OPENING

I decided to write something a little different for Alduin as opposed to Dragonbane. I'll be working on both stories, enjoy! :)

Eyes like starlight, he liked starlight.

Mortals confused Alduin. Everything from their mortal behaviors to their mortality, it made him sick even thinking about it. They were like bugs beneath rocks and Nirn was infested with them, always skittering about here and there. Often he would sneer at them, they would give him a curious if not confused look when they would catch his eye, and in some ways he couldn't quite fathom why they existed at all. A lot of the time he refused to even acknowledge them, they had no problem overlooking him either really. But that's where things got weird though for they needed to be in awe and he was to do the ignoring, not them turning a blind eye as if he were nothing. A lot of the time he would become more infuriated than need be because of this and the blood would boil in his veins when they did.

Mortals.

But there was the one, the Dragonborn. She was to blame for this mess that he was in and yet he couldn't condemn her, not quite. When he was mad, his blood fiery and his heart aflame, it was she who would calm him. It was like her fingers touched the boiling blood, caught his soul between her fingers, and often he wouldn't remember his anger when her words soothed him. He used to be called The World-Eater, Akatosh's first born and prize and had the form of his father's divine will. And yet... here he was, mortal and because of her and he couldn't blame her no matter how much it angered him. It was easier to pin the responsibility on Akatosh and his father's other creations, not the Dovahkiin. It was their fault and he would make them pay.

But for now he sat in the dark room, the sounds of the tavern below driving him insane. In another time and in another life he would have gladly burned the whole entire city to the ground. He would have brought the people to their knees and loved every waking second of their distress as their city burned and they cried for mercy. Those days were gone though, there was a feeling in his heart that made his fingers tighten with anger at the very thought, never again would he fly and never again would he be his father's prize. Instead he was stuck being pale flesh and clipped of any flight, the truest form of monstrosity. The Dragonborn said it was retribution for being prideful and though he didn't like to hear it, Alduin liked to fancy himself as reasonable. The Dragonborn, as much as he often didn't like to think of it, was usually the thing that made the most sense within this chaos.

"Hey," Alduin heard then, the sound of the door creaking shut as the dark-haired creature wandered in. Her eyes, bright and silvery, stared at him through the moonlight that poured in through the window. The dark of her features glowed, the once-dragon found his heart pounding. Mortal feelings and mortal reactions made him grimace as she drew closer. "Are you feeling alright? You look ill."

Rubies, his eyes were like rubies and they glowed with a certain discontent. From the doorway the Imperial watched as her companion rose from his seat and wandered about the tiny room like a caged animal. He paced and his heart raced, to what word could he put to this feeling? His feet upon the worn floorboards were heavy and the Dragonborn found herself feeling bad for him, World-Eater or not. The reason for his human form was something she could not explain and when it had happened she couldn't help but to feel for him. Sovngarde rejected him that night, his dragon scales burned away into flesh and there he was, cold and shaking. There was a feeling that reminded the woman of her own father not wanting her just as Alduin's didn't want him. More than just souls, they were certain aspects that mirrored the two.

"This feeling, feelings," the man said with an almost gritty tone. "they are infuriating."

With a poised curiosity the Imperial gave him a turn of her head. "What feelings? Hunger or?"

The human Alduin quickly stopped his pacing and gave her a dark look, something akin to annoyance. "No, not hunger. I know what that feeling is."

The woman looked downward and found herself wondering what his problem was. Understandably there was a lot that he was confused about, even more so angry over, but in truth these emotions of his were just amplified since being mortal. Alduin was always an angry sort and though he hadn't done anything irrational or even too violent, there was always a chance that this volatile behavior was bound to take a turn for the worst. And though not scared of him, the Imperial feared that he might take a particular turn for the worst considering he had just barely accepted being human. It wasn't that long ago that the two had returned from the afterlife, both truly changed since going in.

"Then what is it?" she asked then after just a moment of silence. The World-Eater gave a deep sigh and his shoulders rolled with a certain anger as he wandered towards her. Beneath their feet the inn roared with a certain life as the people drank their cares and worries away. Their life and laughter broke the silence that lingered between the large male and the shorter Imperial, his height much greater than hers considering she only came to his shoulders. The look in his eyes appeared mystified and mildly sad, the Dragonborn feeling her heart become restless with the close contact that ebbed between the two like water on a sandy shore. There was a breath-caught lump in her throat as he motioned to his chest.

"There is a heaviness that I get when I think of being mortal, right here." Beneath his fingers he motioned to his heart. The Dragonborn let her eyes linger upon his chest for a moment before returning his eye, the silver dancing with the red of Alduin's as the thought settled in. For all the might and strength that he was, for all the pain and anger that he inflicted, he felt things that wasn't just born of his birthright. He felt more than wanting death and obedience, he felt true human feelings and it was just as confusing to him as it was to her. They stared one another in the eye and the far off sound of life made for a curious background noise.

"That would be grief, Alduin," she said through dark, supple lips that were sweet although they spoke sadness. "that's what happens when you miss something."

It was Alduin's turn to let his eyes fall then. To his side his arm returned, fingers balled into a fist, and though appearing to contemplate her words there was a certain air of woe that twisted his sharp features. There was a recollection of animosity that she remembered seeing the first time when he stood up human legs, it made his face resemble a bear or wolf when he looked at her that night. It wasn't that long ago but Alduin seemed to have settled since then. And though perhaps accepting his fate, he wasn't ready to stop finding a way to correct it.

The man then found himself reaching for her fingers. At first the woman was unsure of what he was doing and though she initially tensed, the moment their fingertips met there was a feeling that settled upon her heart. Their heartbeats were one in the same and a silence lingered like a kiss upon her neck as they stood there in the moonlight. Softness, she could feel his heart and it reminded her warm blankets on a cold night.

"I do not understand this feeling either," Alduin said with a quiet, unsure whisper. "what is this?"

Words, there were no words that the Dragonborn could give him for this. Or at least, not words that she could explain without confusing herself in the process. They were mortal enemies before he was human, she was supposed to kill him and put an end to the World-Eater, not stand in a dark room where moonlight cast strangeness upon an even stranger union. Somewhere out there Akatosh was laughing at them for this, she knew that much. It was a curious thing and it made roses form upon her cheeks with a rising temperature. "That's nothing." she said then, taking her fingers away from his then and her palms became cold. "Don't think too much about it."

Alduin's brows furrowed at the thought and though lacking a proper answer he accepted it. The feeling lingered in her heart though just as the red of her cheeks remained. All the Divines must have been laughing at this point, not just Akatosh.

It was then the Dragonborn found herself pushing passed the man and headed towards the bed, kicking off her boots in the process. It had been a long day of travelling and though Falkreath was ultimately not her first choice to stay, there wasn't much to having other options. And in truth she was surprised by the amount of life that the people of the sullen town had. They were loud and rowdy, it made her almost wish that they were as quiet as they portrayed themselves so she could get some rest. But alas, there was no rest for the wicked.

Sitting at the edge of the bed, the Dragonborn could feel her weary heart begin to long for the warm sheets. The long slender fingers wrapped around the wool, a soft sigh escaping her lips. Alduin turned to face his companion and he watched as she did her ritual. For the nights they had spent together they shared the bed, back to back and uncomfortable. A lot of the time he wondered why the lack of two beds was a reoccurring thing but she explained that there was a certain lack of money in her life. Which was even more of a curious thing considering those around her were eager to pay her for even the most minuscule things. Where all that gold went was beyond him but mortal logic was stupid logic, of course, so it really didn't matter.

"Move over then." Alduin said as he went toward the bed. The girl acknowledged his request and she scooted closely towards the wall, her heart thumping a little harder than she intended as his weight settled upon the wooden frame. Her eyes stared at the wood of the wall and her fingers found a cold spot beneath the pillow, thoughts drifting as her eyes closed. Seconds past but it felt like an eternity as he delayed his own laying on the bed. The sounds of life continued, her cheeks were still flushed, and her heart was still like a drum. Oh, how she felt like she was going to war when she was just going to bed.

"I don't fit this body," he said and it drew the girl from her thoughts. "I'm not meant to be mortal."

"I know," she responded without even a pause. "but we will find a way to turn you back."

It was crazy to say that but there was a wistfulness to him that made her words become a promise. To see such a once-proud creature so lost made her feel sorry for him, sorry like a lover felt for their beloved. In truth his loss of purpose made her lose hers for a Dragonborn with no Dragon was like a bird without air. Starlight eyes stared into the darkness and she concentrated upon the feeling in her heart; she would make him a dragon once again, for the both of them.

"I don't know how much I believe that but... alright." He responded as he shuffled to get comfortable. The feeling of their bodies so close made her sleepy, the feeling of a long days walk catching up with her. One breath, two breath, three... her heart slowed and her eyes closed, mind drifting elsewhere as sleep took hold of her. Far beyond in the darkness something spoke to her, it was slick and almost sickening. Lately her dreams made her restless, words spoke to her that she couldn't remember in the morning.

Except one, it slithered in the dark and bit at her like a snake in the grass... Miraak.