Chapter Thirteen
S’maash was slowly rocked from side-to-side as he endured the long cart ride from Whiterun to Winterhold. Mere hours after traveling north, and the winds turned to snow. Though it was cold, the elf managed to fall asleep. Recent trials and tribulations had exhausted both his mind and spirit completely, so much so that he slept all the way to Winterhold. Suddenly, he was shaken to daylight.
“Wake up. We’ve arrived,” the cart driver said.
Lazily, S’maash looked around then thanked the man before approaching the College. Upon seeing the stone arches and bridge, sentimentality gripped him. Faralda glared at him from her post.
“Greetings. Did Tolfdir ever manage to look over my journal,” S’maash asked.
“I don’t know, and I don’t care,” she barked.
“Hold on to those feelings, and while you do, summon Tolfdir. I have another journal for him to look over,” S’maash replied, unaffected.
“I’ll do no such thing.”
S’maash nodded to himself for a moment. Then, he pulled the daedric heart gem from inside his fur-lined, blue robes. It beat with the sound of Farengar’s soul. With an ephemeral thump, it glowed.
“I think he’ll want to see this,” S’maash coaxed.
Faralda was speechless. She simply stood with her mouth agape. Finally, she managed a heavy sigh.
“What is it?”
“Please, summon Tolfdir,” S’maash reiterated.
She nodded then made her way to the College. Moments later, and frozen to the bone, S’maash saw two figures come across the massive structure. Another moment passed, and he was in the company of Faralda and Tolfdir.
“My, my. That is something. Faralda said you brought it for me,” Tolfdir asked.
He looked upon S’maash, slightly askew. The elf thought he appeared embarrassed, yet at the moment, the daedric heart gem possessed all of their attention.
“Ahem! This is mine. This is for you,” S’maash said, providing Tolfdir with the other journal.
“Ah, let’s see. Mmhmm. Oh, he was a Psijic monk? Surprising, I thought only altmer were Psijics…well. Yes, apologies are in order,” Tolfdir muttered. “S’maash, I’ve kept this to myself for a long time. I made a mistake and reacted poorly. I–”
S’maash raised a hand in protest, saying, “It’s fine. Farengar told me necromancy has become a problem. If not for your rash decision, I might not have found my way to him. At any rate, if you could be so kind as to reinduct me, I have to gather supplies for a ritual to summon Azura,” S’maash explained.
“Yes, yes, of course, come with me. You can take Arniel’s old room again. You know, after that awful misunderstanding, while we were cleaning, that is, we found some interesting logbooks,” Tolfdir said as he laughed shyly.
S’maash explained his and Farengar’s theories on their way to the Hall of Countenance. Upon walking into his old room, he sat on the bed’s green linens. He ran his hands over the silky fabric, smiling. Then, he continued.
“So, naturally, I have to bring this to completion, for myself, Hermaeus Mora, and most of all, for Farengar, who gave his life,” S’maash explained.
“Yes. Any deal struck with a daedric prince is…well…permanent, to say the least,” Tolfdir agreed.
“I am glad you understand. I need some glow dust as an offering right away. There’s no time to stall.”
“Mmhm. Yes, Faralda, be a dear, would you, and grab our friend what he needs,” Tolfdir said. “Now then, you plan to offer the daedric heart gem to Azura then I thought you said you would have to go to her plane of Oblivion, but I must have misheard.”
Tolfdir laughed shyly once more. S’maash let a weak smile play across his face for a moment.
“Absolutely not. If she accepts my offering then I must continue into Oblivion. There is no alternative.”
Tolfdir looked into the elf’s eyes. He had changed and quite a bit. He was no longer an eager student with some traveling experience. S’maash was a hardened and experienced traveler with a wealth of knowledge and potential.
“You remind me of the Dragonborn, so brash, a quick learner, so much promise, but always too busy. Mmm, I fear your restless nature will not end well,” Tolfdir commented.
Before S’maash answered, Faralda stepped into the room, glow dust in hand. “Here it is.”
It was a glowing, green substance, like fine powder contained in a small, clay bowl. “Excellent. Then, I am off to the Shrine of Azura.”
“If you are traveling into Oblivion, you may want to prepare yourself,” Tolfdir advised.
“I’m equipped quite well, actually. Though, I can benefit from more food and potions,” S’maash replied.
“Of course, take what you need. It is the least I can do for expelling you, and S’maash, I am sorry,” Tolfdir smiled, benevolently.
“I never held it against you.”
Concluding the heartfelt conversation, S’maash gathered everything he needed for the trip then he was off. As soon as he stepped out into the courtyard, Brelyna and Zolara saw him. They both ran over.
“S’maash! I can scarcely believe it!” she said
“Truly, what brings you back to the College,” Zolara asked.
“The same thing that brought me here the first time, old friends, and rest easy, Tolfdir had me reinstated,” S’maash said as he touched their shoulders.
It was evident he was leaving for a new journey. “Off already? Where are you going?” Brelyna was curious.
S’maash provided the quickest account possible. Pressed for time, he wanted only to start off.
“Let us join you,” Zolara offered.
“Into Oblivion? I don’t think so,” S’maash protested.
“Hey, we’re capable. I’m not just some alchemist!” Zolara proclaimed.
“It’s true, he’s become quite the conjuration master, and you are familiar with my abilities,” Brelyna added.
There was no time for debate. S’maash agreed.
“Pack your things. In the meantime, I will enchant a few pieces of equipment for you both.”
As they packed, S’maash quickly ran back to his room. There, he snatched some grand soul gems and went to work. In minutes, he crafted a necklace and ring for Brelyna fortified with both restoration and alteration. For Zolara, he crafted similar pieces. They were fortified with both destruction and conjuration. They reconvened in the courtyard before leaving.
“I’m so glad to be coming along for this ride,” Zolara said.
Brelyna smiled at S’maash. “We missed you. Most of us knew you were not guilty of necromancy but Tolfdir, he….”
“No, it’s fine. Thank you, both. Let us be off then,” S’maash said.
The three departed straight away. A long, winding walk brought them out of Winterhold and through the mountainous region. During the journey, as they eyed the gorgeous peaks, S’maash explained his need to summon Azura.
While happily conversing about studies, none of them noticed the meaty cat skulking behind hills and large piles of snow. Upon reaching their proximity, the snowy sabre cat, a brutish tiger with menacing tusks, took off at a full run, kicking up powdery ice. With a vicious growl, it pounced upon Zolara. He let out a painful cry. S’maash reacted quickly, tossing two fire balls at the beastly animal. It let off the injured argonian.
When Zolara scampered off to safety, S’maash started overcharging fire balls. Brelyna slowly moved towards her friend. The beast growled softly as it lowered its head for another pounce, that time in S’maash’s direction.
He waited patiently for the cat to go airborne. With a violent twitch of muscle, the cat closed the distance, taking a fire ball to the face. Though it was injured by the spell, it did not falter. Two, enormous, claws took S’maash to the snow. The powder was fresh and lightly packed causing him to become practically buried.
“Goodness,” Brelyna shouted.
She finished healing her friend, and when she turned to see what had happ
ened to S’maash, she witnessed the cat shaking its head. It had the elf by the leg. He screamed in pain while attempting to retaliate.
Zolara then conjured a storm atronach. The glowing, stone golem appeared from the plane of Oblivion. It set upon their opposition with rocky fists as sparks of purple lightning shot from its magickal essence.
As the atronach pummeled the animal, S’maash blasted its face with repeated fire balls. Seconds later, the cat was little more than a snowy, white pelt.
“Are you alright,” Brelyna asked as she healed him.
“Yes, believe it or not I’ve had worse,” he panted.
After recovering, he decided it was more prudent to be vigil than discuss their previous excursions. Had it not been for that decision, the frost trolls in the distance might have set upon them as well. Their arrival at the Shrine of Azura was imminent. They saw the large statue high above them, a robed figure holding the sun, and the moon.
“So, what will you ask of her,” Brelyna inquired, quietly.
It grew increasingly difficult to keep footing. The snow was deep and very loosely packed. Between breaths S’maash answered.
“I will offer her the daedric heart gem as a replacement for the Star of Azura to help her bind her power to this plane once more. Farengar believed she will accept. In return, I’ll ask her to allow us into her plane in order to receive something he called the Breath of Everlasting. It’s supposed to set his soul free as well immortalize the daedric heart gem. Essentially, it will be everlasting like her former Star,” S’maash explained.
“What if she doesn’t agree?” Zolara sounded skeptical.
“I don’t know…I’m just hoping it doesn’t come to that,” S’maash admitted.
Before them were innumerable steps allowing a modest climb to her shrine. Soon, they stood in front of the towering statue. S’maash took the glow dust from his pack and placed it on her alter.
“Lady Azura! I call you before me! Please, show yourself in this plane! I, S’maash Ilteriel, must speak with you!” the elf called out into the blizzard.
It sounded as though the whipping winds whisked his voice away. They braced themselves, waiting. Moments passed.
“I don’t think it worked,” Zolara yelled.
The winds grew more and more powerful, drowning out all other sounds. From one direction then another, the winds nearly knocked them over. Brelyna took a seat to keep from falling. S’maash and Zolara fought to keep their balance by gripping one another’s shoulders.
“Azura,” S’maash yelled again.
A violent gust from behind sent him stumbling, and the sound of clay smashing assaulted the ears. Soon the winds subsided. The offering had been accepted. Glow dust covered the bottommost portion of the statue. A voice accosted them.
“What is the meaning of this summons? I am Azura, Lady of Dusk and Dawn. You, dark elf, you have called me here,” the voice rang throughout the night sky as did the winds, seconds before.
“I did, my Lady! I come with an offering to tie you into our plane. I have forged a new gem for you. Behold, the daedric heart gem,” S’maash said, holding the sinister heart above his head.
He felt its pulsations, the essence of Farengar. There was no answer. Silence prevailed for a moment. The beating of the gem grew louder and louder until it echoed over the shrine.
“A new vessel? Why do you offer it to me, dunmer?”
“My Lady, I have been made aware of the fate which befell your Star of Azura. This is a replacement, but it is weak, forged by man and mer, not a daedric lord such as yourself. I bestow it upon you to restore your power to this plane, but I require the Breath of Everlasting. Will you allow us to journey into the plane, Moonshadow? Will you allow me to be the caretaker of your vessel?”
“Yes!” she replied. “From the days of old when I cursed the chimer, I had faith that my children would be so kind as to restore their benefactor, should she ever need it. Yes, S’maash Ilteriel. Come, come and bask in the shadow of moons.”
A flash of blue light momentarily blinded the three comrades. When they opened their eyes, a blue tombstone shaped door sat before them. It wavered hauntingly, revealing a glimpse into the world of Azura. S’maash took a step.
Still from a sitting position, Brelyna reached out and grabbed his ankle. He turned to look down in confusion.
“What are you doing,” she asked in disbelief.
“What do you mean? She granted us passage!” S’maash replied.
“You can’t go in there! It’s a nonsensical world of dreams and such. You can only travel spiritually,” she said.
S’maash looked to the giant statue. It was silent.
“No. I’m going in. Both of you are welcome to stay behind.”
“I’m up for the challenge,” Zolara chimed in.
Brelyna stood and looked them over. “You’re crazy, both of you…you can’t,” she looked away.
S’maash took her shoulders in his hands and brought her close. “Listen to me, we’ll be fine. She granted us passage. No one said it would be safe, but I have to try this,” he said, gazing into her eyes. “Come with me.”
“Yes,” she whispered.
S’maash looked back to Zolara. He picked some ice off his horns and shrugged. The wizard nodded, gave Brelyna one, last look, took her by the hand, and walked through the blue door. Zolara was the last to step in.