Fredas, 3:35 PM, 31st of Morning Star

Marcurio came back several days ago, he says he was worried I wouldn't be able to fend for myself, but I think he actually missed me.  Either way it was an awkward greeting, he happened to arrive just as I had finished addressing a group of mages, the mages here do not know him as my lover, I had told them he was just a sword-for-hire.  So when came up behind me and put his hands on my shoulders I'm sure the mage's were all confused.  I was a bit too, as I hadn't really expected him to come back.  I am so very glad he did though.  I'd been staying in my small room in the students hall up until that point, but with him back, we have officially moved into the Archmage's quarters.

Of course Marcurio wanted to hear the whole story about how I became Archmage.  It was not half so complicated as he thought however, seeing as the Psijic order practically babysat all of us through the ordeal.    The eye of Magnus, that monstrous powerful artifact that Tolfdir had brought back from Saarthal turned out to be even more powerful than we had expected.  It succeeded in catching the attention of the Thalmor, specifically the weasilly Anacano who had been hanging around the college, claiming to be an 'adviser'.  Anacano attempted to tap the power of the Eye, I'm still not sure why, perhaps he thought he could actually control it, perhaps he was just so weak minded the eye gained control of his mind.  Either way he put our college, and the entire city in grave danger, summoning spectral creatures from outside mundus when he attempted to tap the power of the Eye.

In order to gain access to him, so that I could defeat him I needed to get Magnus's staff, a powerful artifact held in Labrynthian, put their by Shalidor himself.  Trust me when I say that I got on a horse and I rode through the night as fast as the poor beast could go to get to Labrynthian.  When I got to the ruin I continued to run, making no attempt at stealth.  I doubt anyone has cleared a ruin that quickly in the history of Skyrim itself!

After acquiring the staff it was a simple matter of taking down the magical barrier and killing Anacano once and for all.  After that ordeal I was named Archmage, seeing as both the former Archmage, and his assistant had been slain in the scuffles.

I am helping a fellow mage with a Dwemer inquiry he is working on at the moment, I am fascinated by the Dwemer as well, so I hope that our experimentations work out!

Several days later

I'm at the college of Winterhold.  The mages here found something of great magical power under the ruins of Saarthal.  It's power is so great even I was able to feel it, all the way from the temple of the Blades.  Marcurio stayed back with the blades.  He has taken a liking to ancient dragon lore and decided to stay and study with them for a time while I discovered what the tremors of arcane power were emanating from in Winterhold.  I find that oddly enough I miss the pompous bastard.  He is an excellent lover.  The thought of him clouds my mind at the most inopportune times, it's difficult enough for me to navigate now that I am on my own again.  I am continually reminded of the fact that Marcurio believed it was possible for me to get my vision back.  Perhaps after this business with the eye of Magnus is taken care of I will pester him to explain to me just how he thinks it would be possible to go about retaining ones eyesight.

There is a Thalmor 'ambassador' here who will not stop lurking around.  He seems more than mildy interested in this artifact the college is holding here and I'm sure he'd stop at nothing to see its power become his own.  I keep trying to find an opportunity to knife him while no one is around, but he seems to have caught on to my hatred and is avoiding being alone for more than a split second.  Damn.

Loredas, 9:33 PM, 11th of Morning Star

Marcurio and I are spending the night in Orothiem, a small cave we just recently cleared of Bandits.  He remarked with a laugh that it seems strange the leader of the Thieves Guild, the Dragonborn is spending the night in a dirty cave surrounded by fresh corpses.  I suppose to an outsider perhaps it would seem absurd, but this is where I feel most at home.

I intend to return to Lake-view soon and perhaps spend a few days there, see how the little girl is, and make sure the house is in good repair.  Marcurio has offered to accompany me, it seems he does not wish us to part ways just yet, I am fine with that, although I'm not looking forward to introducing him to Lucia, she's a very curious child and is sure to ask too many questions.

Marcurio has been bothering me these last couple of days.  He is insisting that with all the arcane knowledge in Skyrim, there must be a way for me to recover my eyesight.  I don't know why he cares so much, I long ago resigned myself to the darkness.  But if only to keep him from nagging about it I will look into it.  I suppose he may have a point, I'm not sure I could handle the disappointment though if I actually did try finding  a way and it turned out to be a dead end.

My hair has started to grow back.  Strange, it's been nearly three years since the accident and never once before now had it shown any sign of regrowth.  It's coming in rough and choppy and Marcurio says it's a silver white.  It used to be auburn back when I had long locks.

The thieves guild is back on its feet, as it's guild-master I will have to check in every month or so with them, but I don't intend to spend any more time than I have to down in the ratway, it's still very putrid down there, despite all the effort they're putting into making it more hospitable.  With Mavin's permission I gave Mercer's house to Brynjolf, he's a good man, honorable too, which is rare among those thieves.