It had been three hundred and seventy seven days since I had been out of this room, other than going to wash up. The room was always cold, and the stone floor and walls provided no warmth.

The only thing to protect myself from the elements was the rough spun tunic covering my skin and a small fur blanket that didn't reach the ankles. And yet, still a small ember of hope burned within me as I stared out of the small window coated in ice.

I had had no human contact for so long that speaking had become obsolete. There was no one but the walls to hear me, and I had grown tired of their silent answers.

I gently placed my small hand on the glass and shivered at the coldness sweeping through my fingers. All I wanted was to go outside and breathe in fresh air. Oh how I wanted to be outside. I tucked my hand away and turned from the freedom dangling in front of my eyes.

Sitting down on the stone bed, I crossed my legs beneath me and pulled out the only item I had left to keep me sane. Or at least, I hoped I was still sane. Time alone wasn't easy on the mind, and I worried about my mental health often.

The scratch of the quill against the parchment was music to my ears as I wrote down my thoughts for the day. I was running out of space, but I promised myself I would keep writing even if I had to write my story on the wall.

After the small entry was complete, I tucked the tattered journal back underneath the bed before wrapping the fur blanket around myself. Night had fell, and the cold air in the room intensified until my whole body was shivering.

I tucked my legs and arms as close to my body as I could to keep all of my skin covered with the blanket and hoped I survived through the bitter night.

The next morning, I woke to another figure in the room watching me. He was standing in the corner of the room; He was tall. I swallowed hard and backed myself against the wall behind the stone bed.

He seemed to smile at my quivering body and took a few steps towards me. I shook my head no and tried to remember how to speak. The last time I spoke... was the reason I was placed here.

Fear settled into my bones as he sat down on the bed next to me and stared at me with eyes the color of molten gold. His smile grew into a large grin. "What is your name?" he asked.

I looked away from him and stared at the lines on the walls. Was it possible that he already knew my name and knew why I was here? I turned back to see him watching me curiously. I opened my mouth to speak, but the words wouldn't come out.

"Ah, so you're mute now."

Anger suddenly swelled within me, and I opened my mouth again, trying to make the words spew out. I wanted to say so many things to this arrogant man, but I was speechless. I clenched my jaw shut tightly and stared at him.

He laughed. "I did not mean to upset you," he said calmly. He had a beautiful voice, and I wanted to hear him speak more. "It was merely an observation."

I nodded and pulled my knees into my chest before resting my head against them. The room was silent for a few minutes before he moved again. I looked up to see him pacing the small space.

My head tilted to the side as I tried to think of what he was doing. Is he going to kill me? Help me? Torture me? My body trembled, and I looked away from the man invading my private space.

"Let's try again," he said, and I looked at him with wide eyes. "Try to tell me your name. Don't force it. Keep yourself calm. It will come back to you."

I rolled my eyes at him openly. This man didn't know what he was speaking of, and annoyance began to settle within me. But I did as he said. I concentrated on my breathing and willed myself to be calm.

"My name is..." Was that my own voice? I looked at him with wide eyes. I was in disbelief. I could speak. I can speak. "My name is Ori-" I tried to push out the remainder of my name, but it wouldn't come.

"Breathe," he said gently and sat down on the bed beside of me.

I looked into his bright eyes and steadied my breathing. "My name is Orion," I said softly. My voice was foreign to my ears. I had forgotten what it had sounded like.

He smiled at me, and a smile spread across my lips as well. "Pleasure to meet you, Orion," he spoke with a warmth flowing through his words. "I am Miraak."

Miraak? Had I heard that name before? My smile instantly diminished, and I narrowed my eyes at him. This man was no simple stranger. "You're a dragon priest," I whispered, giving voice to my suspicions.

"Yes. I am."

I swallowed the large lump forming in my throat and sucked in a deep breath. Be calm. "Are you going to kill me? Is that why you're here?" I questioned.

"No," he answered simply and stood from the bed.

The door to my solitary room swung open wide, and a fully armed dragon priest stepped into view. "Miraak," the other man said slowly. "Bring her to the throne room."

I watched as Miraak nodded at the man, and the other dragon priest zoomed out of the room. I risked a glance at Miraak, and his molten eyes had turned cold. There was no warmth present in them.

He took me by the hand, and I followed him willingly, not wanting to start something I couldn't finish. I could barely speak now. I didn't think I would be able to shout yet. I would get my chance soon. I needed to wait and be patient.

As soon as we stepped through the throne room, I was shoved to stone floor and onto my knees. I grunted in pain, but I kept my head down. There was at least ten soldiers in this room, and I knew there was no way I could face them all. I was going to die. My breathing quickened as my heart began to pound thunderously.

"Look at me, girl," the dragon priest sitting in the throne snapped. "I would like to look upon your face."

Biting my cheek to keep my mouth shut, I leveled my gaze with his, trying to portray the anger pulsating throughout my body.

"Ah, good. So you listen," he said and crossed his legs. "My name is Morokei, and I've heard many things about you. Can you absorb a dragon's soul?"

I froze. I didn't know what to do or say. Out of the corner of my eye, I glanced at Miraak, and he stood still, not even looking my way. I swallowed the bile rising in my throat and let out a shaky breath. "I can."

Miraak made a small coughing noise as he looked down upon me. Something flashed in his eyes, but it was gone as fast as it had came. I looked away from him and faced the masked Morokei.

Morokei rested his hand beneath his chin and leaned forward. "And what will you do with this power, girl?"

"I," I paused and coughed, clearing my throat. Breathe. "I didn't mean any harm. The dragon swooped in and attacked my family. I only meant to shout to scare it away. I hadn't meant to cause any harm, and I didn't think I could bring down a dragon with just a few words."

Morokei shot up from his throne and wrapped his hand tightly around my neck. I clawed at his gloved hands to no avail, struggling to breathe. "Your voice slayed that dragon?" His grip tightened, and black spots began to cloud my vision.

I tore at his hands harder trying to free his grip if only enough to get a brief second of air. The tightness in my chest was becoming unbearable. I nodded at his question hoping it would be enough.

His grip loosened before slackening completely, and I gulped in air greedily, trying to fill my body with the precious oxygen. "What shall we do with you?" Morokei turned to Miraak and gave a sharp nod. "Take her to your temple and keep an eye on her while I decide what to do."

Miraak said nothing and grabbed my arm and drug me up to my feet and pulled me down the winding halls quickly. "Do not speak," he whispered.

Once we were safely tucked away into the cabin of a ship and had plates of food in front of us, Miraak stared at me. "Orion," he said. "You're not the only dragonborn."

All of the air inside of my lungs rushed out, and I felt as if I couldn't breathe again. Could this be true? Was I not alone? I sputtered and coughed, trying to regain my breaths and calm myself. I met Miraak's golden gaze, pleased to see his amber eyes were once again a warm, molten gold.

"I'm not?"

He smiled a beautiful smile, and I finally realized just how handsome the dragon priest was. "You are not." He ate a few small bites of meat before looking over at me again. "I am the other."