I returned into the barrow, armed with what I assumed was the key that the not-ghost was looking for all this time. I opened the familiar looking door with the familiar looking claw-key and began to explore. As it happens, the place really IS haunted, as corpse after corpse awoke to stop me from progressing. After dodging many traps, and sparring with the undead, I found a passage leading deeper underground. My pockets were full however, and I knew the tavern owner wouldn't know what to do with half of my treasure. A return trip to Whiterun was in order.
Once in town, I made the arrangements to buy more furnishing for my house, and I even enchanted a steel dagger with fire that I came to lovingly refer to as 'Fire Poker'. I also asked if Lydia wanted to accompany me back to the barrow, as more undead surely waited for me there. I think she had a hard time concealing her desperation to leave my house. I gave her a few things as we left, a steel helmet and a bow, which she accepted graciously. As we crossed the bridge leaving Whiterun behind, my mind wandered to just a few days ago, on this very road where I saw a dragon, circling the skies. He did not engage me, though I knew he was watching me. Perhaps it was an omen for my eventual ascent to High Hrothgar, or maybe they were just spying on me. The sound of thunder woke from my daydream as I realized the dragon was back, and this time he was done watching. With a shout, Lydia let loose a volley of arrows, and I followed suit. The dragon swooped in on us, preparing to unleash a gout of flaming breath, no doubt spewing a compelling argument in is own language. It was time these dragons appreciated my linguistical talents. With a mighty FUS ROH! I bellowed into its face, and it shook its head, unprepared for such a display. Lydia and I wasted no time laying into the beat with our weapons, and it wasn't long before I delivered the finishing blow. Another dragon dead, another soul absorbed. Lydia was shocked, understandably. It had only been less than an hour since we left Whiterun and we already had a dead dragon on our hands. I gave her some dragon bones to celebrate, quipping that you could show everyone how you and your Thane handle things.
Several hours and several wrong turns later, we finally arrived at Ivarstead, and I was eager to finish my work in the barrow. It turns out having a housecarl with you isn't all that bad, as we made short work of plenty of walking corpses. Before long we came upon a large chamber, adorned with several coffins. "I have a bad feeling about this" whispered Lydia as we slowly crept in. Words I could not agree more with, as no sooner as we had stepped in did the doors slam behind us. We didn't bother to wait for the corpses to rise from their resting places as we showered them with arrows - many skeletons unable to even step out of their coffins. More and more coffins opened as skeletons, corpses and undead husks arose. Putting my bow aside, I unsheathed my daggers as I roared upon the undead with the fury of a dragon. I saw the biggest corpse of all, similar to the one I encountered upon finding my first word of power. I sidestepped his Shout and attacked him from the side. As he turned he was unprepared for Lydia's attack, and we sent him back to death. In the next chamber I found my prize: another large inscription - with a word that caught my eye. I knew it was another word of power - a power over beasts at that. Victorious, we returned to the tavern to rest, and here I write as we discuss our next move. After discussing the various missions and quests I have been tasked with, we both think that heading east to Riften might be in our best interest. Neither have us have ever been, and although our status as Thane and Housecarl of Whiterun might not matter as much, there's always room to make a name for yourself. I shall write again upon my arrival at Riften.
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