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Ryn nodded. "I have to know what Miraak knows if I want to stop him."

Neloth placed the book he was holding down, his expression thoughtful. "Now that is a dangerous path indeed. Hermaeus Mora gives nothing away for free. You may end up like Miraak, of course." He paused, in a thought. " Two power-mad Dragonborn. It could be very interesting." He mused.

Teldryn looked at the Bosmer curiously, and leaned closer to her. "Is he implying that you're even remotely like Miraak? Cause you're not, you are many things, but not that." He commented to her.

Ryn glanced back to the wizard." Do you know where I can find another Black Book?"

He smiled knowingly, "Oh yes. They're not hard to locate once you know how to look for them. I have one here that I've been using to locate more."

Her eyebrows shot up. "You have a Black Book?"

Neloth scoffed. "Yes. I haven't been idle while this fascinating madness engulfed Solstheim. But my book isn't what you're looking for. I'm quite sure it's unconnected with this Miraak. But I do know where to find a Black Book that can help you. “He flicked his hand and a candle light appeared above him, slowly circling him as he looked into a notebook, scribbled something down and looked up at her again.

Ryn crossed her arms "So you know where to find this other Black Book?”

"Yes, I do. I haven't been able to get it, though. But maybe together we can unlock the secrets the Dwemer left behind." He flipped some pages of a journal, his eyes scanning them and not bothering to look up at her. Then he closed it and took it across the room.

She followed him across the room as he set the journal on the table, and busied himself with yet another book. One she recognized as a book about the Dwemer. "The Dwemer? What do they have to do with this?" She asked.

He looked up with a raised brow and a smirk. Neloth closed the book and placed it on a shelf. "Forbidden knowledge was somewhat of a specialty of the dwarves, eh? You don't think they would just leave it alone, do you?"

She rolled her eyes and shared a look with Teldryn. "Just tell me where the book is and I'll get it."

"I'm afraid it isn't that simple." He frowned as the arcane candle light that floated near him fizzled away. "If it was, I would have the book already."

"Then how do we find the blasted thing?" She crossed her arms, becoming irradiated with this man. It was always like this with pretty much everyone, it has never been simple.

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Ryn pushed her Markarth home door open, and slumped in the nearest chair. "Gods...Tel that...that was a long walk." She complained, having just walked all the way from Riften. 

Teldryn took off his helmet as closed the door behind him and he raised a brow at her. "It wouldn't have to be as long if you didn't have this urge to pick up everything that caught your pretty eyes." He glanced around the entrance hall. "You have a nice home."

"Thank you Tel. " She looked at her armor, then at the dunmer. "Can you help me out of this? It's heavy." She asked sheepishly.

He smirked. "Eager aren't you? You little minx."

She rolled her eyes. "Teldryn Sero. Help me out of this heavy crap so I can pack this up."

He chuckled. "Of course, dovakiin."She laughed as he called her that. He started help her out of the armor, revealing her underclothes. It wasn't something that he hadn't seen before, considering all the times he helped her out of her armor to patch her up. 

She waited for him to locate her more comfortable wear, and then put it on when he handed it over. She slipped it over her head. "Thanks Tel."

"I serve you, Ryn." He bowed playfully, a smirk on his face.

She stood up and reached around to tie the back, but her muscles screamed in pain. She needed rest. She was sore. Again she looked sheepish. "One more thing Tel..."

"You need me to tie the back?" He finished, knowing all too well how sore she was. She did complain about it almost the entire trip back.

"If you would please."

"What would you do without me?" He muttered as he moved behind her, to tie her dress.

"Ryn?" A voice asked from the doorway. She looked up and saw Marcurio in the doorway, his expression confused and surprised. "Who is this?"

"Mar. This is-"

Teldryn took a step toward the wizard. "Teldryn Sero." He gestured to the other man. "You are?"

"Her husband." He replied, crossing his arms and also taking a step forward. "Marcurio."

"You don't need to worry, dear." Ryn said stepping between them, facing her husband. "He's just a friend helping me out. I didn't realize you were home." She figured that he might've been out tending to the shop.

Marcurio looked her in the eyes and nodded, giving her a welcoming hug. Then locked eyes with Teldryn as they parted. "Are you staying for dinner Sero?" He asked his voice polite but his protective glare was sizing him up.

Teldryn glanced at Ryn and smiled. "I would like to, if you are so kind to have me for the night."

Ryn looked at her husband. "He'll stay in the guest room." She told him.

Marcurio nodded, "He'd better." He muttered as he headed into the dining room, with Ryn and Teldryn following. Teldryn smiled to himself, he was going to have fun.

Marcurio leaned against the wall as he watched his wife prepare for bed. She sat on the end of the bed, unbraiding her hair.  "You just need to get to know him, Mar." Ryn said. "He's helped me out of a lot of tough situations. He's been a great friend."

As he listened to her, he watched the Mer in question close his door, in the guest room across from theirs. "You don't actually believe that do you?" He asked, closing their door behind him.

"What do you mean?" She looked over her shoulder at him, brushing out her hair.

"He...the way he looks at you...he loves you."

"Yeah? We're close, it happens when you travel together, but you're my husband. It's-"

"-Not the same?" He finished, brow raised. "Ryn, he looks at you like I look I you. He's in love with you."

She was silent for a long time.

Marcurio sighed. "You love him, don't you?"

"Don't be ridiculous." She scoffed. 

Marcurio knew that she was deflecting, but chose not to press the issue. He sighed. He figured something must have happened between them, this Sero fellow, was all she talked about whenever she was home. He reasoned that maybe she hasn't realized it herself yet, and he would still be there when she figured it out. 

Loving the Dragonborn isn't easy.

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Erandur looked at the two bodies "I...knew Veren and Thorek. They were my friends. Is this punishment for my past? Is it Mara's will to torment me so?"

Ryn lowered her bow. "I'm sorry. We had to. They were trying to kill us."

He thought for a moment. "...and had they succeeded, Dawnstar's fate would have been sealed. You have a unique way of looking at things, my friend."  He started toward the barrier in the center of the room. "Come on. It's time. The Skull must be destroyed. If you'll stand back, I'll perform the ritual granted to me by Lady Mara." He held his hands up, and started the process. "First, an incantation to remove the barrier... I call upon you Lady Mara! The Skull hungers. It yearns for memories and leaves nightmares in its wake. Grant me the power to break through this barrier and to send the Skull to the depths of Oblivion!"

Ryn watched nearby with her bow still prepared, in case.

He's deceiving you. When the ritual is complete, the Skull will be free and then Erandur will turn on you. Quickly! Kill him now. Kill him and claim the Skull for your own! Vaermina commands you! Vaermina ordered in her mind.

Something inside Ryn made her lift the bow up, and aim at the back Erandur's head. She hesitated. This man has done nothing to her to deserve death. He's trying to redeem himself, but she could almost feel Vaermina's influence forcing her to pull the string back.

She shook her head. "No." She whispered. "It's not right."

The string was pulled back all the way to her lip.

"I refuse to be another pawn of a god. I do what I wish. I get to choose what I do. I will not be commanded by any more Deadric Lords." Ryn muttered.

There wasn't a reply from Vaermina, an she watched in horror as the arrow flew through to air, and landing into the head of the man. Killing him, mid-incantation.

She looked at his body. "Damn it." She sighed and slid to the ground, back against the wall. "The gods just love using me, don't they?" She asked the air.

"You alright down there boss?" She heard Teldryn call out from the floor above.

"I thought I told you to wait outside." She called back.

She heard him walking, then she saw the dunmer appear on the floor above, looking through the grate and down into the chamber. "What can I say? I'm an impatient man. You were taking too long."