Collapse of Skyrim

Sidraweyn

"Our hero, our hero, claims a warrior's heart. I tell you, I tell you, the Dragonborn comes ..." Argeus sings.

"Please, stop," says Hjoltli.

"I am a bard, what do you expect?" Argeus asks.

"Perhaps some peace and quiet while we ride on?" Sidraweyn asks, teasingly.

Argeus clutches his heart. "Oh, how you wound thee, with your vicious words."

Elseyf chuckles. "You have not changed a bit, Argeus."

He grins at her. The group of wayward wanderers continues riding in silence for a while. They occasionally come across some wild animals, or a few stray bandits. But the group easily disposes of them, not much of an issue. Argeus and Elseyf both lead the group, with Erasmus in the back.

Sidraweyn lets her horse fall behind the others, and she faces Erasmus.  He does not look at her, the mage opting instead to stare ahead. Sighing, Sidraweyn decides to talk.

"Septim for your thoughts?"

Erasmus sniffs. "I'm not much for talking right now, sorry."

"What's the matter?" she asks him.

He sighs.  His shoulders sag a little.  "I was just wondering why I'm even here, I don't seem to be wanted."

"You are," she says.  "I want you here. The others do, too. They're just .... wary."

"I saved your lives," he says. "I think I earned some semblance of trust."

"Well, I trust you," Sidra says.

"Yes, well, I think you're the only one."

Hjoltli moves back to ride beside Sidra. "Is everyone good?"

"As we'll ever be, I suppose," says Erasmus.

They make camp for the night, and Argeus builds a fire while Erasmus gathers some food. Hjoltli and Elseyf set up the camp, and Sidraweyn ties the horses to a few trees.

Sidraweyn sits on a tree stump by the fire Argeus built, and she stares off into space, thinking of all the things that have happened so far. Her mind keeps returning to her parents. To the fact that the Thalmor are trying to take over all of Skyrim. She shudders at the thought of them being in charge. But she can't figure out why her parents would think that this is a good idea.  Why would they wish to conquer the world?

They eat some rabbits that Erasmus caught and skinned and cooked. But no matter what, Sidraweyn can't keep her mind off of the idea of the world being the Thalmor's plaything. That night, as the others sleep peacefully, she does not.

What if they can't save the world? What if they aren't enough to defeat the Thalmor? What if the world falls to them, like they are so mad to hope for?

Long into the night, Sidraweyn paces by the dying fire. She can't keep her racing thoughts stable. All she can think of is failure. Her eyes fill with tears, and she abruptly sits down on a nearby log, and sighs shakily. How are they going to be able to defeat the Thalmor? It's impossible! Just the five of them, well, six when they find Eldi. They can't possibly make a big enough difference in the fight against the Thalmor.

With a heavy heart, Sidra finally lays down, and forces herself to fall asleep.