The cool breeze had a calming sensation against my face as I lay in the grass. After all that had happened, getting a moment to unwind was unnatural and strange, considering I had spent the last couple of weeks on the run to kill Alduin, Laying in this grass was... exceptional. I still remember everything, the battle, the losses, the victory... It was almost to much to bare. But still, after all I had been through, I find myself laying in a grassy field, with Odahviing at my side, willing to take me almost anywhere. Yet... No matter how far I travel, there's never a moment where I don't think about my lost friends and family. I've lost all company, my new and old friends are gone. I pick myself up off the ground and turn to Odahviing.
"Lets get out of here," I say. For once, my tone of voice has calmed and almost become normal. After all the fear and screaming, I find speaking in a normal tone difficult.
"As you wish." Odahviing leans his head down towards me.
I pull myself up onto Odahviing and as I do, I cant help but be reminded of the old times. Soaring through the sky in a race against time. But it seems instead of dark clouds and rain, the sun shines bright, as if my Mother is telling me it's a new day. I remember the first time I flew with Odahviing, I remember being excited, scared, and sad, and even now those feelings still stick with me, because even though Alduin's physical form was destroyed, his soul stayed. The five shards were indestructible I managed to hide them in various areas in Skyrim. I even keep one with me everywhere I go. Odahviing starts lowering to the field beside my home. I found this home, it was an abandoned shack, the previous owners left in a hurry, most likely to escape to a more secure location like Solitude.
Odahviing lands with a thud in the ground. I jump down into the fields of yellow brown grass, it crunches as I walk through it towards my house's door. I extend my hand out pushing the door open with a creak. It's dark inside, but just enough light seeps in for me to see the oil lantern on the counter, I ignite it, lighting a portion of the room up allowing me to see. I walk through the house until reaching my room. I take a look around reminiscing about my past adventure with my trio. My old gear lays on the dresser as well as a note. I pick it up and examine it. The tattered paper, the smell of fish could only have come from one person... Chase. I open it almost excited to see what is written.
Its been a long time, and I know you're probably busy
but if you happen to find the time, meet me at the Bannered Mare
in Whiterun... we have to talk.
~Chase
I put on some less dirty clothes, Jeans and a dark green shirt. I throw my long leather coat over it all and walk back outside. Odahviing soars down from the sky and lands in front of me.
"Is there something you require?" Odahviing asks.
"I need to get to Whiterun, apparently Chase wants to meet me," I reply.
"Chase? The one I saved from drowning?" Odahviing says with what can only be described as a smirk.
"Yeah, that's Chase," I reply, nearly laughing at the thought of it.
I climb up onto Odahviing who takes off into the sky. The sunny sky has become gray, and a light rain is now falling.
"You can fly through this, right?" I ask realizing I forget what It's like to fly through a storm.
"I flew through a storm, with three people on my back, while getting attack by Dragons. I think I can handle this," Odahviing replies, a clear sense of over-confidence in his tone.
The storm gets even more dense as we near Whiterun which can only be indicated by lights from DragonsReach. Odahviing starts lowering altitude as we near the city. I remember seeing old paintings of Whiterun, it was a small town, Now it's a reinforced city. Odahviing lands stealthily beside the walls of Whiterun.
"It's best to keep quiet, I'm sure after all thats happened, Whiterun wont be...Krosis, Inviting of my kind," Odahviing says in a hushed tone.
"Alright, I'll call you when I get out," I say while jumping down into the wet grass.
"Understood, Oh and tell Chase the "Dragon" Says hello," Odahviing says while taking off into the sky.
I smirk at the remark. I turn around and start making my way to the front gate. The light rain from earlier has become a downpour, and my once dry coat is now drenched. I walk through the gate popping the hood from my coat up over my head. I walk down the narrow streets of Whiterun, patterns of rain trickle down the stone floors and flow into open gutters. After what seems like an eternity of turning corners and peering through fog I find myself staring at the large wooden sign. The Bannered Mare. I've heard it's quite humble, yet I've never actually been here. I open the creaky doors and walk inside immediately being bombarded by the scent of ale. I peer around the taverns main hall, looking for a head of blond hair, and there he is sitting at a booth alone. I walk up towards him and stand by him, not letting him see me face.
"Hey, you know where I can find a fisher who cant swim?" I say hoping he'll catch on.
"Kasper?" Chase says while turning his head towards me, "Kasper! It's really you!" Chase stands up and greets me with an unexpected hug. I can't deny that me and him are both excited to see each other yet... Something is off.
"It's great to see you! Come, sit." Chase says while sitting back down in his booth.
"What have you been doing these past couple of weeks?" I ask while sitting down in the booth. "So whats up? You seem tense."
"It all started a couple of days ago, I went to visit Avery's grave and... ." Chase replies.
"And what?" I ask.
"I went to the grave and it was open... his body was gone," Chase replies with a evident amount of Sorrow.
"What!... Was there something left behind, Something like this?" I say while showing him the shard.
"No, it was just empty," Chase answers.
"Oh no, oh Shit!" I exclaim.
"What?" Chase replies in a worried tone.
"The day we buried him, I left one of the five shards with his body," I explain.
"Shard? What shards?" Chase replies in a confused demeanor
"When Alduin's physical form was destroyed, his soul was left behind kept within five shards. If those shards all got into the wrong hands..." I explain, pondering what could happen.
"Well, I found this at the grave," Chase replies while handing me what appears to be a piece of red fabric.
The fabric has a dark feel to it, as if being touched by death. It appears to be engraved with symbols I've never seen before. Something about it just feels blatantly evil.
"Whatever this is, It's consumed with dark magic, we need to bring it to someone with some experience in magic." I explain.
Chase Shushes me. I find myself in an awkward confused place. I give him a glare that surprisingly does what I want.
"There's someone in the corner behind me, he has been staring at us this whole time," Chase explains.
"How did you know that?" I ask clearly confused.
"Do you think being a mage is just shooting fireballs? Occasionally you got to be stealthy. There's something about this guy thats... Familiar." Chase replies, his face is in a confused fashion.
Chase and I both stand up, my eyes locked on the shadowy figure. As Chase begins walking the man stands up and starts following our direction. Chase and I start making our way outside, the man follows. We take a series of turns until making it to the back of the Bannered Mare. The man turns the corner and Chase and I tackle him down.
"Who are you!" I shout while pulling his hood back over his head only to be confronted by a familiar face.
"Brenden?" Chase says both happy and confused.
"You mind letting me up?" Brenden says one eyebrow raised.
Brenden pulls himself up off the ground wiping the mud from his cloak, and turning his gaze to me.
"Brenden, why didn't you talk to us in the Bannered Mare?" I ask completely confused.
"Whiterun is no longer a safe location, I had to be absolutely sure it was you two." Brenden replies.
"What do you mean "No longer safe" I ask.
"I've heard rumors of a pair of red mage's who are... experimenting with dark magic." Brenden explains.
"Red mage's? That could be the source of the fabric Kasper." Chase says while turning to me.
"You may be right. Hey Brenden you wouldn't happen to have any idea as to where we need to go do you?" I ask.
"With that I can't help you, but I heard of a guy in Solitude who might be able to help." Brenden explains. "Meet him at the bar, should be easy enough to find,"
"Come with us Brenden," Chase says.
"Well, seeing as how the war's over, why the hell not." Brenden replies. "Let me just get my stuff from the Bannered Mare."
"Alright, we'll be at the gate when you're ready." I say.
Chase and I make it to the main gate and stand there waiting, the rain starting to clear, but even with it gone there's still a fog about.
"So... sort of odd bumping into Brenden hey?" I say.
"Yeah... Just like old times." Chase replies.
"Feels weird... being alive after all this, after all we've seen." I turn my head to Chase.
"Yeah... Either way, I'm glad to be here," Chase replies.
"Glad to have you here," I smile at Chase.
We both look forward to see Brenden walking towards us with a backpack with him. He stops in front of us letting off a overjoyed smirk.
"Awfully cheerful aren't you?" I say.
"Well, my life is for the battle. This adventure is one more thing to conquer!" Brenden says, confidence loud in his voice.
"Now before we exit, you need to meet someone. Please don't freak out." Chase says.
"Yeah keep your cool." I add.
"What, you think I'm going to be scared of some tough guy with a big mace?" Brenden replies.
"Oh you'll find out," Chase says nearly snickering.
We all start walking out into the mornings light. A whole night had past and I hadn't even noticed. We make it to the dark clearing of grass where Odahviing was to meet us. I shine a small light into the sky to signal him, and there he is swooping down from the sky and landing on the ground quiet as light itself. I turn to Brenden to see him stagger back, weapon drawn, He starts running at Odahviing sword ready in hand.
"Wait Brenden no-" I exclaim getting cut of by Brenden.
"I got this one," Brenden shouts, "Die beast!"
He sprints at Odahviing, slashing his sword left and right in an attempt to slice his head. Odahviing dodges his head in the opposite direction of each swing. He then pins Brenden to the ground underneath his wing.
"Stop your shouting and swinging idiot," Odahviing exclaims.
"Don't just stand there Kasper... Chase... Kill it!" Brenden shouts.
"Why is it always... It. If I wanted you dead... You'd be dead." Odahviing replies.
"Brenden... This is Odahviing, I told you to not freak out... what are you doing?" I say.
"Well usually people who kill the lord of dragons don't find them as company!" Brenden yells at me.
"Look Brenden, shouting at us ain't helping, just calm down and you can get back up," Chase says in a almost amused way.
"Like hell I'll befriend a bloody Dragon!" Brenden yells at me once again.
"Do not try my patience, you may be friend to Dovahkiin, but we have never met. Chose your words carefully." Odahviing says in a stern tone.
Brenden stops, takes a breath and looks towards Odahviing's fiery eyes.
"Fine... I... I'm sorry," Brenden says.
Odahviing takes his wing away letting Brenden get to his feet. He wipes mud from his cloak and sheaths his sword. He runs his hand over his short black hair getting the various bits of mud and water out.
"Lets try this again shall we," Odahviing says, "I am Odahviing, winged snow hunter is your tongues meaning,"
"I'm Brenden Frostveins," Brenden says rather casually.
"Now that thats out of the way, Odahviing, we need to get to Solitude," I turn to Odahviing.
"Just like old times Dovahkiin, I can take you all there," Odahviing says while leaning his head down.
"Wait... You seriously aren't suggesting what I think your suggesting," Brenden asks in a worried tone.
Brenden pulls me aside. "I can't get on a Dragons back,"
"You said it yourself, just something new to conquer," I say while patting him on the shoulder, "Beside he wont bite... unless you piss him off,"
I climb up onto Odahviing's neck looking down at my companions.
"Here we are again Odahviing... Facing a dangerous enemy, with friends..." I say
"And I believe the outcome will be the same, our victory!" Odahviing says in a confident tone.
Chase climbs up followed by Brenden who holds onto his back spikes. Odahviing takes off into the sky, and I can't help but feel a doubt in that victory... even after defeating Alduin, I still doubt myself. I beat him because of an army. I'm happy Odahviing is still with me. The night sky has turned into day, and the sun is beating through the thick fog.
"So, who is this guy in solitude then?" Chase asks.
"I met him a while back while helping with some reinforcements in Solitude, met him in the bar. We had a couple drinks and talked. Said something about how he hates spiders... and caves." Brenden says in a fear ridden voice.
"Great, we're meeting an unknown, possibly hostile guy in a bar... Just perfect," I reply.
"Perhaps we can slow down?" Brenden asks.
"Slow? The air is now place for the slow," Odahviing replies laughing at the thought.
I let out a light laugh, I guess after all I've seen, I deserve a laugh. I look down to see the city of Solitude. It's fantastic. I pat the side of Odahviing's neck.
"Take us down." I say.
Odahviing swoops down towards the forests surrounding Solitude, landing in the snow. Brenden quickly jumps down hunching over and puking into the snow. I cringe.
"Despite his bravado for war your comrade is... rather weak," Odahviing says while snickering.
"Oh I'm sorry I haven't ever flown before." Brenden says in his defense.
"The Dovahkiin, who happens to be younger, held himself quite well when he flew first," Odahviing replies.
"Thank you Odahviing," I say.
I jump down into the snow, running my hand over my short brown hair and popping my hood. I turn around to see Chase helping a woozy Brenden stand.
"Will you be alright here Odahviing, I wouldn't want to see a repeat of last time," Chase asks.
"No guards will take me down this time," Odahviing says while taking into the sky.
We all start making our way into the city, It hasn't changed much, the tattered posters of Lauren still hang from the stone walls. The streets still lined with filth, the beggars still accompany the street. Yet even though poverty is extreme here, there's still a sense of hope since the fall of Alduin. We make our way down the street taking turns and moving through narrow halls until finally reaching a bar I've never seen before, from the looks of it new. The Bronze Bear. We enter through the wooden doors, the scent of fresh bread fills my nose and I can't help but water from the mouth. I haven't eaten in a full day and hunger is starting to kick in. Brenden points to someone sitting in a corner booth smoking from a pipe.
"Thats the guy," Brenden says.
We walk towards the booth and as we near the person in black something strikes me as familiar about, as if I'd met this person somewhere previously. He takes off his hood and reveals his face and to my surprise... It's Jaird.