The blue lights weren't will-o'-the-wisps.
As we pushed deeper into the mire, the ground gave way to black water and half-submerged bones. The flickering orbs surged forward, revealing what they truly were — ghostly flames hovering above shambling corpses. Draugr. At least eight of them, their ancient Nordic armor crusted with moss and slime. Behind them, a hooded figure chanted with a sickly green glow.
"Necromancer," Meridia hissed, her voice sharp with disgust. "How dare they defile my light with this filth."
"No time for speeches," I said, drawing my sword. The system pinged in my vision.
Corrupted Draugr – Level 28Threat: High
The first draugr lunged with unnatural speed, its rusty greatsword swinging in a wide arc. I dodged, the blade slicing through the mist where my head had been. I countered with a empowered slash, Meridia's blessing flaring along my blade. Golden light met decayed flesh. The draugr's torso exploded in a spray of rot and bone.
"Nice assist!" I shouted.
"Do not thank me yet, fool!" Meridia snapped. She raised her hand and a beam of pure white light lanced out, spearing through two more draugr. They screamed — a horrible, hollow sound — before disintegrating into ash and blackened bones.
The necromancer shrieked something in a twisted tongue. The remaining draugr surged forward together while spectral hands erupted from the swamp water, clawing at my legs.
I activated Radiant Step, blinking forward in a burst of golden particles. I appeared behind the nearest draugr and drove my sword through the gap in its armor. The blade burned with Meridia's fury, cooking the undead from the inside.
"Behind you!" Meridia warned.
I spun just in time. A massive corrupted troll — eyes glowing the same sickly green — crashed through the twisted trees, roaring. Its hide was covered in pulsing runes.
"Wonderful," I growled. "You just had to bring friends."
Meridia floated slightly off the ground, her form blazing brighter. "This creature is an abomination. Burn it."
She unleashed a sweeping arc of light that scorched the troll's side. It howled in rage and charged her. I sprinted forward, slashing at its thick leg tendons. Black blood sprayed, hissing where it touched the ground.
The troll swung a massive arm. I raised my sword to block — bad idea. The force sent me flying backward into the murky water. Pain exploded across my ribs.
Health: 63%
"Champion!" Meridia's voice cracked with something close to fury.
She appeared above the troll in an instant, both hands glowing. A concentrated lance of searing light punched straight through the beast's chest. The troll staggered, roaring.
I forced myself up, water streaming off my armor. "I'm fine! Focus on the caster!"
The necromancer was retreating deeper into the barrow entrance, still chanting. More draugr were crawling out of the mud around him.
I triggered Beacon's Wrath — a skill I'd earned after Kilkreath. Golden chains of light shot from my palm, wrapping around the necromancer's arms and legs. He screamed as the light burned his flesh.
Meridia descended like an avenging star. She placed her hand on the troll's head and released a pulse of pure radiance. The creature's head simply ceased to exist.
With the big threat down, we turned on the remaining undead together.
I moved in close, slashing and stabbing while Meridia rained holy fire from range. Every time a draugr got too close to me, a beam of light would incinerate it mid-swing. Our coordination was getting smoother — almost natural.
"You fight like a drunk fisherman!" she called out during a brief lull, though I could hear the thrill in her voice.
"And you fight like someone who's never had to get her hands dirty!" I shot back, decapitating another draugr. "Admit it, you're enjoying this."
Meridia landed beside me, her breathing slightly heavier than usual in this mortal form. "Enjoying the destruction of filth? Obviously. Do not read into it, worm."
The necromancer finally broke free of my chains with a desperate burst of green energy. He hurled a bolt of soul-draining magic at me. I rolled aside, but the edge caught my shoulder. Cold fire spread through my veins.
Health: 41%Debuff: Soul Rot – Moderate
Meridia was on him before I could stand.
She grabbed the man by the throat, lifting him effortlessly. Her golden eyes burned with divine wrath. "You dare use death against my champion? In my presence?"
The necromancer gurgled, feet kicking uselessly. Light began pouring from his eyes, mouth, and ears. Then he simply burst into golden flames, disintegrating into sparkling ash that drifted across the swamp.
The remaining draugr collapsed instantly, their unnatural animation severed.
I leaned on my sword, breathing hard. Blood and swamp water dripped from my armor.
Meridia turned to me. For a moment her expression was fierce, almost worried. She walked over and placed her hand on my injured shoulder. Warmth flooded through me as her power purged the soul rot and knit the damage.
Health: 89%
"You reckless idiot," she muttered, though her touch lingered longer than necessary. "Must you always throw yourself into danger?"
"Says the woman who dove straight at a giant troll," I replied with a tired grin. "I thought Daedric Princesses were supposed to be elegant and above such things."
She huffed, crossing her arms. "Elegance is wasted on vermin. And I will not allow some swamp-born necromancer to claim what is mine."
I raised an eyebrow. "There's that word again. 'Mine.'"
"Do not push your luck, champion." Despite the haughty tone, she stayed close, her shoulder brushing mine as we stared at the dark barrow entrance.
The mist had thickened again. Deeper inside the ruin, a much stronger pulse of corruption throbbed — cold, ancient, and hungry.
"There is something worse waiting below," Meridia said quietly, all playfulness gone. "This was merely the outer guard."
I nodded, tightening my grip on my sword. The fight had left me buzzing with adrenaline and Meridia's power.
"Together, then?"
She looked at me, golden eyes steady. A small, arrogant smile finally returned.
"Together. Try not to die, fisherman. I would hate to have to drag your soul back from Sovngarde myself."
We stepped forward into the sunken barrow, light and champion side by side, as the swamp swallowed our footprints behind us.