Summary:

It is now the late Fifth Era, and almost a thousand years have passed since Alduin's defeat; the last few surviving dragons had been hunted, killed and nests destroyed, by the Blades and others. Paathurnax and Odahviing have vanished, and not even the Greybeards know where they have gone. The Thieves Guild has regained its luck; there are whispers that the Dark Brotherhood survived – stronger than ever – despite being almost completely wiped out by the Penitus Oculatus. The Stormcloaks had been defeated by the Empire, but still a few scattered raids on Imperial camps are planned and executed with terrible accuracy by Ulfric Stormcloak's descendants. Many are already forgetting the ancient Nord legend of the Thu'um, the Dragonborn who had wielded it; and the Thalmor are taking most of the credit for the slaying of the World-Eater, saying this Dragonborn had been an agent of theirs, carefully shaped and trained to destroy the threat – assuming, of course, that someone had done enough digging or lived long enough to remember the tale of the Dragonborn.

But, when Alduin died, his spirit travelled to Hircine's Hunting Grounds: a radical group of werewolves – hidden from even the Companions – have found a way to bring him back, and are doing everything in their power to do just that – believing they can harness his power for their own use, to produce a supreme group to rule the world and end the Aldemeri Dominion: a group comprised of only werewolves. And this time, saving the world doesn't fall on the shoulders of a single mortal of a single race and creed: but on many, from all walks of Tamriel – the good, the bad, the ugly and the beautiful.


The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Fanfiction

Disclaimer:

I do not own Skyrim or any of the NPCs, Quests or game dialog. The rest of the characters are mine. Enjoy and please review!

Prologue: The End of an Age

4E205

Thonro roared at the great, black dragon just as loud as the beast when ebony claws ripped right through his armor. "Krii, lun AUS!" he bellowed, grimly satisfied when the dragon screeched in pain. His companions closed in, and he recognized the long blonde hair belonging to Gormlaith Golden-Hilt as she stormed past, screaming fiercely as she threw her sword arm down on the dragon's wing tip.

Alduin screeched in rage and pain, swinging his head around to snap at the shield-maiden.

"Joor, zah FRUL!" Thonro roared back, grimly pleased when Alduin's maw turned to the sky as the dragon's screech turned to whine. Mortality truly is devastating, Thonro thought, following after Gormlaith and swinging down Dragonbane, pleased with the 'thud' and 'squelch' and singing blade as he hacked off the wing Gormlaith had attacked. Alduin snarled and screeched, rising on his powerful legs to turn. His tail whipped out at them, flinging them away from the dragon.

Gormlaith landed on Thonro with a groan, her ancient greatsword flying out of her hands. "Sorry, Dragonborn," she gasped, heaving herself upright.
Thonro grunted when her armor dug into his ebony armor, and he rolled upright, looking for Dragonbane. He found it a little ways off, running towards it to join Ysgramor and Tsun in attacking Alduin. The World-Eater was earth-bound now that he only had one wing, but the dragon's fury was no less.

If anything, it had doubled.

"Joorre, zu'u fen krii hi pah! Zu'u fen du lein! Du Keizaal!" Alduin roared, lifting his maw to the sky. "Strun, qo BAH!"

"Lok, vah KOOR!" the Tongues shouted, and Felldir added, "Joor, zah FRUL!"

Alduin was proving more difficult to fell than they had anticipated.

"Yol, toor SHUL!" Thonro felt the heat of the flames as he breathed out, engulfing the World-Eater for a short moment. He buried Dragonbane in the World-Eater's shoulder, only to have the dragon bite into him, crushing and piercing his armor. Thonro roared in pain, dimly hearing Gormlaith and Hakon call his name. He snarled in pain, grasping tightly to his blade as Alduin pulled him away, gathering his strength to drive the sword into the dragon's neck, behind the jaw. Alduin writhed, shaking Thonro and flung him to one side.

The Tongues and Tsun gathered around the World-Eater, seizing the chance Thonro had opened. He was dimly aware of the World-Eater shrieking, and the sound of four Voices uniting against the dragon. Thonro shut his eyes against the pain, desperately wanting to get away from the pain, but unable to move. "No, Alduin!" Hakon roared, the sound of a weapon being tossed against rock ringing through Sovngarde. "Godsdammit, Thonro was right!"

A shadow hovered near Thonro, and he opened his eyes.

"Dragonborn, your time is near," Tsun knelt beside the Nord, gently placing a hand on his shoulder. The pain subsided almost immediately. "It is best if you remain within Sovngarde –"
"I cannot," Thonro huffed out. "I promised – promised her I – I –" Thonro heaved a breath against the pain. "I promised her I would return. I have to go back for her."

Tsun's face turned sombre. "Very well, Friend, Dragonborn. You shall be welcomed into Sovngarde with open arms, and you will join us in Shor's Hall. Return now, to the One Who Waits for You. Nahl, daal VUS!"


The sudden change from warm, soft soil to cold, wet snow jarred Thonro, and it took him a while to realise he was at the peak of the Throat of the World.

"Thonro!"

He turned sluggishly to the sound of his woman's panicked voice calling his name. "Aela…" he breathed with a smile. His green-eyed huntress looked so perfect, her loose red hair fighting for a life of its own, her hunting paint streaked and distorted by the cold and tears. She fell to her knees in the snow beside him, her hands hovering over his chest, unsure as to where she should apply pressure. "Oh, Shor help me…."
Thonro chuckled despite himself. "He already has, Aela. There's not much more he can do for me." He lifted his hand slowly, gently touching and caressing her face. She clasped his hand to her cheek, squeezing her eyes shut against tears. "Aela, there is something I must tell you, and time is short."
"No, you'll live through this, you stubborn oaf, I –"
"Aela," he interrupted gently. He didn't feel the burning ache anymore…. She fell silent, her brow furrowed, first in denial, and now in frustration at his stubbornness. "Aela, listen carefully. Alduin is not dead. I don't think he can be killed," he smiled gently at Aela, hoping to ease away the frown she wore on her face. "But I also believe it should be fairly difficult for him to return here – I believe he may have been forced to a Daedric Prince's realm. Which one, I do not know. But I do not believe he will be free to leave as he wishes."
A harsh gust of wind followed by a thud announced the arrival of a dragon. Aela turned to look, and her face lit up with hope as she barked, "Odahviing! Fetch one of the Greybeards! NOW!" she glanced back at Thonro, touching his face gingerly. "There's still time!"
"Geh, lokaliin do Dovahkiin," he hummed, rising and beating his wings against the gale around the Throat of the World.
"Aela…."
"No, you stubborn idiot. You listen to me, no –"
"Aela, promise me you will tell the right people about this when the time comes, promise me!"
Her eyes widened, and she quickly nodded. I promise, Thonro. I swear on the Nine and Hircine, that I will tell those who must know when the time comes."
Thonro closed his eyes. The fight had been so long…. But he forced them open to look at her. "You will also need to give these people the journal I left in Jorvaskr, and tell them, that they will need to find another fourteen journals, scattered throughout Skyrim, before they will be able to stop Alduin for a second time. I separ-separated them that none can use the information to its counter: bringing Alduin back," he shuddered as he breathed in, finding a weight settle on his chest.

Aela snorted, shaking her head with a small smile and brushing his blonde hair away from his face, her fingers tracing the spiral tattoo on his face. "If this is your idea of keeping a promise, Thonro, a promise that you will return to me alive and well, then we need to redefine that." Thonro smiled, a brief, low chuckle escaping him when Aela managed an honest smile as well. He dragged his thumb over her cheek, grateful she still held his hand to her face. "I will do as you ask, Thonro."

"Thank you, Aela," he smiled, turning his head to kiss the palm of her hand.

"Dovahkiin!" voices chorused, with Odahviing landing nearby. Arngeir leapt off the dragon, stumbling through the thick snow before hurrying over to Thonro.

Thonro turned back to his lover. "Aela, I love you."
Her chin quivered as she fought back tears. "You stubborn, bear of a Nord. You'll be here for a long time still."

"I will do what I can to save you, Thonro," Arngeir knelt in the snow.

"I want you live a long, and happy life, Aela – find someone to love, who can be there for you in ways I wasn't, and can't be," Thonro murmured, pulling his hand away from her face, hoping she would hear him above the howling winds.
"Don't be a fool, Thonro," she started, her voice breaking and her eyes brimming with tears. "You have to stay – you can't just leave me here, by myself. Thonro!"

Aela grasped his shoulders, shaking him, ignoring the tears that fell onto her cheeks. "Thonro? Thonro!" she turned on the Greybeard, snarling at him "Don't just sit there! Do something! Bring him back!"
"I'm afraid there is nothing more I can do, Child. He is no longer among the living," Arngeir reached out to squeeze her shoulder.

"Lok, Thu'um, Dovahkiin," Paarthurnax hummed sadly, moving closer to shelter the two mortals from the gale.
"Pruzah wundunne," Odahviing added.

Aela pressed her face to Thonro's chest, grief crashing over her as she cried.


Most of Skyrim had attended the week-long funeral, held at High Hrothgar. The civil war had been put on hold, factions with petty arguments and any infighting was forgotten in the wake of the Dragonborn's death. Even one of the Thalmor had made the effort to send the finest quality Elven greatsword and battle axe to be buried with Thonro. Aela suspected it was that one Justiciar Thonro had called a friend….

Jarl Ulfric had walked to Thonro's body beside General Tullius, Galmar and Legate Rikke stood side by side to pay their respects; Hold Guards and thieves, suspected assassins and Penitus Oculatus agents, Companions and Mages, the Blades and even a few of the Forsworn had all gathered, united as one with the death of Skyrim's greatest hero. The ceremony was nothing special, presided over by the Greybeards and one of each of the Eight Divines' priests, Heimskr there as an honorary member to avoid the Thalmor's gaze.

Elisif had made many of the arrangements concerning travel from the many Holds, and offered Aela a consoling smile and embrace when she passed the huntress.

Farkas stood beside Aela throughout the ceremony, and when her shoulders shook, he placed a large hand on her shoulder, offering a comforting squeeze.

Thonro was interred as a High King, and Paarthurnax and Odahviing had helped erect a Word Wall for him at the peak of the Throat of the World, where Thonro was laid to rest. Few stayed behind in the monastery when Thonro was moved; those who braved the elements watched the dragons gathered at the peak give their own ceremony to honor the fallen Dovahkiin.

Their Thu'um could be heard throughout Skyrim:

"Aaz hah so! Lok, thu'um! Dovahkiin! Pruzah wundunne! Drem, Dovahkiin!"


Aela was named Harbinger of the Companions several months later, when Kodlak Whitemane died, and Farkas became her second.

The huntress never married, never bore children. And only on her dying day, did she tell her successor of Thonro, and his journals, and what must be done should the World-Eater return. And when she awoke again in Hircine's Hunting Grounds, she cursed her beastblood for keeping her from Sovngarde.


5E798, Temple of Miraak, Solstheim

The Dunmer werewolf hunched over a Black Book, the ethereal green and brown-black tendrils holding him in place while he wandered through Apocrypha, the realm of Hermaeus Mora, Daedric Prince of Fate, Time and Secrets.

With a gasp, he returned to his body, the tendrils slowly releasing him. So, Alduin was a dragon, and was real, and there is indeed a way to bring him back, after the World-Eater escaped to Hircine's Hunting Grounds, trapped there by the Prince of the Hunt. Perhaps it is time our plan be acted upon, perhaps it is time I gathered the knowledge I need to fulfil the desire of the pack….

The Dunmer raised his head in time to see a great abyss open before him. "I am yours to command, Lord Hermaeus Mora, I swear fealty to you, that I may grow my knowledge and add to yours."

I… accept your fealty…. Mortal, the slow, deep voice of the Prince echoed through his mind.

The Dunmer smiled.


_oOo_

Krii, lun AUS - Kill, Leech, Suffer (Marked for Death Shout)

Joor, zah FRUL - Mortal, Finite, Temporary (Dragonrend Shout)

Joorre, zu'u fen krii hi pah! Zu'u fen du lein! Du Keizaal! - Mortals, I will kill you all! I will devour the world! Devour Skyrim!

Strun, qo BAH - Storm, Wrath, Lightning (Storm Call Shout)

Lok, vah KOOR - Sky, Spring, Summer (Clear Skies Shout)

Yol, toor SHUL - Fire, Inferno, Sun (Fire Breath Shout)

Nahl, daal VUS - Living, Return, Nirn (Tsun's Shout)

Geh, lokaliin do Dovahkiin - Yes, lover of the Dragonborn

Lok, Thu'um, Dovahkiin - Sky above, Voice within (Farewell), Dragonborn

Pruzah wundunne - Good travels (Farewell)

Aaz hah so! Lok, thu'um! Dovahkiin! Pruzah wundunne! Drem, Dovahkiin! - Mercy, Mind, Sorrow (expression of sorrow (courtesy of Thuum . org)! Sky above, Voice within! Dragonborn! Good travels! Peace, Dragonborn