Eriah stood in Dragonsreach. Before her, locked in a special yoke, was a red dragon. The two were sizing each other up. The dragon's name? Odahviing. He did not seem at all bothered by his predicament, though he was a bit uneasy about being trapped in the same position as Numinex, a dragon long dead and whose skull adored the wall above the Jarl's throne. He had just gotten done explaining to Eriah where Alduin, who had retreated after a small battle at the summit of the Throat of the World, had gone and where the portal to Sovngarde was. It was at an ancient temple called Skuldafn and there was no way to reach it on foot. Eriah's only choice was to set Odahviing free so he could fly her there. There was no way she could ever ask her mentor, Paarthurnax, to do the job. She respected him way too much. Even if he were willing, time was against her. The longer she dawdled, the more souls Alduin would eat to recoup his strength and return to take another shot at her like he had done three times already. The black dragon had tried to kill her twice in Helgen and in the previous battle on the Throat's summit. Eriah was determined that Sovngarde would be the final time. The World-Eater was going down once and for all.
The Dragonborn stepped away to hold counsel with Balgruuf as Farengar Secret-Fire, eager and excited that they had a living dragon captive, approached. "I don't like it. After all the trouble we went through to trap that thing in my palace, he's asking to be set free." Balgruuf said. Eriah crossed her arms and closed her eyes. "What choice do we have, my lord? Skuldafn is inaccessible any other way and there is no Shout in existence that can give me wings. Odahviing doubts Alduin's lordship, as are some other dragons. That's a good sign. My master with the Greybeards knew, as I do now, that the dragon at our backs is my only shot at reaching him. He's taught me much about the dragons. They're more than simple beasts. They have a culture and free will. Even they can rebel. If the red one here is being honest...and I'm inclined to believe him...then getting rid of Alduin benefits more than just us mortals." Eriah explained. Balgruuf gave her a look that said he was hard-pressed to believe her. "You and your master are a special kind of insane. Even if you stop the World-Eater, that won't stop the dragons from attacking innocent people." he said.
"You're right but I already have something of a reputation among the dragons and if I defeat Alduin, they will come to respect my Thu'um. They already fear me because of what I am. Taking out their lord will cement that more permanently. Dragons follow the strongest and with Alduin out of the picture, my master will be free to bend them to his way of life." the Dragonborn countered. A sudden Shout made them look over their shoulders to see Odahviing spewing fire at the stone wall in front of him and sending the court wizard fleeing. Eriah just blinked for a moment before laughing. While she and Balgruuf had been talking, they could hear Farengar state his intentions at getting some samples from the dragon and apparently, Odahviing got spooked. The red dragon gave her a sour look. Balgruuf sighed before commanding her attention again. "Your master sounds like he could be a dragon himself. I'm still not convinced letting this beast go." he said. Paarthurnax being a dragon was a tightly guarded secret so Eriah deflected his suspicion. "Again, we have little choice. If we dally any longer, we're just giving Alduin time to recoup from our battle on the Throat's summit. I'm taking the fight to him this time and I need Odahviing to do it." she said.
The Jarl rubbed his face before he relented. "Have it your way, Dragonborn, but on your head be it. If he goes on a rampage, you will have to deal with him." he said. "Don't worry. I'm attempting an alliance but that doesn't mean I trust him. I'll take care of him if he tries anything." she said. She approached the trapped Odahviing. "So, what does the Dragonborn decide?" he asked. "We'll free you but you will keep up your end of the bargain to take me to Skuldafn. If you turn on me, you will regret it." she warned. The red dragon chuckled, shifting a little. "Our alliance is based on the single fact that Alduin is no longer fit to rule. A dovah does not run from a fight with another dovah. He must either fight to the death or submit to his better. Though you used that infernal Shout to ground me and then trapped me in the manner Numinex was held captive, I concede that you are my better. Know this, joor: if you prove your Thu'um to be stronger than Alduin's, then I will acknowledge you as Dovah." Odahviing swore. Eriah could trust an oath like that. Language was important to the dov. Such things were not spoken lightly. If she managed to retain his service after the final battle, should she survive it, then she had just gained a powerful ally.
"Set him free." she told the Whiterun guard on the second level. "If you're sure..." the guard said before flipping the lever. With a crack, the yolk opened and rose to the ceiling. Odaving stretched his head high and under the watchful eye of the Dragonborn, turned around to head to the balcony outside where he stood waiting. "Good luck, Dragonborn." Balgruuf said as they followed him out. "Thank you, my lord. I will return." she promised. She looked at her ride and he turned his head to face her. "Climb on. Once you've seen the world as a dovah can, you will envy us all the more." he said. Eriah smiled, in spite of herself, at his lighthearted jab. It was easy to forget that he was Alduin's lieutenant. She took a hold of a couple spikes on his neck and mounted him, sitting just behind his head and grasping his horns. "Hang on or the takeoff may unseat you. I, for one, have no desire to see you die from a fall after that humiliating capture." he said. Eriah did as he said and the red dragon rose up on his hind legs, pumping his wings and taking to the sky. The Dragonborn held on tightly and after the initial fear of being up so high wore off, she felt a rush in her blood as if the sky was where she was meant to be. Odahviing turned east towards Eastmarch, picking up speed. Eriah adjusted herself on his neck, keeping a tight grip on his horns. She then allowed her mind to wander.
After a bit, Odahviing started descending. The Dragonborn watched as a Nordic ruin rose up from the surrounding mountains. The red dragon came to land in a small area just before a gorge with a bridge connecting it to the temple complex. He lowered his head and Eriah dismounted. "This is as far as I can take you. I await your return...or Alduin's." he said before taking off back the way he came. The Dragonborn watched him fly out of sight before pulling her Elvish warhammer from her back. The temple itself was likely guard by draugr and possibly other dragons. During the flight, Odahviing only gave her a warning on the portal's guardian, a Dragon Priest named Nahkriin. That was all Eriah needed to know. Draugr were par for the course in Nordic ruins and dragons were inevitable, given the location. She started across the bridge and ran into a pair of dragons and some draugr. She tore through them and once she reached the doors of the temple, she paused.
She set the head of her warhammer against the ground and closed her eyes for a quick prayer. "Talos, give me strength to face the enemies within. Guide my hammer as I get closer to fulfilling my destiny. Akatosh, preserve me but should my time come in this place, may I die with honor so that I may still stop Alduin in Sovngarde and save Skyrim from his wrath forevermore. I gladly lay my life down for my homeland." she prayed. Opening her brown eyes, Eriah hefted her weapon again before pushing the door open and entering Skuldafn. The door closed with barely a whisper, marking the Dragonborn's passage into destiny's arms.