling armor, but her presence alone made her stand out among the dozens of armored elves accompanying her.

"The lord has hired you for a reason." One of the pale elves immediately responds, her tone implying a complete lack of care for her companion's complaints.

"With all the money your 'lord' was throwing around I expected more." Aela the Huntress responds dismissively "Even the spiders avoid us like the plague."

One of the Dunmeri warriors, a veteran if one was to observe his armor, looks just about ready to speak up against the human who dared question his lord's will but Nightshade raises her hand to interrupt him "Lord Dagoth, for whatever reason, has respect for your order's skill in battle and he is not one for wastefulness. You will have your battle, sooner or later."

"Spunky little thing, aren't you?" Aela chuckles "Fine, a hunter knows to wait before striking."

Much to the huntress's disappointment, the Falmer merely ignores her and signals her subordinates to keep going, their march continuing as if nothing happened, only for the area they left behind to be swarmed by workers who immediately got to work skinning the trolls and setting up a supply point.

Such scenes were widespread throughout the large cave system as three different groups roamed the underground wilderness, clearing it out step by meticulous step, all the while the leaders of the operation followed behind leisurely and without concern, for they knew nothing in this cave would endanger them, the thousands of arachnid eyes inhabiting this place guiding their every step.

Hours later, Nightshade's group met the other two as they all emerged from differing passages into a vast intersection, the many smaller subsidiary streams gathering into a fully fledged underground river.

The leaders of the different squads met up in the center, Vilkas raising his hand in greeting as his fellow Companions joined him "Ho there." He greets "Your part as boring as mine?"

His twin brother shrugs "The trolls make a nice sound when I smack them."

Aela huffs "I barely even need to draw my bow."

"And where is the kid?" Vilkas asks, referring to Durrak.

"Talking with the mage." His brother tells him "Making plans or somesuch, seems excited."

"He could at least share what he knows." Aela almost pouts.

Someone clearing their throat draws their attention and their eyes all turn toward a short Dunmer in elaborate light armor "Or you could, you know... just ask?" Davos deadpans at them.

"You knew and didn't tell me?" Farkas asks, sounding genuinely hurt.

Such was his honest disappointment that even Davos felt a bit awkward "Sorry kid." He apologizes lamely.

The silence stretches out for a while before Aela sighs "Care to share then?"

"Right" Davos shakes his awkwardness away "Boss said to expect a horde of Falmer-"

The Companions deadpan as one.

"-potentially those of the vampiric variety, frost giants-"

"Finally, something good." Vilkas comments.

"-and a pair of dragons." Davos finishes simply.

"I am sorry, for I must have misheard you." Vilkas narrows his eyes "Did you just say dragons?"

"Yup." Davos nods, his drawled answer a perfect emulation of his lord "Why else would we hire you lot?"

"Well... shit." Aela blurts, her current boredom seeming far more interesting all of a sudden.

"Don't get your loincloth in a twist girl." Davos rolls his eyes "It is not like you are going to be fighting them alone. You are here so we don't waste good men holding the beasts down while the mages kill them."

"So what, he hired us to be meat shields?" Vilkas asks heatedly.

"By Auri-El will you be silent and listen?!" Nightshade finally has enough "You do not fight dragons with numbers, you fight them with power. Sending weaker warriors against them is just giving them free food so keep your foolish indignation in check or I will shove my foot down your throat."

"Don't threaten me with a good ti-" Vilkas starts.

Only to be interrupted by Aela, incidentally saving him from a throat punch from Davos "And you know this how? From what I know the dragon in Blackreach was drowned in an entire army of your kind and had to be ambushed to die."

Nightshade's eyes narrow but she doesn't take the bait and instead simply says "That is not the only dragon Lord Dagoth has faced, you will understand once the time comes."

"Ummm..." The nervous voice of a young man cuts in "Shouldn't we be moving along right about now? We do have a schedule to keep." Alor visibly winces as all eyes turn to him "Just... thought I'd mention."

"Fine." Vilkas grunts "Your master has shown himself to be honorable once before, we will keep going."

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Knight Paladin Gelebor stood before the collapsed shrine to the sun, his ancient armor was pristine to look at and combined with his stature gave off the impression of someone powerful. His mind on the other hand was another thing entirely, millennia of standing and waiting was something which could grate upon even the firmest of wills and Gelebor slowly but certainly found his days folding into one as the eras passed him by.

His eyes snapped into focus as he looked up, the sound of marching boots making it painfully obvious that he was no longer the only intelligent creature present in this place. Part of him demanded he grab his blade and defend his post till his last breath, but a larger, more sensible part told him to wait and observe before committing into action.

It did not take long before his visitors entered his vision, his eyes widening slightly as he observed the veritable army within the caves, only to practically bulge out as he noticed the pale elves among their number "Impossible..." The words left him before he could stop them, though in his surprise one could not fault him for not caring enough to do so in the first place.

As soon as he spoke, the interlopers noticed him, the entire unit fanning out to the sides and half surrounding him within mere moments, but thankfully they refrained from actually attacking.

The ranks split at the center and two short elven figures emerged, one pale and one ashen.

Gelebor could barely keep the complete and utter shock from his voice as he greeted them "Greetings pilgrims, welcome to the Wayshrine of Auri-El."

The ashen skinned elf offers him a deadpan stare in response "You practice that one before the mirror?" Earning an amused chuckle from his... obviously snow elven companion.

Gelebor failed to hide a wince at the Mer's reaction, his long years of isolation not lending themselves into honing his social skills "That matters little" He frowns "I am Knight Paladin Gelebor, guardian of this shrine and the Chantry of Auri-El." His eyes focus fully on the other Falmer "I did not know any of our people still lived. Tell me, young one, from where do you hail?"

He expected many responses from his fellow snow elf, whether it was happiness for finding another of their number or surprise at his existence it made little difference. What he most assuredly did not expect was for her to give him a look of such pure and unfiltered derision that it made him step back on instinct.

"And this concerns you how?" Nightshade's tone was such that it could freeze the very air.

"Forgive me sister, but I did not know any of our people yet lived." Gelebor replies, trying to sound reassuring.

"A thousand thousands still live." Nightshade responds without inflection.

Gelebor stops breathing for a moment "You don't meant..."

"Oh but she does~" A rich noble voice interrupts him, and the shadows beneath the two elves seem to ripple, bringing forth the presence of one who seemed to be a noble among the Dunmer, a very powerful and dangerous noble at that.

(Reyvin's POV, slightly earlier)

"Why don't you just-" The orc snaps his fingers and makes a whoosh sound "-Instead of having your people do it slow like this?"

Serana pipes up, her curiosity obvious, yet her mother merely rolls her eyes, already aware of my reasoning "It is to bloody them and give them some actual experience." I answer "They are well trained but nothing can substitute actual battle when it comes to learning warfare."

"Eh, fair enough." Durrak shrugs "Not like I even enjoy fighting trolls anymore."

"One must diversify his intake to preserve a balanced lifestyle!" The glorious squeak of Shalazar graces our ears as the Lizard Wizard nods sagely.

Just as I am about to respond I sense what is going on in the front and turn to the rest "It would seem that we have reached our destination, I will wait for you there." And disappear into the shadows just in time to greet the fucktard known as Gelebor.

The dumbass stares at me for a moment before, in an attempt to preserve his veneer of politeness, inclining his head "Greetings, are you the leader of these Mer?"

"Why yes I am." I smile and bow mockingly "Lord Dagoth, at your service."

He stares at me for a moment before reciprocating "Knight-Paladin Gelebor." His eyes move between me and Nightshade before finally settling on me "What is your purpose here?" He asks simply.

"We are here for Auri-El's bow, as you might have guessed." I answer flippantly "And for the valley of course, can't have such prime land gathering snow if it can be used for better things."

Gelebor's eyes narrow "You would usurp the final resting place of my people?"

"Final resting place?" I tilt my head, feigning confusion "And who are you to decide if your people are dead or not?"

"Just because one of of the betrayed has managed to regain her form doesn't mean-" He begins, obviously lost at the development, but the clap of my hands interrupts him.

Thirteen other Falmer emerge from within the ranks, all of them looking at Gelebor with either mixed feelings or outright disdain, a question soon comes out against his will "Why do you gaze upon me with such eyes?" He asks them, bewildered.

I chuckle at his confusion "Why, because I told them exactly what you have done for your people ever since their enslavement."

The priestly knight seems genuinely confused all of a sudden "I have guarded my people's heritage for thousands of ye-"

"Thousands of years, yes." I deadpan, uncaring about disrespecting a religious fool "And it took me a mere two to learn how to rejuvenate them into their original forms."

"And what would you have me do?" Gelebor gets a bit heated "I am no mage, nor am I learned beyond the faith. I did not even consider such a miraculous act possible!"

"Thousands. Of. Years." Nightshade cuts in, her tone capable of cutting ebony with its vitriol.

Gelebor stares at her for a long while, his expression shifting from frustration, to despair, to defeat, and then to acceptance "I see..." He nods "You have a right to be angered at my inaction, this is not untrue. But I did not merely stand here and do nothing for all those long millennia."

"Oh?" I pretend curiosity "Do tell."

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