in which Naelin writes a letter home to her brother, Filgan, before she sets off to High Hrothgar to meet with the Greybeards.
Sundas, 11th of Rain's Hand, 4E201
Dear brother,
Hey, Fil. I'm sorry its been so long, been on the move a lot lately. I know I said I'd write more, but we both know how bad I am at remembering to keep up with this. I've got no real excuse, not going to lie.
I'm glad you and mother are doing alright, but she really needs to get her act together. She's running the two of you into the ground, and like always it has to be you who picks up the slack. She's lucky you're so good at what you do, and keeping you two afloat, otherwise we'd all be in a pretty shitty place. Tell her I said to get her ass in gear.
And hey, say hi to everyone for me? I'm really missing you bunch right now. I'm lucky I have Fralia, the old woman who's giving me a place to stay for the time being – I'm really in need of someone to lean on right now. I'll get to that in a moment. Oh yeah, I'm staying in Whiterun at the moment, but by the time you get this who knows where I'll be.
And heeyyy, how are you and Miltha getting along, hmm? Since it's been a while since you wrote me I'm going to assume you actually made a move by now. I want details, mister.
But, there's another reason I finally decided to write back – other than just keeping in touch, of course. You're not going to believe me, I'm sure.
Dragons, Fil. I'm sure the rumors have spread by now, and you're thinking it's impossible and just made up but no, it's real, Fil. I was there, I saw it myself. They're huge and terrifying and can level entire towns. One already did, and that one looked like hell itself. Damn near got myself killed. Twice. Don't freak out.
We don't know how, we don't know how many, but they're back. I thought it was just a legend. We all did. I'd lose my shit over this if it weren't so horrifying. But somehow this shitstorm is even worse than that – I'm involved in this. And I don't mean I'm responsible, hell no. They keep popping up where I am – it's already happened twice. You could say it's coincidence, and I damn well want to, but it sure as hell doesn't feel like it. And after what happened recently…
I killed one, Fil. Well, not just me, but that doesn't matter. The… the life-force, the soul… I felt something. There was blue light and the body burned to ashes right in front of me, and the light came straight for me – it went into me. I nearly dropped dead on the spot out of shock. Then something echos across the sky, yelling "Dovahkiin" so loud it almost felt like it came from inside my head. I know, right?
The Jarl says it's the Greybeards. Dragon Tongue speakers. Says they called for me across the land, from High Hrothgar. All the guards are calling me "Dragonborn." I feel almost sick writing this. I don't know what any of this means, but I'm scared. Something huge is going on and I feel like I've somehow been thrown into the middle of it.
I'm setting out for Ivarstead tomorrow, then to High Hrothgar. Jarl says I have to, and I can't exactly say 'no' to the man ruling the city I'm living in currently – and I can't leave this alone, either. This is too much for me to ignore, and it might help explain the thrumming in my head and whatever the hell happened a few days ago. Maybe it has to do with that damn wall I found in the old Barrow…
Don't ask about that. Explored a ruin, found a wall with some weird language on it, same weird blue light. My head was killing me for hours afterward. That asshole dunmer I found in there wasn't much help either. Don't ask about that either.
I know this is a lot to take in, believe me, but maybe don't tell the others about this for now. It doesn't make much sense to anyone on my end (not that I've met yet), don't go yammering to everyone about how your sister is being possessed by dragons or something.
I think I'll have to start writing back more, and I mean it this time. I have a feeling things are about to get real crazy for me… And I know it's too much to ask of you, but don't get too worried over me. Even though I just gave you a ton to worry about. Stuff that I'm worrying about. But don't go nuts if I don't write back in a while or take a lot of time. Cause I do that a lot anyway, but I think I'm gonna have a lot to take in pretty soon. I'm gonna need time. Time that I'm likely not gonna have.
Listen to me, sounding all deep for a second there. Seriously, I'll be fine. Keep mother on her feet, and keep your head on straight. I'll write if anything big happens again.
Take care,
Naelin.
*authors note: again, the dunmer she refers to is my OC Drelas, whom Naelin meets during her ransacking of Bleakfalls, a few weeks after she denies the quest to retrieve the Dragonstone - not Arvel the Swift, who has the Golden Claw. though, this may be retconned later due to me reworking some things atm.