We're camping across the road from Mixwater Mill tonight. I was hoping to stay in a ruin or something, but the place we thought might be good turned out to be a bad idea.

  At least Maurice didn't slow us down.

  Speaking of Maurice, he's an early riser, and had just finished making us all breakfast when I woke up. I could hear the others getting ready upstairs.

  I thanked him for it, and we did a quick check of the map to confirm the road we would take.

  We set off and followed the signs to Ivarstead. Not far along the road we ran into a necromancer when I stepped off the path for a moment to check out the Ritual Stone. She was in the middle of raising two skeletons, so once we took care of them, we took care of her.

  Maurice didn't get in the way (I think he ran off) but he did say he "Didn't approve" of the fighting.

  We kept quiet during the walk, because any attempt at conversation was interrupted by his whining that we weren't going fast enough, or we were going too fast for him. He would complain about how Danica "let" the Gildergreen die, and how sad it was to see it like that.

  We did meet an interesting person on the way, though. A Nord named Balbus, gathering rare ingredients for "The Gourmet", the cook behind "Uncommon Taste". He doesn't know who The Gourmet is, but he's heard they're in Skyrim. Once he finds The Gourmet, he plans to give them the ingredients as a gift.

  We wished him luck in his quest, then went on our way.

  Oh, Maurice's face when the assassin jumped out of the bushes was… Well, he was scared at first, but I think he was more afraid of me after we killed her and he saw the assassin's note with my name on it! HAH!

  He was a bit more polite after that, but he still didn't stop talking.

  I think it's near the border with Eastmarch, but there's a long bridge going between a pair of towers, one on either side of the river. Valdimar's been this way before, and says it's called Valtheim Towers. He also cautioned that there's usually bandits hanging out in there, so we should keep our eyes open.

  He was right. As we approached, a woman standing by the door at a cookpot told us to stop and pay a toll of 200 septims before we could go on! I made a counter offer: Let us go, and we wouldn't kill her.

  I'm normally not like that, but I was already frazzled.

  I could hear Lydia cross her arms behind me, and Septim growled. The lady wisely said we could go, but to make it quick before her friends noticed.

  I had originally planned to go to Darkwater Crossing, then head north to the Sanctuary, but Maurice was grating on our nerves to the point where I decided to just make a swim for it when we got near Fort Amol.

  The Sanctuary wasn't far past that. The outside doesn't look like much of anything, just your normal cave entrance. There's a small pile of stones with skull on it outside, but that's about it.

  When you go in, there's a narrow tunnel the winds its way down, and it's barely wide enough for one person.

  Just when I was wondering how much longer we'd be like that, the tunnel opened up to a beautiful clearing, with waterfalls, flowers, lush plants and trees. Even I could feel the sacred energy and peace in there!

  At the far end, atop a ledge of rock, there's a massive tree, and all around the base are roots as thick as regular tree trunks!

  Maurice was ecstatic. That was the Eldergleam!

  As we followed the stone path through, we were welcomed by a man named Sond, who worships there. He told us to talk to Asta if we had any questions. We found her sitting on the ground by the stream, and asked her about the Eldergleam. She explained that no one's been able to get near it because its roots block the path. She did hear of a weapon, though, that the Eldergleam would move its roots for.

  I showed her Nettlebane and asked if this was the weapon she'd heard of and she got angry. She told me not to harm the tree, and that nothing good would come of it.

  Luckily, Maurice was too preoccupied looking around the Sanctuary to pay attention to our conversation.

  I went up to the roots, and got out Nettlebane. I really didn't want to hurt the tree, either. Something older than metal could probably destroy me if it really wanted to. Erandur told me to just give it a little tap. Something to let the Eldergleam know that I had the knife it feared, but not so much that it would think I was there to hurt it.

  So, I gave it a little tap with the blade, and the roots moved out of the way like tentacles. That was creepy, and Septim barked and growled at them, but I kept going, giving each root that stood in my path a little scratch to let the tree know I was there.

  Maurice was in the back, and couldn't see what I was doing to make the path open for us.

  Soon enough, we got to the tree itself, and Maurice saw what I had in my hand. He was furious, and wanted to know what I intended to do here. I explained Danica's plan to get sap to revive the Gildergreen, but that didn't help. He got even more mad!

  We got in a bit of a shouting match, and I asked him what to do, since he clearly knew better than an actual priestess of Kynareth. If he can hear Her voice in the wind, what's She telling him that She's not telling Danica?

  He said he had an idea, and I told him to go ahead. I warned him that if it didn't work, I'd use the knife.

  Maurice knelt before the tree, and prayed.

  To our amazement, a sapling sprouted from the ground and grew right in front of him!

  He told me to take the sapling to Danica, and that renewal was the true blessing of nature.

  Now, I'll argue a lot of things with a lot of people, but when I ask for a solution and a literal miracle happens in front of me, I'll take it.

  We dug up the sapling and left the Sanctuary.

  Asta and Sond weren't too happy that I'd harmed the tree, but I have a feeling they'll feel better when they can go worship right at the base of it. Maurice said he was going to stay there to worship for a while.

  We took turns carrying the little tree, and carefully made our way back to the road.

  We got to Fort Amol, and saw there was a crumbling tower across the water from it, set halfway into the cliffside.

  It was late afternoon, almost evening, and I suggested that we set up in there for the night. It looked small enough to explore quickly, and there should be at least space enough to set up our bedrolls.

  The others agreed, and we crossed the water to the half-collapsed landing that was almost level with the current.

  Turns out the place was an abandoned prison! We found ourselves in an open circular room, with a staircase going down. I could hear water coming in, and as we went down more, we could see there was a bad leak in the wall of the tower that faced the water.

  Valdimar said that didn't look safe, and the rest of us agreed.

  But I did find a chest and a dresser and some barrels with a few goodies in them, and there was a door that led further down!

  I managed to dodge Erandur's hand before he could grab my collar and haul me out of there, and said that I just wanted to go through real quick and take what I could find. What're the chances there were people living in here when that wall could go any time?

  Lydia said that was sort of the problem, but I waved her off. We'd be quick, and I promised that if any of us heard anything that sounded like rocks falling or rushing water, we'd get the hell out of there.

  They reluctantly agreed, and we kept going. There was a small room that looked like a storage area with books and some foodstuffs, along with some Imperial weapons and a shield. I also found some written orders to evacuate the Legion guards from the prison immediately because an oncoming storm was threatening to wash the whole place into the river. As for the prisoners, they were to be killed or left to drown in their cells.

  I could feel a chill go up my spine when I read it aloud to the others, and I could hear the familiar scrape of Erandur's fingers on his armor, over his heart. "Mara have mercy," he whispered.

  I had to know what happened to them. We kept going down the hall, and came to the prison area.

  I was right when I said there wasn't anyone living in there.

  The place was haunted. Ghosts of prisoners and guards, from what I can tell. I found a note written by a prisoner. They knew the storm was coming, so they planned to attack the guards in the confusion, and hold them off long enough for them to escape through a drainage grate in one of their cells.

  We found some skeletons inn the cells, drowned or killed we don't know, but there were some laying in the passageways and open areas. They were wearing either regular light armor or Imperial stuff, so I think it was a mix of both sides.

  There were only a handful of ghosts, but there was a decent amount of loot in there. Enough to make the trip worth it, at the very least.

  The place isn't very big, so we went back to the cell with the open drainage grate mentioned in the plan and dropped down into it.

  The way was narrow at first, but soon opened up. We found another skeleton down there, and the path soon led to a ladder going up to a hatch.

  We came out under the bridge nearby, and there were more skeletons laying next to the trap door.I like to think that at least one person made it out of there alive.

  Anyway, it was dark by the time we got out of there, so we went back up to the road and kept going until we found a good spot to set up in. There's a divot in the cliff wall practically right across the road from the mill, and it's the perfect size for a tent and a fire!

  This is also the place where we've seen bandits attacking other adventurers and such, and we're next to the road, so we're keeping a careful watch tonight. Septim seems to understand that, and he's planted himself right in the door of the tent.

  I hope Danica's not too mad that we're bringing her a replacement tree instead of the sap she wanted. Then again, the thing did just sprout up out of the ground and grow leaves right in front of us, so… What more do you want? We're bringing her a physical answer to her prayers!

  Oh, well. She'll have to take it or leave it.

  At least my watch has been peaceful. I'm glad I have this to write in. The sound of the water and the mill-wheel creaking almost put me to sleep a few times!

  Tomorrow we give the sapling to Danica, and then head to Dawnstar to give the Ring of Pure Mixtures to Frida. After that…

  Sarthaal is still waiting for us, but so are the Greybeards.

  I don't know what to do!

  At least I probably have a few days left to sleep on it, but soon I'll have to make a choice.

  Back in Whiterun tonight. Today was mostly quiet, but there were places I wanted to explore and I didn't dare hurt the sapling.

  I noticed this morning that it got dinged up a little fighting ghosts in that prison. It was fine, but I feel a bit guilty about it.

  Anyway, the weather was beautiful this morning! After we struck camp I went over and ordered some logs from Gilfre, then got back on the road.

  As we walked, Valdimar told me there'd been a scuffle in the night. The commotion had woken him up, but Lydia said she "handled it". I saw what she meant as we walked by the severed head of a bandit in the road. His body was not far past that, halfway into some brush.

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  The walk back was mostly quiet, but as I said, I saw a few caves and such that I wanted to explore, but didn't. We didn't even have any animals attacking us, because for some reason the road was sort of crowded! There were always people around, either other adventurers or travelers on their way somewhere, and every time bandits or something came out to attack, the others would get to them before we could.

  Valtheim Towers was no exception. We came up to it in the middle of a fight! Almost the entire group of adventurers had been killed, except for a mage who was trying to Ward off a volley of arrows.

  Of course, we couldn't let the lone mage face off against all those bandits, so we ran to help him.

  Septim was up the stairs of the tower like lightning, and I had to put away my axe so I could run fast enough to catch up to him! He was mauling an archer on the narrow bridge when their leader came up swinging a greatsword. I wasn't able to Shout him off the edge like I wanted to, but at least I stopped him from slicing Septim in half!

  He lifted his sword again, but before he could do anything to me, an arrow got him in the shoulder and he staggered. Not a breath later a handful of Ice Spikes flew from behind me on both sides to fill up his chest. He fell before he could even start swinging his sword.

  I turned, and saw Erandur and Valdimar standing side by side on the platform at the end of the bridge. Erandur had his staff for Ice Spike armed in his right hand, and Valdimar's left hand was up, ready to cast the spell again. I saw Lydia on the steps coming up the side of the tower, with her bow at the ready.

  It was then an arrow hit me in the back. There was an archer hiding in the rocks on the other side! The others let loose, and Septim bolted once again. I ran after him and got my Flame Atronach ready. As soon as I was close enough, I summoned it on the rocks and let it chase the archer down, along with Septim.

  That was all of them. The other adventurers had taken care of the rest before we got there. The leftover mage had run off at some point while we fought.

  There was a nice haul, though! A full set of Nordic carved armor on their leader, lots of potions, food, and of course their "toll" takings.

  As we left the towers, I counted nine adventurers gathered around the bodies in the road.

  It really was busy on the road today. Best we could come up with was the nice weather tempting people out.

  We got to Whiterun with no trouble after that, and stopped at Adrienne's right away to sell the haul. I'm so glad her shop's right there!

  I do wish she had more things, though.

  We went to give the sapling to Danica and found her in the marketplace buying food for the Temple. She wasn't thrilled about the sapling. It's not very… Inspiring, given that it's so small. But I told her what Maurice said about renewal and such, and she said that sometimes Kynareth can be hard to hear over the people in the temple. She took the little tree, and hurried back to the Temple. We still had some goods to sell, so I went into Belethor's to get rid of everything that Adrienne wasn't interested in.

  Belethor was much less of a creep now that Lydia was looming behind me in her Ebony armor like some sort of harbinger of death.

  I mean, she sort of is a harbinger of death. Unless you're one of us, seeing her with her sword out is usually bad news for you.

  I took a moment to recharge our enchantments, and realized that we're almost entirely out of soul gems. Empty AND filled ones! As much as I can't stand Farengar, we went to Dragonsreach so I could buy a few more.

  Jarl Balgruuf was talking with his children, and gave me a slight wave as I walked in. I gave him a little bow back, and gestured towards Farengar's… Study? Workroom? Anyway, it was enough to let him know that I was just dropping in.

  Irileth went up to Lydia and I heard her make some approving comments about her new armor. While Lydia told her about how we'd helped Danica I went to buy soul gems. Lydia later told me that Balgruuf was especially pleased that his city would have a new Gildergreen soon.

  Irileth ignored Erandur and Valdimar, which is just as well, as far as I'm concerned.

  Our purse is… Not happy. We're not much closer to our goal after spending all that, but those enchantments have saved our lives more than once, so it's worth it!

  You know, I usually find soul gems in crypts, but we haven't been to any of those lately.

  The cellar will be free to wash up in, soon. I'm going to get my things together for that.

  -/-/-/-/-/-

  All right, done doing Lydia's hair, so I can finish this up while she does mine.

  We came back here and took some time to sort through our things, but we've mostly been resting, having a nice dinner, washing up, that sort of thing.

  We did talk a bit about what to do next. I'm not sure what to do, but we still need a pile of gold to buy Proudspire.

  We also need to return the ring to Frida, so I guess we'll do that tomorrow, then head to the Manor.

  I'm eager to get back there. This place is nice, but I feel like we can't be "together" in here. There's no big table to sit around and talk at, and it's really dark in here, too.

  -/-/-/-/-/-

  All right - Hair is done, so I'm off to bed.

  Tomorrow we'll be back home, and hopefully make some sort of plan.

  We're back home at the Manor, just taking some time to relax.

  We got up this morning and had a quick breakfast before we started for Dawnstar. Of course, almost as soon as the gates of Whiterun closed behind us, a terrible lightning storm broke out.

  Rather than take the long way around on the road, I asked the others if they wanted to just take as straight a path as possible through the brush. They agreed that might be a good idea. At least the trees would provide some cover from the rain.

  So, we headed northwards through the wilds, and soon came upon a little gully in the woods behind Whiterun. Septim found a freshly-killed elk in the grass, and while we did wonder what killed it, it didn't stop me from grabbing some venison for us!

  Not far past that, we literally stumbled upon a bandit camp! I pushed through some thick brush, and almost ran into a log wall!

  Lydia said it was the Halted Stream Mine, but it had clearly been taken over by bandits. There were three of them in the outer area around the mine, but they didn't really pose any problems to us. We'd interrupted them in the middle of butchering a mammoth.

  We grabbed what we could outside, and while I was looking for an archer I'd hit with a fireball, I almost fell into a spiked pit trap! Turned out my fire hadn't killed him - He'd stumbled backwards into the pit. There was a dead deer and a dead traveler in there, too. There wasn't a safe way down from up top, so we went into the mine.

  Halted Stream Mine is an iron mine, and there was only one bandit in the tunnel. He didn't hear us over his pickaxe, so he went down quickly.

  I took some time to do some mining, too. There were also a few little mushroom patches in there, and some potions. I found a key on a small table that unlocked an iron door leading to the rest of the mine.

  There was a short tunnel going downwards, with a few patches of iron and some traps that were easy to avoid. At the bottom we could see it open up, and three more bandits rushed at us.

  Septim and Lydia charged them, and I summoned a Flame Atronach behind their backs. Valdimar summoned a wolf familiar, and Erandur added to the firestorm.

  They didn't last long.

  I feel like we're getting better at fighting as a group. I'm a lot better with my spells, even if my aim could use some work. Erandur and Valdimar are more than capable of picking up the slack for me, too, and Lydia, well…

  She just gets deadlier and deadlier!

  Even Septim's learned how to avoid getting hit as much.

  Anyway, we went into the cavern area, onto a small platform that overlooked the space. I could see the glow of flames on the far wall, and I expected to see a campfire, maybe a forge down there, along with some bedrolls, probably, and more iron for me to mine.

  You know, normal mine stuff.

  What we didn't' expect to see was a dead MAMMOTH.

  Granted, it wasn't a big mammoth, but still! There was a mammoth in the middle of the cave! We all looked behind us. There was no way in Oblivion they could've dragged it down that little tunnel.

  Lydia pointed to the opposite side of the cavern, and there was a larger tunnel opening leading out.

  It was still awfully short, though. They had to have dragged the carcass in, but I soon found out why they even bothered.

  The tunnel led to the spiked pit trap. There was no way they could've butchered the mammoth in that little space, so they had to bring it in.

  While I was looting the bodies in the pit, I found a bear trap, which I did NOT step in, BUT I somehow managed to slightly impale myself on a large wooden spike that was literally right in front of me.

  Yeah, don't ask how I did that, I don't really know how it happened, either.

  Erandur scolded me a little as he Healed the wound, but I don't blame him.

  We went back into the cavern to see what we could find, and I wanted to do some mining!

  There was a forge down there, along with a chest and shelves of mammoth tusks! There was also a ton of food and a large floor brazier, so I set up the pot so Valdimar could do some cooking while I kept rummaging around.

  The far end has a wooden platform with a nice bed and another chest, along with a table and some books.

  There was also a hunk of iron ore on the table, next to an Alteration spellbook: Transmute Mineral Ore.

  If I had known then what I know now, I would've started cackling like a madwoman.

  Anyway, I called Erandur over to show him, and his eyes got wide. No wonder the bandits occupied the mine! He called Valdimar to come take a look. I knew Valdimar trained in Destruction magic at the College of Winterhold, but Erandur told me that his personal study was in Alteration.

  I didn't know that.

  Valdimar whistled long and low when he saw the book, and told me to read it, quick! He said I should be able to handle it, but there was only one way to find out!

  That spell turns iron ore to silver ore, and silver ore to gold!

  AND IT WORKS!

  Lydia was shocked. She asked if it was permanent, or just an illusion, but Valdimar assured her that it was real. It was an old, old spell, he said, one that mages have been trying to replicate for centuries. It's toppled kingdoms in the past, and was even outlawed at times.

  I can see how something like this would be dangerous, and said so. Lydia just laughed and said it's a good thing it's inside my head and not someone else's.

  Of course we immediately set to getting as much iron ore out of the place as we could! I used the spell a few times after we left, but Erandur cautioned me on overdoing it. Casting too many spells in too short a time would exhaust me, and besides, we weren't even out of the hold. I might need my magicka reserves for other things!

  The weather was still terrible as we set out towards The Pale, but the woods cleared out and gave way to chill plains. I saw strange markings on huge stones up ahead, like what I've seen around Giant camps, but that's not what it was.

  Best I can say is that it was a mammoth graveyard.

  There were huge bones everywhere, along with a freshly-killed one. As we went to check it out, two angry huntresses came out from around the carcass, pointing their bows at us. They told us to back off. This was their kill!

  We had plenty of mammoth already, so I just apologized, and we left the ladies to their work.

  Soon, the pouring rain turned to driving snow, and

  -/-/-/-/-/-

  MARA'S TITS!

  I FORGOT TO GIVE THE RING TO FRIDA!

  I knew I was forgetting something important.

  Can I blame this on Julianos? I swear, it's like he hates me. I can't be this stupid all on my own, can I?

  And now the others feel like idiots, too. Erandur was literally talking about Frida right before we got into town.

  Oh, well… I guess I know where we're going in the morning.

  -/-/-/-/-/-

  ANYWAY.

  When the weather shifted, I knew we'd entered The Pale.

  We heard the sounds of fighting, and found two mages, a Fire Mage and an Ice Mage, dueling near a rocky outcrop jutting out of the snow.

  We were just going to watch the fight, but they turned on us and started attacking!

  Why? I don't know, we weren't anywhere close to them, but they came after us, so they had to die.

  Such a waste.

  We found the road just on the other side of the trees past them, and decided to follow it from there. Fort Dunstad was actually really close by. It had been hidden by a hill and the trees.

  Of course, as we walked through the Fort, dodging soldiers as they scurried about, we all knew what was coming up next. Valdimar, Lydia and I exchanged looks, and Septim trotted over to walk next to Erandur.

  Good dog.

  I asked Erandur if he'd be all right walking by the remains of the Hall of the Vigilant, and while I was expecting that weak smile of his that covers a lie about as well as a napkin does a dragon, I saw a real one when he said he would be fine.

  "I don't have to do it alone," he said.

  Just past the fort, we settled into our usual formation of Lydia in front, Valdimar behind, and with Erandur between Septim and me.

  It funny how that's a bit of habit, now. It's not like we decided on it or anything, we just fell in like that that one time, and it stuck. The one who needs help goes in the middle, the others protect and support. It just… It feels right.

  We were almost near the Hall when Valdimar shouted for us to look out. I thought it strange that he yelled, but I couldn't think too hard about it because he grabbed me and pulled me out of the way as an Ice Spike came rushing past my shoulder!

  To the right, just over a little rise, was an Altmer dressed in Ebony armor, and he seemed intent on killing us.

  I have no idea why he did it. After he was dead, I checked to see if there was a note or something on him, but I couldn't find anything. He might have been a Thalmor, but they're usually a lot more… Talkative than that. He just came out of nowhere!

  Are mages just mad at us today or something?

  Maybe Julianos really does hate me.

  He was a welcome distraction, though. The fight pulled us out of sight of the Hall, and we could see the inlet for Dawnstar.

  We made our way into town and went straight to Rustleif to trade in that set of Ebony armor and the rest of the goods he'd be interested in. I asked Valdimar if he wanted it before we got there, but he said he preferred his lighter gear.

  The sun was setting by the time we were done, so we headed home along the coast.

  Of course, this was WITHOUT getting the ring to Frida, but what can you do?

  Luckily, there were just some wolves to bother us on our way back here, but Erandur and I damn near froze to death in that icy sea wind!

  After we warmed up, I unloaded all the things I wanted to keep, then went down to the dinner table to wait for food. Lydia made us some mammoth steak and soup for dinner, which was amazing!

  Right now, I'm resting at the table with wine and this thing. Lydia's reading, and Valdimar's still working on his shirt. Erandur's in the cellar, washing up before his prayers.

  I tired myself out doing a bunch of Transmuting down there earlier, but while I was working, Lydia rushed down so fast she almost fell down the ladder!

  Erandur's been eyeing Valdimar!

  I knew it!

  I think I've caught him a few times, but I wasn't sure, but now I know he was!

  After I came down here, Valdimar pulled out some shirts he grabbed earlier so he could fix them. I don't really pay much attention to what he does when he pulls out a needle and thread, but according to Lydia he usually has to replace the sleeves if he doesn't just cut them off entirely. She said he has to tailor his pants, too. He cuts down the sides, and takes a strip from another pair of pants and stitches it in. He doesn't bother trying to match the color, but he at least tries to make sure the colors look good together.

  It hadn't occurred to me that's why his pants are like that. I just thought it was a style he liked and grabbed them when we found them!

  I can't believe I just now realized this is probably why he doesn't wear any other type of body armor. He only wears his Scaled piece. It's the strongest light armor that doesn't have anything around the shoulders or arms, and nothing going around the legs.

  Damn. I guess I've just gotten used to how big he is!

  Nord men are pretty big in general, but he's one of the most muscular ones I've seen, now that I think about it.

  What a pain to have to alter all your clothes like that. No wonder he mostly wears sleeveless shirts.

  Anyway! Back to Erandur.

  Valdimar was going through some clothes we'd found, and he put his arm inside a pant leg to check the length. Lydia hadn't realized he was making himself a long-sleeved shirt, so she asked him why he was putting pants on his arm.

  He explained he was measuring them for sleeves, and it hadn't struck her that his arms were too big for the sleeves that were already on the shirt. She pointed this out, and Erandur, who had been reading and mumbling to himself like he always does, said something like, "Because his arms are the size of my thighs, silly."

  He obviously didn't mean to say that out loud! Lydia said she and Valdimar just stared at him until he realized what he did. He started to blush, and tried to pretend like nothing happened, but Valdimar just had to say something.

  He asked Erandur if he could measure his thigh to see if he was right! Erandur just hid behind his book and told him to shut up.

  That's when she said she left to come "check on me" and make sure I wasn't overdoing it.

  I was finished by then, so I followed Lydia back upstairs. Erandur had his washing things out, so he's down there now.

  Anyway, I'm getting tired. My brain is fried after doing all that magic.

  The only thing we have planned is going to Dawnstar tomorrow so we can give Frida her ring. I'll see how I feel after that.