The blood curdling scream escaped the 'desolate' tomb and pierced the silence of the forest night. Next to the hole, a shining figure let out a sigh of despair. He knew what this meant. They were stronger than he first thought. The soldier wasn't just anyone. He was blessed with the power of the gods. The ghostly figure spoke ancient words and sealed the hole in the ground. They couldn't escape. He had to sacrifice himself at the very least. But it still wasn't what he wanted. He stared up at the night sky through the forest trees and spoke in a quiet voice.

"He is not the one"






The tall man stared around the road. The forest trees looked so peaceful yet threatening. The swaying branches and quiet rustling of the leaves. It may look beautiful and calming from here, but it was just a door to a little piece of hell. Unspeakable beasts and entities were said to seek solace in the safety of the darkness. Everyone would say they were just stories. But why did so many adventurers, travellers and bandits enter, never being seen again? There was no doubt about it. Something evil was there. The real mystery was its identity...

"Ok Terithor, I'm done. Lets go!"

The tall long haired man named Terithor turned to face his companion.

"You know, they may say this place is evil, but it still has its majesty. And you're urinating all over it," He grinned.

His blonde haired companion laughed back at him and tightened his belt. Adjusting his blade in its sheath he looked around at the forest.

"Yeah, it would be great if it didn't have ghost stories splattered all over it.

Terithor didn't reply. With his dark brown eyes he stared back into the deep forest. Both of them were silent for a few moments until the blonde man spoke again.

"Well lets get going, we ain't gunna make it to the city if we just stand around all night."

"Ok, Ok, lets go Berin," he said quietly, with his eyes still fixed on the trees.

Berin walked over to him and patted him on the back.

"All ghost stories my friend. All ghost stories." He ruffled Terithor's long black hair, laughed loudly and began walking down the stoney path. Terithor finally broke his gaze and followed Berin down the dark road.

They travelled silently for nearly twenty minutes through the dark forest untill they heard an odd noise. Both of the adventurers stopped and looked around. Terithor gripped his blade anxiously and stared into the forest outskirts. There was something moving. Something following them. He nudged Berin and nodded towards the movement in the bushes. They stood their ground and watched as the shadow moved closer to them in the bushes. Terithor looked at his companion and silently mouthed a countdown.

"3...2...1..." He mouthed.

They charged towards the bushes with their swords raised and looked for the creature. They hacked and sliced, throwing swings in every direction, hoping to hit they're prey. But there was nothing. Berin stared at Terithor with a scared look on his dark face.

"The wind, perhaps?" he questioned quietly.

Terithor shook his head slowly. He held his sword up high and carefully scanned the forests insides. There, in the very distance he saw it. It was hard to see, but it was there. He nudged Berin again and pointed towards the faint light. Berin stared for a few seconds and shook his head back at Terithor. He could tell by his pale face and panicking expression that there was no way in hell he was actually going inside the forest. He stared back at the light. It was slowly dissappearing. He felt his heart beating fast. He didn't want it to go, he couldn't let it go. Tensing his hand around the blade handle he looked back at Berin.

"I'm going. I can't let the light leave. I... It... I dont want..." he stuttered. He shook his head. "I'm going inside." he said.

Berin stared at him grimly. Terithor could tell by his silent reply that he was going in alone.

"You keep going to the city. I'll catch up with you in the morning. And we'll find your uncle like I promised." Berin just stared back at him. He raised his hand slightly until it reached Terithors shoulder. He opened his mouth to speak, but closed it. He couldn't find the words to say. Terithor grinned slightly and grabbed his hand.

"I'll be there. Trust me."

And with that he turned and walked into the forest. Berin stood outside and watched his outline slowly dissappear from view. Even when it had gone, he kept standing. He wasn't sure what had happened. But he knew he couldn't just stand there. With a deep breath he took a step into the cold dark of the forest, in pursuit of his idiotic friend.

What seemed like miles ahead, Terithor was trying to find the elusive light. It was as if it was teasing him. Playing games... Hiding... Making him follow... He stumbled in the dark, still gripping his longsword. This would be the perfect place for an ambush. Hijacking wandering travellers... But this seemed like to much effort. Too far from the road. Even bandits wouldn't go to this much trouble just to steal someones belongings. No... This was something else... He kept walking. And walking. And walking... Until his legs began to ache. But his mind told them to be quiet. He knew what he was looking for, even if he didn't know where.

Then finally, he saw it. The light. And now it was getting brighter. He was so close to it, he began running. Over the huge tree roots and under the dangerously low branches. His chest began thumping with excitment, a euphoria filled his mind and great things flooded through his mind. The light got blinding. Terithor ran with his free hand covering his eyes as he crashed through the branches in an attempt to reach the source. He was sp close, he knew it, the great prize lied beyond the next few trees. He could see a clearing, he was nearly there! He dodged a few more branches and jumped over a fallen tree. But his leap wasnt high enough. A stray branch caught his foot and sent him tumbling the ground. The longsword in his hand flew across the grass and landed at the other side of the clearing. He grabbed his head in pain, it had been hit quite hard when he fell. As he pulled it away, blood covered the palms of his hands.

"Damn it..." Terithor pushed himself off the ground and held a hand to his head. But then he stared around. He didnt understand, the light had vanished! Staring around in confusion, he felt a horrible feeling rise in the pit of his stomach. He stepped into the middle of the clearing and stared around again. With a final twirl, he wondered what the hell was going on. Had he came out here for no reason at all? He closed his eyes in pain as the gash on his head throbbed horribly. He thought he was going crazy.

Then he heard it. A horrible rib shattering roar. Terithor yelled in agony and covered his ears, opening his eyes and staring up in horror at the source of the roar. A huge brown beast with horns coming out of its head, and bloodstained teeth, thousands of teeth. Terithor didn't know what the hell it was, but it charged at him wildly and he dived out of the way to dodge it. He stood up and stared at the horrible monster. It turned to face him once more and stared into his eyes, his puny insignificant eyes. Terithor stood his ground with his hand still putting pressure on his head. He stood ready to dive once more and stared back at the beasts huge black eyes. The beast snarled and growled at Terithor and charged once more.

The snarling beast ran towards Terithor at such a speed that he thought he would crushed by the huge monster. Luckily he leaped to the side just in time, rolling on the cool green grass. The beast roared in anger and confusion. It didn't like having to search for its prey, it just wanted to kill and devour. Terithor yelped in pain as he tried to push himself up from the ground. His fall was taking its toll on him as he began to feel weak and lightheaded. The beast grunted in delight as it turned around and saw Terithor lying on the ground. It raised it front legs into the air and roared again, causing the trees around it to bend slightly as it crashed back to the ground.

Terithor slowly started to push himself back up and finally managed to straighten his legs. Swaying slightly where he stood, he glanced around wearily, searching for his longsword. The moonlight had caught the edge of it and it shined out its position to Terithor. Slowly, he limped across to it while holding his hand against his head in agony. The bull-like creature pounded its hooves into the ground and lined up its run. Its time had come. It snorted angrily then charged towards the injured man. Terithor felt the ground shake and turned to see the angry beast charging towards him again. He knew that this time it was too late to jump aside. He closed his eyes and held his hands out in front of him in a futile attempt to defend himself.

"Not now! Please!" he screamed inside his head. He didn't want to die.

But then something incredible happened. The beast should have crushed him, but instead as soon as it came within an inch of him, it was sent flying backwards thirty feet with an incredible force. It flew into the trees and crashed into them sending bits of wood and bark scattering everywhere. Terithor stared at his hands in disbelief. Surely he hadn't done that? He stared at his injured leg and put a hand to it. Within seconds he felt a strange warmth flow through it as the pain dissappeared. Testing his now-fixed leg, he ran over to his blade and picked it up. The pain in his head was still excruciating, but with another touch, it all vanished in an instant.

"What the hell is going on?!" He shouted. Staring around his eyes were drawn to the huge pile of fallen trees. Right in the middle the bull beast was scrambling around, trying to get itself upright. Terithor grinned and sprinted over to his foe, avoiding the large chunks of tree scattered across the clearing. Jumping up on top of a fallen log, he wasted no time as he began stabbing at the underbelly of the monster. It let out a huge roar in pain and started kicking wildly, trying to stop the cuts and stabs of the seemingly magical warrior.

With a final stab and one last roar, the beast stopped moving and its legs fell limply to the ground. Terithor sighed in relief and dropped to the ground, relishing the peace and quiet. After a few moments of thinking about his victory, he stared numbly at his bleeding hands. How had he managed to do what he did? He drummed his fingers together and thought long and hard about it. He had heard stories of people being able to cast magic. But he wasnt sure if they were true or not. He came from a small village in which there were never many travellers. The older residents always used to tell them stories about the world around them, about great warriors and evil mages and terrifying beasts that roamed Nirn.

But... Surely they were just stories? He closed his eyes. What had just happened had took a turn on his mind, so much had happened, he wasn't even sure what he was thinking anymore. But one thing he definitely knew, was that he had been led out here. This horrible creation of hell hadn't just been wandering when it stumbled upon an injured traveller. Sitting up, he stared into the dark sky and squinted at the bright shining stars.

"What is going on?! I want to know!" He yelled into the darkness. "If there is some power out there that has brought me here, then reveal thyself!"

Seconds passed. Then minutes. The forest around him was silent. The wind itself appeared to have stopped. Laughing quietly at himself, Terithor slowly raised himself off the bloodstained grass and starting walking out of the clearing.

"And where are you going?"

Terithor stopped. The unknown voice had came from behind him. It was smooth and calming however he sensed something mournful about its quiet tone. Very slowly, he turned his head back towards the clearing. And standing there, right in the middle, was... Something... Or someone. It definitely had the shape of a human. Yet there was a strange glowing aura around it. It didn't move, it just kept staring at Terithor. With the same longing he had felt with the strange light, he felt it once more towards this being. He stepped back into the clearing, moving closer to it with every step.

Finally he stood near it. It did look like a human, an imperial by the looks of the build, but this was no natural being. It was wearing very elegant blue robes, with a small emblem on the chest. The strange aura around it had dimmed slightly as he had drew closer to it. Both were silent for a few moments, staring into eachothers eyes. But as Terithor stared closer into its eyes, he realised that he could see through it! He shouted and stepped backwards in fear with his sword raised.

"What are you? A ghost?! Did you call me hear? What do you want with me?" he questioned. The ghost just smiled and stared back at the nords eyes.

Terithor raised his blade higher, as if to try and intimidate the ghost. At this, the ghost laughed. It was an empty, shrieking laugh. Terithor felt as though his insides were burning and was thankful when it stopped. The ghost stared away and finally spoke.

"I have called you here to your fate. I wasn't sure if it would be you particularly, But it appears you passed my test. So you'll have to do." He waved lazily towards the dead body of the beast.

"You did that?" Terithor looked at him in fearful awe.

"Yes, that was the test. No normal warrior could have defeated it. Only one endowed with the magic of the gods." he replied.

Terithor stared at his hands again. He wasn't sure to make of this. Magic? The gods?

"The gods? You mean... The nine?"

He wasn't much of a holy man, he never cared much for religion. He preferred to just not think about such complex things as that. He didn't really care whether there was a higher power controlling their fates. The ghost walked over to the beast and stared at its wounds.

"Yes, whatever you wish to call them. They have given you the gift of their magic. You're not the only one, but you definitely someone I've been looking for."

Terithor stared at the hollow shape of the ghost and shook his head.

"Theres no such thing as magic, its all just stories. Folklore, tales told to children!"

The ghost laughed once again, this time Terithor covered his ears to block out the horrible sound.

"Oh no, its as real as you or I." Terithor raised his eyebrow at this, the ghost caught this and smiled.

"Yes, i'm real. And yes, I am a ghost. But lets just cut to the point."

It pointed its fingers at the ground and spoke strange words.

"Underneath the ground we stand on, is an old tomb. Mine, to be exact. And it contains a very powerful object that cannot fall into the wrong hands. Unfortunately, someone has already got there hands on it, and attempted to use its power." It continued speaking its strange words as Terithor watched. He didn't believe this was happening.

"Why me?" He queried.

"Because it has to be someone with the god's magic. The last man I sent in died a horribly gruesome death, because he could not protect himself with the ancient magic, that luckily enough, flows through your veins."

After a few more words, the ghost drew his hands away from the ground and watched as a hole began to form. Terithor stepped closer and looked down. It curved slightly, so it wasnt a straight drop down, but he was still incredibley reluctant to enter it. As if he could read his mind, the ghost spoke the answer.

"Your going down there, and you will find the scroll. Otherwise I will kill you right here," as he spoke he raised a ghostly finger and pointed at him.

Terithor stared at the hole with more fear. He knew what he had to do, and he knew he wasn't going to like it. But it was either a slim chance at life, or death.

"Fine," he muttered. Sheathing his sword, he bent over to look down the hole again. The light ended three feet in, and there was no sign of an end. He looked back up at the ghostly being then slowly dropped into the hole, and began making his slow descent into his own personal hell.

Not bad, ghost is maybe just a little too mild...and it seems to rush to the point, granted you're not writing a novel but you know....

Yeah I understand, but I had him in my head as a kind of important snobbish type guy. Doesnt like talking to commoners, even though he needs help. Might have been better if I pushed out the point of him being... well snobbish.