A while later Elisif emerges from her room. She wears a long green robe decorated with gold ivy like patterns. We make our way to the dining room and she sits. A maid places a couple of logs on the fire and then comes and pours the Jarls wine. "Join me" she says. I sit at the table and the maid pours my wine. She disappears and comes back with our food. Elisif takes a sip of wine, her hair partly braided with delicate gold ornaments in it. She looks like she's made more of an effort tonight. We eat our meal and the maids pour more wine. "Everyone leave us" she calls and the guards and maids leave the room. "I have important, private matters to discuss with you" she starts with a smile. The smile makes me nervous though. "As you know my poor husband Torygg was killed, It is hard for a woman of my status to find a eligible suitor" she says taking another sip. "I have thought long about this, an attempt was made on my life, without an heir my name and legacy is ruined" Oh shit, I think I can see what's happening I think to myself. Then she says it. "So I have decided" she rises from her seat and walks over to me smiling. "I will make you Thane, and then you will marry me and give me an heir, you will have power and all the septims you could wish for and more…..a lot more" she says as her hand pulls her robe open exposing her naked body. This is an opportunity of a lifetime I think to myself. I could have everything, right now… apart from Ella. Elisif is good and beautiful but she's not Ella. "Well?" Says Elisif. ""I…I.. can't" I sputtered. "WHAT!" she shouts. "I'm offering you everything and you say you can't!?" she adds pulling her robe back over her. "I'm getting married to someone else" I say. "Who!?" She scowls, I freeze, I don't know what to say. "A girl from the south" I say. "You choose a nobody over me??" she screams. "Bolgeir! Guards!" she shouts. Immediately they burst through the doors. "Take him to the dungeon!" she shouts and they draw their swords. "I don't want to hurt anybody" I say standing to my feet, arms out in a bid to defuse the situation. Bolgeir laughs a deep hoarse laugh. "Take him to the dungeon" he says with a wide grin. The guards come for me. "I'm not going to the dungeon" I say. "Then pay with your blood!" Elisif spits. The first guard swings at me but I use the slow motion to step to the side and disarm him, throwing his sword behind me. He backs off with no weapon to fight with. Another comes, I dodge, kick and punch my way through him. Bolgeir shouts "Stand aside you fools!" as he strides towards me in his heavy armour. I dodge his sword but he kicks out at the same time winding me. I take a step back, "Use your sword!" he shouts. "No!" I shout. "So be it!" he says both arms in the air sword raised high and he swipes down as I step to the side. His sword smashes into the ground as I swing my fist as hard as I can into his jaw. He falls straight to the floor with a thud. Knocked out and unresponsive. "Kill him!" the Jarl screams. They step towards me wearily but then stop. "I said kill him!" she screams again. They charge me together and we end up in a heap on the floor. I grab an arm and twist it the wrong way gritting my teeth until I feel a POP. I hear a scream as a face appears In front of mine. I head butt it as hard as I can. Blood splatters my face, I use my elbows, knees and head wherever I can until I just feel a heavy weight on top of me from all the bodies. It lasted seconds. I can't of knocked them all out, a couple must just be pretending because they don't want to fight. I shuffle out of the heap and see a terrified Elisif. "I said I don't want to hurt anyone" I say. Her face turns evil "GUARDS!!" she screams. I run for the door and through the corridor bursting through a door out to the back of the palace. Fuck, where do I go? I think in a panic. I need to get out of the city. I climb the ivy clinging to the palace and onto a part of the blue tiled roof. The wall is just there. On the other side is the great rock arch though. A near vertical two hundred foot drop. It's my only choice. I stand to my feet and jump, Landing right on top of the wall with a crunch as my chest plate crushes my arm. I try not to scream. Hanging my legs over the wall and lowering myself I drop the eight feet to the base of the wall. I lay in a heap and in pain but I'm sure they won't find me here. I can hear Bolgeir and guards shouting and searching for me. The whole city will know soon.. How did this happen so fast? I think. It's windy on this side of the wall and I can see for miles, trees, rivers and huge rock formations as the sun gets lower. Peering over the edge at the drop, wind hits my face as I stare down to the trees. The rock looks manageable and I start climbing down, it reminds me of the day Ella and I climbed the mountain for her ingredients. My arm is struggling, I must have sprained or bruised it. Wincing every time I lower my self. I reach a small ledge and search around for a way to go further down. I can't find anything. I'm stuck! I can't go back up I'll be killed. I see a ship coming into the dock. Small figures stand on deck, I'm sure one of them is looking at me, can they see me? I huddle in a ball against the rock, making myself as small as possible, rubbing my arm until it sails under the arch out of sight. Think. Think I tell my self. My mind is racing. Could I of said yes to marrying her and then escaped another way? No time to be thinking like that, I'm in this situation and I have to deal with it. A while later I see men riding south along the path, must be ten of them, they fly the Solitude wolf banner. Bolgeir? They cant find Ella, I only said she's from the south. Can they find her? I panic. They could question Rolof and Anneka. Would they give me up? They are like family. My letters in my dresser! Fuck! I need to get down from here. But even then without a horse it would take me two days to walk. I scramble to the side of the rock desperate now. If I can get to the side with the water I could jump. I shuffle around to as close as I can get. Is it near enough? I think. There still must be nearly a one hundred foot drop and straight below me is land. I need to jump to the side. Is this really happening? Is the water deep enough? All these questions. I just block it out take a step back and 1…2…3 I launch my self off of the rock, wind hammers my ears as I fall, slowly the ground below me moves to water and I cross my ankles and arms just before impact. BOOSH.

I just see black and blue swirls. I hear humming, like chanting. "You must not give up Rune" a deep voice echoes through me. I can't talk. I'm just there. Who is this voice? I think. "I am Arkay, god of life and death…….you are here for a purpose" the voice says. Why? What purpose? I think. I hear bubbles, thousands of bubbles. I can't breath, suddenly Im coughing up water, clawing onto rock. I hang to the stone catching my breath. I made it! I'm under the arch. Did the god really talk to me? The icy water stabs at me as I scramble to the bank and drag my self up. My arm feels fine, in fact I feel better all over. I feel different. I stand shivering, clutching at the amulet Ella gave me. I'm ready, I set off running south through a swamp land full of water and rotting trees, branches fling as I stomp past. The bright moon and stars light my way. My bearing, the huge Jerall mountains lay far to the south, the green and blue lights shimmering on the snowy peaks. What is Bolgeir and the men going to do when they find the mill? Are they even going there? I think as my legs and chest start to burn, one hand on my sheath, stopping my sword flap around. I can't keep this pace up. Panting I slow to a fast walk. The swamp land turns into the baron rocky grassland, keeping well away from roads and tracks I navigate the hills and rocks keeping the mountains in front of me. Drinking from streams on the way. I climb hill after hill, my teeth chatter. The wind stripping the heat away from my soaking clothes, the only protection from the wind is the parts covered by my armour. As I summit the next hill I see a light in front of me, fire.

I continue my pace, the light disappearing every time the ground slopes but eventually I can see. It's a giants fire. A large figure lays between a rock and the blazing flames. Not far from the fire I see the silhouette of the great mammoth laying on the ground. If I can get close enough to the fire I can warm myself. I crouch and slowly creep towards the fire keeping it between me and the giant. The flaming bundle of logs reaches nearly eight feet high, I can feel the heat from here. Beyond the loud crackling and spitting of the fire I can hear a deep snore. I peer to the side of the flame and see his bare feet partly bound with thick animal fur and his long leathery legs. I creep round the other side of the fire to see his eyes closed, his long gray hair hangs to the floor. I can feel his snoring vibrate through the ground. I can rest here and warm up, I've just got to stay hidden behind the fire. The steam starts rising from my soaking clothes as the heat warms my body. I quietly sit resting my aching legs. I've been walking for hours, it must be around midnight. I sit next to the fire watching the mammoth sleep about forty feet away. It's four furry legs all laying the same way like it's just fallen over. I feel life coming back to me as I bask in the heat, just another hours rest and I'll continue on I think. Watching the mammoth something catches my eye. Two yellow eyes in the darkness. As soon as I see them they dart straight for me. I rise to my feet and draw my sword. As the beast reaches the light of the fire I can see the huge teeth. It's a sabre tooth cat, more the size of a bear though. Time slows as the beast pounces, I swing my sword clipping it's front leg. It hobbles slightly as it turns back for me but then darts for the mammoth. The mammoth thrashes it's legs as I hear a roar. I approach the mammoth and roar as I swing my sword again at it, slicing into its side. I hear the giant groan rising to his feet as the cat backs away putting me in between the beast and the mammoth. The beast eyes me with a primal growl, saliva running from its mouth as it runs and pounces again, readying my sword to spear it's chest a huge club the size of myself whooshes past me smashing into the beast and sending it flying through the air. It lands with a heavy thud, that blow must of broken every bone in its body, not a sound comes from it. I look up at the giant now staring at me, his old weathered face hard to read in the fire light. dropping my sword I slowly put my hands up in a gesture of peace, half cowering waiting for the giants club to wipe me out next. He stares at me for a while. The fire dancing across his decorative scars. He grunts a loud gutteral sound and then slowly turns walking to the fire. My heart slams in my chest as he pulls a large stick with a half eaten skeever on it away from the fire and then towards me again. He holds the stick in front of me, offering it to me. He pulls the meat from the big rat like thing and starts to eat. "No thank you" I stutter slowly shaking my head. "Just eaten" I add staring on in horror as I see bits of rat meat being chomped up inside his mouth. The giant scowls and holds the rat closer to me it's skewered head right by mine. The smell of burnt hair fills my nose. Oh shit, He might kill me if I don't do this. I pull at the half eaten rat corpse and shove it in my mouth without think too much. Then start chewing the meat. Trying my hardest not to throw it up. Luckily he doesn't offer me more. He lays his club down by the fire and slowly sits, his body groans and creaks as he lowers himself with a final thud. He pats the ground by him, he wants me to sit. I'd better do what he wants I think as I sit by the fire. He just stares into the flame in silence, watching the flickering. I sit for a while, thinking how to get out of this situation, I need to keep moving. I just go for it slowly rising to my feet. "I have to go" I say slowly and clearly. He just stares at me. I don't think he understands anything I say. "I'm going" I say as I start to back away. "Thanks for the skeever" I add as I get even further. He turns back to watching the fire and I turn to continue my journey. Well that was mental, maybe they are just lonely although I'm pretty sure he would of killed me if I wasn't protecting his mammoth, I think as I cover more ground. It's starting to get lighter as trees come into view . I'm sure Rorikstead is to the west from here I think as I start to recognise different rock formations. I walk and walk stopping for small breaks to get my legs working again. Making my way through the forest and over rivers until I see a large area of open water. As I tread the pine needles the area comes into view. I see Llinalta's deep, the old ruin. I'm at the lake I realize. I burst into a sprint through the trees to the water's edge. As I look across the lake I see smoke at the mill. My heart stops. "No!" I scream as I sprint through the trees, branches scraping my face. Thick smoke everywhere. I run into the yard shouting "Ella! Ranir! Anyone!" the roof of the house is completely burnt away, just scorched cobblestone walls stand. I run into the house. Big smoldering roof beams and furniture litter the floor. "down here! I hear a faint voice. It's from down stairs. I duck under a smoking beam and scramble to the stairs. NO! I stare in horror at Argond and Lilisna's bed. Argond lays sprawled out over the bed with a huge spear protruding from his chest. Fuck! Coughing as the smoke fills my lungs I turn to the stairs. Burning beams lay over the staircase. Using my sword I lever the beams to the side until I can fit through. The heat burns my face as I squeeze through the gap and fall the rest of the way down the stairs. Smoldering ash burns my hands as I see Ranir laying out on the ground. His clothes are burnt away and stuck to his skin, his face is a red and black mess. "Ranir!" I shout. He can hardly move, his eyes just glance at me behind ash. I wrap my arm around him and drag him up the stairs and through the ruined building. Coughing every step. As I drag him outside and to the lake. I glance at the saw mill. Lilisna hangs from the roof beam peppered with arrows. As I take it all in my legs give way and I fall to the ground. My stinging eyes wet with tears. I can't move anymore. What have I done? I use the last of my energy to drag Ranir into the water to try and help the burns. I lay with him in the water. "Ranir!" I say through the pain. Just his eyes move. "Ranir, W...w…ere is Ella?" I stutter. "Mar Markark m..mine" he manages to get out. He looks a total mess, unrecognisable through the burns. "I'll help you and then I'll get her" I stutter. "You can't, no one can, she's in the mine, this is your fault, you killed us" he stutters. "Its not my fault, I had no choice" I say. "You killed us" he stutters. I break down there, holding Ranir in the water. The smoldering ruin of the house behind us.

I wake a while later still clutching Ranir in the water. He's breathing. The miles I covered through the night must of taken its toll. I drag Ranir on to the grass and approach the saw mill. Lilisna's lifeless body hangs from the beam. Tears fill my eyes again as I draw my sword and hold her whilst I cut the rope. Her weight falls into me and I carry her to the water's edge. I pull the spear from Argond and drag his charred remains next to her. The colour fades as I sit by their bodies, staring at them. Memories of traveling to Solitude with Argond, and Lilisna drunk after Ella and I climbed the mountain. Now I'm a wanted man. Everything turns grey. Grey trees, grey water, grey sky. I get sucked into darkness as the world stops around me. I dig two graves and lay them together at the waters edge. I look over the water just like I have so many times with Ella, I think of her, her laugh, her smile, and then her in a dark mine, terrified being forced to hack away at rock or pull carts all day. I grit my teeth and lean over Ranir. He wheezes as he breaths, "Ranir" I say leaning close. He spits in my face then takes a deep wheezy breath. "Ranir, I'm going to get you somewhere safe and them I'm getting Ella" I tell him. His eyes burn into mine. I run to the shack and find some fabric bags and scraps of timber. Dragging it all outside I lash a frame together like a stretcher. Pulling Ranir onto it and starting down the road, one end drags behind me. Scrapping over the stones. It's getting dark by the time I see the thatched roofs of Rorikstead. Panting I lower the stretcher next to a house and carry him to the frostfruit Inn. Laying him gently on the decking outside. "I'll be back Ranir, I promise" I say as I knock on the door and run for the rocky hills. Covering at much ground as I can as the sun casts that last orange glow over the land. I scramble through the rocks, navigating my way through the labyrinth. The green and blue light illuminates the jagged stone as the stars point the way. As I mount the next large rock and scan the landscape, I can see I'm on the edge of a mountainous canyon. A river and road run through down below me. The mist brushes the tops of the other side. I think that road is to Markarth. I take my time climbing down to the road, sitting on my foot and sliding down the parts I can. Small rocks tumbling down with me. I start down the road until I find a sign post. 'Markarth' it reads the way I'm heading. I'm struggling to put one foot in front of the other, my eye lids feel heavy and my eyes sore from the tears and dust. I reach a small stone bridge. A huge waterfall runs off the cliff and crashes into a pool, then under the bridge. The sound is deafening. A little way further I decide to rest under a leaning boulder, hidden away just off of the road. I pass out as soon as my head touches the ground.

As soon as I wake yesterday comes flooding back, burying my family, Ranir burnt to an inch of his life. If it wasn't for Ella I'd quite happily just lay here and die underneath this rock, far from anything I know. I'm going to get to her, My stomach rumbles as I drag myself to my feet and slide my sword into it sheath. With the much needed rest my legs are working properly now. Splashing my face in the river I can feel the grit washing off of me. I'm past caring about hiding now, keeping my steady pace I start down the road. The wind pushes the clouds quickly across the top of the canyon, grey sky's beyond them. The road turns to an uphill stomp, out of breath and running on no food I reach the top. All for an Argonian dressed in the black thief's armour to step out from beside a rock. Wielding a small dagger he says "Stop there, and hand over your valuables." I carry on towards him stopping feet away and stare at him, his lizard eyes reading mine. "Give me what food you have and I won't kill you" I say through gritted teeth. His evil smirk turns to a look of hesitation. "You are him, the one they are looking for, I've seen your poster" the lizard says. still reading my eyes he slowly removes his leather satchel and lays it on the ground along with the dagger. "Now stand back" I say as I move towards the satchel. He does as I say holding his hands up. "You look troubled my friend, I have some skooma, take it" he hisses. "You are not my friend" I say digging through the satchel. "What is this?" I say pulling a cloth bag of dryed meat out. "Dryed boar meat" he says. I shove my hand in an shove a handful in my mouth. Digging further into the satchel I find two sweet rolls, and some jewelry. "Empty your pockets" I order. "Slowly" I add. The lizards hand slowly opens the pockets on his armour and pulls out a few septims and two bottles. "what are those bottles?" I ask. "this is the skooma" he says. "Place them on the floor In front of you" I order shoving another handful of meat in my mouth. He does this and I put them in the satchel. "Now walk that way and keep walking" I snap, pointing the way I came. He starts to walk. I can't let him live, what if he reports me? I draw my sword and swipe him down as he walks away. I get closer to Markarth, I see waterfalls out of the mountain and into the ancient city that clings to the rock. The water must flow though the city because stone bridges cross this way and that over the many streams that run like veins from the defensive walls. A couple of thatched farm buildings and windmills are spread out across the land before the city. I nestle myself up high on a rocky hill and observe the movement below. Farm workers outside of the city cultivate the fenced plots with hoes and forks. Looking at the city I can't see much behind the great walls, rooftops, waterfalls and then to the left a large dark hole in the cliff. I sit hidden in the jagged rock staring at the hole for what must be hours. Two guards stand continuously out side. Rummaging through the satchel I pull out a couple of bits of meat, then my hand finds the glass. I pull the bottle out and remove the cork. It smells strong, that is definitely skooma. Staring at the bottle for a while I decide to take a swig. As soon as the liquid goes down I cough. Wow, that is powerful stuff. I take another. The liquid seems to slightly heal my suffering. A horse drawn trailer creaks along below me, I've seen this trailer before. It's the slavers. I can't see the figures from here but I watch the old trailer roll over the bridges and winding paths until it goes out of site towards the city. They must be taking prisoners to the mine I think to myself taking another swig. Staring eagerly at the hole on the cliff, a little while later I see a line of maybe six people being marched into the hole. That is the mine! There is no way I can get into and through the city, then get into the mine and return. I stare at the dark hole thinking. Ella is in there. The sun is replaced with shade as it slowly creeps from the city up the rock face, leaving a cold and dark chill in the air. Have I really been up here that long? I think as I take another sip of skooma. Lights are starting to be lit in the city, a yellow glow shines up past the walls and on the rock above. Light dances off of the waterfalls, it looks mesmerizing. The sky's darken and rain starts to fall, light at first making dark spots on the rock. Then the clouds open up sending a heavy shower over me. The water runs of the rock as I huddle under the overhanging stone. Looking out into the mountain I see a man standing in the rain. Seemingly oblivious to the downpour. He wears a long robe and holds a staff. What is he doing? How long has he been there? It looks like he is staring right at me. He raises his arm and gestures me to come over. How can he see me up here? He looks harmless, I should see what he wants. I come out of my hiding place and start down the mountain keeping my eyes on him. The skooma is taking effect making me off balance. Am I really seeing this? As I get closer he gets harder to see, like he's transparent, I can see his beard, he looks like the statue from Solitude. Is this Arkay the god? I can see the rock through him. He starts walking around the mountain away from the city, going out of sight around the rock I start to hurry to where he was. The rain hammers down soaking me through. I scramble across the rock and see him again, he stands before a huge ancient looking stone arch that is built into the mountain side. As I follow him he walks through the arch to a large door stopping in front of it then just disappears. Did he go through? He must have. I use all of my muscle and weight to pry open the huge doors. They groan and grind until I can squeeze through. I creep forward into a huge underground chamber, this must be thousands of years old. The silence is eerie. Large stone pillars hold the ceiling up high above me. Torches and braziers burn a yellow flame lighting up the space. I make my way further in and see a stone plinth in the centre of the room, apon which lays the remains of a woman, strands and patches of mummified flesh and skin still cling to the skeleton, cloth fragments probably once full clothes cover parts of her. Thin wisps of hair hang from her skull. Did the ghostly figure want me to see this? There must be more to it. I slowly walk across the chamber to a passageway that leads further underground. Who's knows what is down here. I draw my sword as quietly as I can. Creeping further down I can hear a faint voice. A deep voice chanting a series of long single notes. It sounds strange though, like the voice is lost in time, echoes of people or someone that's long since gone. I use my sword to quietly swipe away the heavy cobwebs that hang from the walls and ceiling. I walk out into another huge chamber. The main floor is below me and I'm standing on stone walkways that span the outside, small wooden bridges connect the outside walkways to pillars in the middle. Ancient looking tables and shelves are dotted around. Candles and wall mounted lanterns give off surprising light. It must be magic. The chanting comes from all directions here, I try to take myself back in time and imagine people living here. Walking slowly down the stone steps to the main floor I check every part I can't see. There's nothing here. I go deeper through the ancient ruin and follow a narrow passageway. The next chamber is small and bare stone instead of the layed stone. More mummified body's lay on shelves carved out into the rock like bunk beds. This must be the catacombs where they layed their dead to rest. Remains of men and women either side of me as I creep further down the walkways. Ancient swords and axes lay beside them or across their chests. These must have been warriors. Rows and rows of bodies I pass, cringing at the sight of some of them. Their faces distorted and twisted. I try not to think about it as I pass through a narrow passage. At the bottom I walk out into a large cavern. Jagged rock formations hang high above me and many dark stone sarcophagus are layed out on the floor, some lay flat whilst others stand upright. More shelves carved out hold bodies. Did the figure want me to come down here? I walk over to a large wooden chest, gold patterns and bands decorate the outside. I try to open it but its jammed. I use my sword and lever the lid up slowly. Dust billows out at me from the chest as I hear stone start to grind around me. The heavy slabs from the sarcophagus start to fall to the ground with a series of thuds and booms as dust is kicked up around them. Dried out skeletal figures step from their resting places with a groan, pure white eyeballs glare at me as weapons start to be drawn. "FUS RO DAH!" a ghostly shout takes me off my feet sending me flying through the air like a gust of immense wind just hit me. My arms flail and my sword is ripped out of my grip as I land on the hard floor. I look up to see a figure like the rest only this one wears more armour, large shoulder pads and a helmet which covers the sides of its face, large horns protrude from the top and his skeletal grin makes me shiver. It raises a big two handed battle axe nearly the length of the wielder. I frantically search around for my sword, the undead drawing closer. The groans and growls all around me. I pick up my sword and turn to the first walking corpse, a single handed axe is clutched between boney fingers. I lunge forward and the white eyes turn to black as my sword sinks into its chest, it lets out a breath of stale air before falling to the floor. I decide to go for the main one, maybe if I take him down the rest might retreat. I draw closer to him in a weary fighting stance. I duck just in time as the huge battle axe is swung, a breeze of air whistles over me. I roll to the side, trying to get behind him for an attack, he swings again as I jump behind a stone pillar, his axe slams into to stone taking a large chunk out of it. "FUS RO DAH! It screams at me again. My sword is blown out of my grasp as the shock blows parts of the pillar away and I feel the ground above us start to shake violently. Slabs of rock start to fall from the high ceiling taking out a few of the undead. The sound is tremendously deafening and dust is billowed up all around us. Gazing through the thick dust clouds I've lost sight of the undead. The forms come at me with only a seconds notice. I grab a rock from the floor and swing as the shapes come into view. Crushing skulls with it, dried croaky voices grunt as they swing for me. A boney hand grabs my arm with impossible strength for a skinny mummified corpse and lunges it's sword to my stomach, scratching a deep gouge into my chest plate as I turn away. I grab the boney arm and bring it's sword up through its jaw and into its skull. Through the cloud of dust I see a bolder rocking precariously from high up on the wall, I have an idea. Swinging my sword at the main enemy with the horned helmet it starts to follow me to the wall. It takes another swing at me I move but not fast enough and the tip of the great axe just clips my side in between my chest plate. I clutch my side in pain and as I anticipated I see his arms move slightly back building up his energy to shout. I jump into one of the carved out ledges as it comes. "FUS RO DAH!" the force pushes me into the back of the ledge as the bolder comes crashing down crushing my attacker. Dust is blown into my ledge choking me. I cover my face with my hands and wait for the dust to settle. When I turn and peer out of my ledge I see a leg and arm stretched out from under the bolder, the great axe still clutched in the withered hand. I can hear muffled groans beyond that. The undead are still moving. I roll out of my ledge and peel the axe from the lifeless hand. Using both hands I wield the battleaxe, it's weight cumbersome in my grip. The blade a long hook and the back side a fierce looking spike. I slowly move through the old ruin looking for the remaining undead, axe ready to swing. I see where the gutteral moans are coming from, a single undead half crushed by a fallen rock. A female, clusters of long strands of grey hair hang from her otherwise bald skull. She weakly points her sword at me, white eyes dimming before they darken to black and the last husky breath is exhaled. I notice the ghostly chanting is no more, total silence surrounds me as I collapse onto the rubble. Pulling my chest plate to the side I inspect my wound. Blood trickles from a gash through my undergarments. I remove the satchel, unbuckle the chest plate and lay it to the side. Ripping my sleeve off I wrap my wound the best I can and re strap the chest plate on. Climbing to my feet I try to find my sword, it's gone, it must be under the rubble or boulders. The huge rocks are all around me, I'm lucky I wasn't taken out I think to myself as I look around me. "NO!" I shout aloud. The entrance is completely covered by rock fall. I rush over to the pile of boulders, heaving the smaller ones out of the way trying to make some sort of passage, some are far too big, I'll never move them. Searching around I find a length of old wood, trying to create lever system to budge the huge stones. I scream as I Put all of my strength into it, nothing. I turn and scramble frantically over the rubble around the whole chamber searching for another passageway. There must be another way out, for emergencies? I can't see anything. Just the stone sarcophagus scattered throughout and the shelves carved out. I slow down and sweep the place again desperately pulling on bits of wood and pushing rock, anything that might be a lever or a way to open a secret passage. Finally I succumb to the chamber, collapsing onto the rubble in defeat. So this is it? This is where I die? Why did that figure lead me here? The silence fills me. I rest my head back onto the hard stone and close my eyes. I need to calm down and think of a way out of this, nothing comes to me, I've tried it all. I lay there for what feels like an age. Feeling disoriented, how long have I been in here? There's no way to tell, no sunlight. I grab at my satchel and pull some of the meat out, food is running low, I chew it around in my parched mouth. Needing water but all I have is the last sip of skooma. I hold the bottle up to my mouth and finish every drop, its just enough to wet my mouth and then i remember the wooden chest. It looked important. I should see what was in there, I think climbing to my feet. I have nothing better to do. I can see it from here, a rock has smashed half of it to pieces. Rolling the stone away I search the chest. Bones, a green bottle, and a couple of precious stones. Wiping the dust off of the bottle I peer through the glass at the liquid, mouth watering as I gently pull the cork out. It doesn't smell of anything. It's clearly been here for a very long time. I'll try anything right now, opening my mouth I drip some on my tongue, a bitter taste but not too bad. I decide to take a small sip, if I'm not ill in the next hour I'll drink more. Crashing back down on the hard floor, I'll never see Ella again I think to myself. I'll never see anything again. The green bottle has given me surprising energy, but with no way to use it I just stare at the rocky wall In front of me. Nothing but the dead silence to keep me company I drift of into a state of trance. Replaying my life through my mind. Memories of being a child, the night out drinking with my friend Drern that brought me to this world and my life here. Time disappears, and with that the food and liquid from the bottle. Now I just wait for death I guess. Climbing into a sarcophagus I rest my head on some scraps of cloth. Floating in and out of the trance and Memories I drift off.