Chapter 1: The Return

AN: this story begins a few months before the Fifth blight.

Brother Genitivi was beyond ecstatic. During his many years of searching for the fabled Urn of Sacred Ashes, he had come across a very old, brittle and very fragile to the touch scroll which mentioned something about a divine being below an ancient tower, the largest and the tallest in fact which was located in Ferelden's own border, Kinloch Hold.

He brought his findings to the chantry and the King of Ferelden, Cailan Therin. The chantry was sceptical but approved of an expedition to find the "divine being" with many believing it to be the burial place of Andraste. Needless to say when word of it spread to the corners of the world many rushed to "get a piece of the pie", Orlais immediately sent people to aid in the expedition along with many members of the chantry and some diplomats, Tervinter surprisingly were quite happy to send aid as well with many of the Chantry and Templars blatantly showing their distrust for them but took the aid as the Tervinter scholars and magisters sent were experts on ancient knowledge and architecture that dated back long before the Imperium and no one knew what they might find, especially since the tower was once property of the Imperium many years ago. The Qunari as well sent an official but did not realize that they might send one of the Arishok with a contingent of Qunari guards and simply saying they were "interested" and nothing more. Cailan not surprisingly quickly volunteered many of his men to aid them as well and sending a letter to Genitivi to send word to him should they find something.

Today was that day, he had earlier sent word to Cailan that they did indeed find something within the tower, far beneath the base of the tower was, a court yard within the tower itself with a large door depicting a symbol of a Dragon. It did not take long for their response. Cailan, Anora and her father Loghain had all arrived with royal guards in tow, as well as a small group of Gray Wardens at Cailan's request.

It had taken many weeks but now with everything prepared the exploration could begin.

Genitivi led the very large group consisting of people from Ferelden, Orlais, Tervinter and Par vollen into a large dug out are with many mining equipment around until they met the opening, on the other side was a large court yard with intricate stone floor and a large door of Dragon guarding the way forward.

"What is this place?" asked Loghain

One of the Magisters spoke up. "From what we could decipher in the oldest known scroll in the Imperium, this is a door way that only be activated by blood, we think."

A templar sneered. "Blood magic, of course that abominable practice follows us with the likes of you here, mage"

"Watch your tongue whelp, it may involve blood but it is not blood magic as we know it, it is different and difficult to explain to your simple minds".

"Enough!" Logain yelled "Save your anger for later, right now I want to know if anything about this place could threaten my country".

"Well said Logain" said Duncan, Commander of the Gray of Ferelden.

"This place gives me the creeps" Whispered Alistair

Once the group approached the door, torches upon the walls lit up eliminating the room and showing just above the door was a large statue of a Dragon with wings spread and staring right at them. Creaking and cracking could be heard as to the astonishment of everyone the statue moved!

"Demon" Cried the Templars and chantry group, everyone prepared for battle. The statue now looked upon the first beings it has seen in a very long time and only moved its head.

"Humans, welcome" it spoke.

A pin drop could be heard, a speaking dragon!

"Incredible" Genitivi whispered and walked forward towards the Dragon while the rest stayed where they are.

"If your Blood be true and the Fire within your heart resides waiting to burn, place your hand upon the pedestal and know the truth of the Dovahkiin!"

As he spoke a pedestal emerged from the ground within the middle of the room.

"What will we find within?" Genitivi asked

Alistair could have sworn the Dragon looked at him when he said, "The truth, his power, your god, all will be found within, should you be of the blood and fire."

Genitivi placed his hand on the pedestal, nothing happened, the Cailan, Anora, Logain, one by one each man and woman placed their hands upon it until finally; Alistair walked towards the Pedestal and he swore the Dragon smirked at him.

He placed his hand upon it and fire erupted around the room panicking the entire party of people, the fire engulfed the walls and blocked the entrance from which they came.

The Dragon roared. "The descendant has come, Kul do faal Dovahkiin! With blood in his veins and a fire within his heart! Know that the dawn of the Ancients has returned!"

The Dragon resumed his position, as if he never moved and the pedestal lowered once more into the ground. Alistair was sweating, 'what had happened' he wondered, he was only vaguely aware of Duncan being in front of him.

"Alistair! Are you alright?"

"I-Im fine, don't worry about me, I just need some cheese" he said weekly.

The large doors slowly opened, Genitivi eagerly walked forward while the rest slowly followed with more than a few with weapons drawn.

The came upon a large room, with the Banners of the Cyrodil Empire perfectly preserved hanging from the walls. Most in the group did not recognize them but one Magister did, Decanis Meridian prided himself a scholar first and a Magister second, and upon seeing the banners he froze. "No, it's impossible, th-this cannot be!?"

"What is it" Calain wondered

"T-Those banners are from a time long before Tervinter, they are ancient, even more so than the times before our empire, not much is known but it is said in the very few references that we have left which say they were mighty enough to cast down gods in those times and fought armies of Demons regularly."

"Impossible" said Greagoir "None can cast down a god, to say such is blasphemy!"

"Oh? And do you have records that say otherwise, templar? Do not speak as if you are wise when you know nothing!"

"Scholar, what have you found?" said an irritated Loghain

Genitivi was currently reading the plaque before them, and behind the plaque was a large rectangular stone with intricate carving surrounding it.

"Magistair Meridian, could you help me translate this? It says, "Het nok Ysmir faal Dovah do faal Brom, Drog ahrk Ulokuun do Taazokaan, In do Vus ahrk laat do faal Dovahkiin. Aal rok praan ko Sovangarde erei rok los faan wah aam lein ont zos"

"Give me a moment" said "Not many study this most ancient of languages, luckily for us, I have."

"It says, Here lies Ysmir the Dragon of the North, Lord and Emperor of Tamriel, Master of Nirn and last of the Dragonborn. May he rest in Sovangarde until he is called to serve the world once more."

Alistair was intruiged but he saw something on the floor before the supposed tomb of this "Ysmir" it looked quite fancy and being a naturally curious man he went and picked it up, as he unfurled the scroll he heard Duncan yell, "Alistair wait!" but it was too late, for in countless millennium an Elder Scroll was read, a blinding light and a massive wave of force knocked everyone off of their feet and sent everyone near to or hitting the walls. They all slowly got up after such a force but all froze when a sound could be heard from the Tomb, as if something was moving!

As soon as it had begun it stopped, the a large armored fist broke though the top of the Tombs coffin itself, made completely of stone! The next punch launched the top of the coffin into a nearby wall and shattered into a thousand pieces.

Weapons were drawn and those whom had none crowded behind those whom did, from within the coffin a large man emerged in what appeared to be armor made entirely of metal and bones, (Dragonbone plate armor and Dragonbone Greatsword), one of the Templar knights broke off from the group and charged the large man, when the templar came close enough Ysmir drew back his hand and punched the silver armored fool in the chest sending him straight back to the large group onto the ground.

"Hold damn you!" Yelled Loghain

Loghain sized the man up, the large man had a large sword on his back and a grey slightly tattered cape, from what he could see he had blonde hair from what was not contained within his helmet.

"Who are you?" Loghain asked

"I am Ysmir, Lord of Tamriel, Emperor of the Empire, and Dovahkiin."

"By the Holy Maker" one of the chantry sisters whispered.

"By you being here and me now amongst the living once again it is safe to assume one of you is my descendant, whom touched the pedestal and the scroll?" Ysmir asked

"I-I did sir" Alistair said

The man looked at him and walked towards him, "Ah, it is wonderful to see my bloodline has survived these many years, tell me what your name is young man?"

"I, well, my name is Alistair, son of none" He said meekly

"Son of none? Do you not know whom your mother or father are?"

"No sir, I only know my mother was a poor maid whom died giving birth to me and my father was some noble whom didn't want anything to do to me." He said with venom in his speech.

Even through the helmet Alistair could tell Ysmir was sad and angry.

"Well this shall be rectified, your mother may be gone from this world and you father is a useless sack of crap not even the Deadra would tolerate, but you opened the door and read the scroll, you are of my blood, you are a descendant of the most ancient of bloodlines, the blood of kings, queens, emperors and empresses flows within your veins, and I would be honoured to call you my son, if you would wish it."

Alistair was shocked, he could not believe any of this, Duncan may be the closest thing to a father he ever had but this, it does not get any closer than this for a family to him.

"I would more than honoured Ysmir; Father."

Ysmir took off his helmet and showed his face to everyone, he had long blonde hair, silver/grey eyes and a few scars upon the sides of his face which only added to his aura of "mighty warrior".

"Then from this point on you are Alistair, son of Ysmir, Crown prince of the Empire of Tamreil!"

/Hello everyone This story idea came to me just a few days ago, no idea if I will continue with it or not, depends on if people like it or not. If you are a follower of my other work however, know that I am coming back to those other stories, my deepest apologies for whatever they are worth./

-Zidran