Scales and Hearts | A Skyrim Fanfiction

Chapter Eleven: 7,000 Steps

Druthza

Three large loaves of warm bread, a collection of raw foods and various ingredients, and an acquired 208 septims later, Derkeethus and I had set off for Dragonsreach to get Lydia before officially heading off towards the Throat of the World.

With my map in-hand and our destination set, we were finally heading off toward the town of Ivarstead, which was situated at the foot of the mountain itself, our legs carrying us forward and away from the town of Whiterun.

And it came with the added bonus of being located right near Darkwater Crossing, the path there being one I've traveled before. Which means this won't take very long at all. I thought with a smile, tracing the path to Ivarstead on the map with my claw before speaking verbally: "all we're in for is a walk up towards Darkwater Crossing, and a trip over the hill and to the southwest to get to Ivarstead. Doesn't sound too hard, does it?"

"Not at all, my Thane." Lydia said, "especially since we'll be watching your back. Right, Derkeethus?" My housecarl turned towards my male companion, who promptly nodded his head. "Right indeed."

"Perfect," I stated, folding up my map and stowing it in one of the small satchels on my belt for now. "Then I suppose we don't have much to worry about on the way there, now do we?"

"Not if you count the potential for wolves, thieves, and whatever else wants your blood," Keeth responded, flanking my right side whilst Lydia was on my left. "Of course, they shouldn't be much of a problem, considering that we're all quite capable of handling ourselves. And with your new Shout... things might just be as easy as you're thinking them to be."

"By the way..." he added, "I'm remembering all that happened back in the Barrow... what exactly occurred when you got close to that... Word Wall, was it?"

My eyes lit up at his remembering of the Word Wall, causing my elation to be immediate as I prepared to explain what really happened. "So, when I got close and the Word - Fus - lit up, it caused a bunch of visions related to what that particular Word meant to rush through my head... it was strange, really. But... I suppose that's what was bound to happen, because... well, I'm the Dragonborn." I explained, shrugging my shoulders and briefly glancing away from him. "I'm thinking that maybe - if I find more Words of Power - I'll probably learn more Shouts to use."

"That sounds about right." Keeth commented, "it sort of sounds like any old physical skill: the more you learn on how to use it, the more adept you get at using it. Right?"

"Hmmm. Yes, but... no." I rumbled, furrowing my brow as I thought about it. "Jarl Balgruuf said that the Thu'um was used by gathering all of your vital essence and using it to Shout. Now that I'm thinking about it... I don't really know how that works." I said, "does it work on an emotional level? Would it drain me if I used it too much?"

My questions only brought up more confusion than answers, and rather than hurt myself thinking too hard about it all, I shook my head and sighed. "Ergh. The Greybeards have a better understanding of all of this than I believe I do. So... I'll just leave it to them to answer everything, I suppose."

Derkeethus nodded in agreement, "I feel that that would be best, Druthza. Now then - onto a change of topic: how are you feeling? Did that potion heal you sufficiently?" He wondered, giving me that tilt of the head that seemed to be a common quirk between us.

"It worked rather well, Beeko. Many thanks for it." I answered him with a flash of my fangs in a brief smile, only for it to waver as I heard a voice from up ahead.

"Hey! Didn't I tell you not to show your face back here, lizard?" Shouted a female's voice, and as I looked in the direction of the voice, I immediately frowned in displeasure as I recognized the Nord woman dressed in animal furs, her hair a sleek black and her eyes a blueish-green, full of brewing anger as she made her way over to me, only for Lydia to step foot in front of me, shield out and a stern look on her face. "I suggest not coming any closer, bandit." She warned, "or you might just end up with a sword in your gut."