Dragonsreach was truly an astonishing castle. The one in the original skyrim couldn't compare to the real thing. The architecture was magnificent, I could only wonder what the dragon trap looked like. As I walked up to the front door the guard stopped me. "State your business."
I gave an actual reason. "I hear Farengar sells spells to mages in training? Is that true."
The guard sighed, "Yes, he does. Though if you really want to learn magic you should head to Winterhold."
That triggered a quest to go to the College of Winterhold. I rolled my eyes and just entered dragonsreach. I took in the interior and nodded, compared to the Blue Palace I think I liked Dragonsreach more. It just felt more cozy, more nordic. Almost like home, that feeling was likely coming from my Atmoran heritage.
I waked up the stairs and walked in on a few of the workers eating. It seemed as if the main hall also acted as the break room. I shrugged and headed for Farengar, he was on his table scribbling notes. He muttered to himself, "Fascinating only if I could translate it."
I looked over at his notes, it seems he carbon dated the dragonstone tablet using magic. As well as testing its composition and density. He also sketched a picture of the front of the tablet. I read the tablet through, "Here lie our fallen lords, Until power of Alduin revives."
Farengar jumped, "Who are you! What are you doing here!"
I tilted my head, "I am Vek Frostwane. I heard you teach magic to aspiring mages? That was the translation by the way. The diagram you sketched there is the location of several burial grounds. Though not all of them as it seems to depict only the most central region go skyrim. It is also missing hammerfell and highrock. Both of which have several dragon burial grounds themselves."
Farengar looked me over, "Where did you learn to read dovahzul?"
I pulled out my dictionary, "I've done my own research, I'm also not much of an aspiring mage. However I would like to acquire new spells."
Farengar stared at me, "Very well, the list of spells I can teach is right here."
He pushed a paper forward and I frowned, "Can I learn those spells you used to test the dragonstone?"
Farengar rubbed his chin, "If I can acquire a copy of that dictionary. I can copy it while you study, you can't leave the palace with them mind you."
I nodded, "I will take raise zombie, bound sword and dagger, reanimate corpse, the three novice destruction spells, and finally the healing spell, Fast healing, and Healing hands."
Farengar clicked his tongue, "Quite the list, specially since you also want my analysis spells."
I shrugged, "I have a couple of other requests, but I think I will let you get buttered up by my dictionary."
He spied me, but laid several books on the table for me. I pretended to flip through them. They were written by him it seems. I wondered if I could find an original spellbook by a dragon or a dremora at some point. It would be rather interesting. Just picking them up unlocked the spell from me. However it seemed Farengar included some personal notes about each spell. Rather interesting in some regards.
An hour passed and Farengar seemed to finally finish copying my dictionary. I had long since acquired all the spells. In fact Farengar took so long I looked through his study and found some the quest giving books. So when he finally stopped scribbling it surprised me. He looked over at me, "Have you finished studying them already?"
I nodded, "Which brings me to my next request. This one requires the Jarl's attention. I suggest we head over while he is still on the throne."
Farengar clicked his tongue at me and sighed. "Fine let us go start an audience."
I frowned, "You will want this private. It is about the daedric artifact you are keeping the basement."
Farengar snapped backwards, "What!? Ther- never mind, a private audience would be for the best."
Farengar rushed into the throne room and marched over to the throne. Balgruuf made a fuss, but paused. A second later as Farengar whispered to him. Balgruuf jumped to his feet. His eyes met mine and he marched back towards me. Farengar followed behind and as they both entered the court mage courtiers Farengar closed the door behind them.
Balgruuf spoke harshly to me, "How much do you know?"
I shrugged, "Not much, but too much as well. Let me start with the rumors about your son Nekir. People are gossiping about him, his actions, the way he slips off. I did some guesswork, but came to the conclusion the kid was either crazy or talking to a daedra. From there it was mostly speculation about which, why, and how."
Balgruuf sighed, "I see, I knew this day was coming."
Farengar patted Balgruuf's shoulder, "It was never your fault friend."
I raised my eyebrow, "So? What's the story?"
They both looked at me, Balgruuf stared at me while Farengar asked. "What daedric item do you suspect it is?"
I gave a shrug, I knew exactly which it was. However I made a show of thought, "If Nekir is sneaking around, listening in on people. My guess is its a daedric artifact from the Lady of Whispers, Mephala."
I pulled out Dawnbreaker, their eyes went wide. "Though, with a patron like mine? I'd say I would have a pretty good guess."
They both tried to voice something, but they failed to speak. So I continued, "Give me the key to the locked room. After that I will handle the rest, as simple as that."
Balgruuf frowned, and let out a sigh. "Yes, I suppose that would be for the best. Would you like to know the... Why we have it here?"
I paused, In a way I didn't need to know. On the other hand, I was a lore-seeker. "Sure, tell me your story."
Balgruuf sat down and put his head in his hands. "My wife... I cheated on her. I made a mistake, no more than a mistake. Once a upon a time I was an adventurer. Farengar traveled with me during that time. We traveled all the way up to High Rock. That was when I cheated on my wife. I had a late night trist with a nymph."
Balgruuf let out a depressed sigh, "Any mans dream! Yet it wasn't mine. The Nymph took a liking to me. Followed me all the way back to Whiterun. Drove the ebony blade straight through my wife's stomach. Funny thing that... She was pregnant." Balgruuf clenched his fists.
I knew, I put the pieces together. Some thought it was a mistake, or perhaps it was some unintentional lore. In the old game files Nekir was listed as Balgruuf's half-brother. I voiced my question. "It wasn't yours. It was your father's."
Balgruuf's eyes widened and I could see tears forming in them. He had broken his heart by cheating on his wife due to a nymph's magic. While his wife was really cheating on him, what's worse it was with the previous Jarl of Whiterun. Balgruuf's own father!
Farengar patted his friend's back. He was also the one who finished the story. "Balgruuf, when his wife confessed... He ripped the blade out from her stomach as if it spoke to him. We found the previous Jarl in his chambers sleeping with a maid of the castle."
Balgruuf cut in, "I drove the blade into his back as he was on top of her. It turns out he seduced my Milia and threw her away once she was pregnant. Hrongar didn't want the throne so, I ended up the Jarl."
I blinked in awe. "Astonishing! I don't mean to be rude, but that is fascinating! What incredible drama!" I was being more than rude. I just didn't know how to address the elephant after that story. So I let my speechcraft do the work for me.
Balgruuf laughed in a somber tone, "No, I get it." He thought for a moment before pulling a key from his pocket. "We keep it on us at all times. Perhaps now is the time to let go of it. This is the key to the storage room we left the blade in." He hung his head before Balgruuf sat back down.
The key was rusted and slightly bent. I nodded, "You have my word, I will destroy that blade."
The two men gave me a mixed expression. I nodded silently and stepped out of the room. Balgruuf turned his head down as Farengar comforted his friend. I jumped though as a voice came from behind me. "What is going on in there?" I closed the door and turned to see Irileth.
"The Jarl and Farengar were telling me of their adventuring days. They seemed to have gotten emotional." Irileth froze in place, "Ah, yes... I suppose they would. Keep silent about such things, we wouldn't want to hurt the Jarl's image!"
I nodded, "I would never, now if you don't mind. I have a task I must attend to."
She nodded and let me go. I almost ran over to kitchen. The moment I entered it I ran down the stairs nearly tripping. A door that looked pristine in the musty basement. I pulled it opened and found a door that reflected the basement. However it was even more rotten than I expected.
As I stepped forward Mephala spoke, "A new hand approaches the door. I suspect you know who I am if you already have that key. My influence here is small, but my power flows free. Open this door and return my blade to its former glory!"
I scoffed, Mephala was a daedric prince I didn't like at all. All of her artifacts came with a price of sacrificing those that trust you. I wouldn't use the blade, but I did need it. I placed the key into the lock and ignored Mephala's whispers.
Soon I stood over the ebony blade. Originally I really was going to destroy the blade. However looking over it now and Sybille's help. I had a different plan for the blade now. Sybille hadn't mentioned it, but she listed that an opposing force of equal power could be used to weaken dawnbreaker.
Except I had a different idea, Meridia and Mephala had history. They even shared an artifact, the ring of the khajiit. Well that was its name once, until Rajhin stole the ring from Mephala. She let him keep it for a long time until... the ring rejected him. I couldn't test my theories about the ring, it wasn't in skyrim.
That wasn't really a problem either though. I didn't want the ring, its just the ring gave me insight into a possibility. Mephala isn't the only one that rewards her champions with the ring. Meridia rewards individuals with the ring as well. An opposing force, simply put.
Mephala still whispered to me, but I couldn't hear it. I just grabbed the sword and raised it up. The blade was made from ebony no doubt. While Dawnbreaker was made from Moonstone. The two were like yin and yang in my eyes and I felt a devious grin on my face.
Mephala seemed almost pleased with my reaction. I could almost laugh, what better way to use the blade than to betray its creator. Mephala whispered, "Now go, slay friends and foes alike."
I said nothing, I couldn't accidentally say anything that may lead to other consequences. Instead I slid the blade into its hilt and stored it away in my inventory. I was still missing some materials, but before I get those it might be smart to increase my smithing to 100. It was still only at 98, wait it had increased to 99? When had that happened?
I checked backwards and found that inspecting the ebony blade had increased my smithing level! Was it because I inspected with the plan to use it as forging material? I shook my head, and took a deep breath, finally I left dragonsreach.