The fire in the center snapped and hissed. Embers flicked from the crackling flames and soared into the night sky to dance with the stars above. It heated the otherwise frigid night, casting a warm golden glow across the group. The air smelled heavy of cinder and ash, of pine and soft dirt. Wind gently whistled through the elms and evergreens, cloaks shuddered in the breeze as it whispered past them. A lone wolf howled in the distance, its cry indicating that the perimeter was safe.
Never in all my life did I believe this is where I would end up.
The young woman wrung her hands, calloused fingers and scarred knuckles rough under her touch. A shiver flew up her spine. A chill so cold soaked into her bones that even the blazing heat before her could not banish it from her mind. She swallowed hard.
Tomorrow… tomorrow will change everything. And I don't know if I am remotely ready for it.
"Not exactly the evening I thought we would get," the man to her right said, back pressed against the trunk of a juniper, words effectively pulling her from her internal ramblings. Nordic carved armor nestled beside him in the frost-covered grass. His steel great sword freshly whetted to his left.
The female Housecarl rolled her amber eyes. "And what did you have in mind?"
"Could not be anything too creative. Icebrain has never been one for the imaginative," a red headed huntress quipped, tapping the tip of her glass arrowhead with the pad of her finger to assure its sharpness.
The male grunted, sent his fellow shield-sister a pointed glare, and ignored the insult. "I was thinking the World Eater would attempt to stop the pending attack. We weren't subtle about our plans. I half expected the realm of Niflheim to tear through the skies and unleash a fiery hell upon us."
The first woman's stomach pinched. That very well may still happen. Anything can happen.
The Housecarl spoke again. "He cannot reach us, remember? That was the whole point of sending him to Sovngarde in the first place."
The Huntress scoffed, "We were told that by another dragon, one we do not know if we can trust. Resting so much faith in him is unwise and foolish."
"Regardless of where he is, I am certain he can see us," the male retorted.
"I want to side with my brother on this," interjected a second man, gesturing towards his twin. "Preparing ourselves is not a bad idea. We are at Skuldafn, need I remind you?"
I do not need reminding. I am the one that got us here. I am the one that convinced you all to join me.
She closed her eyes, head bowed forward. I am the one to blame if anything should happen to you tomorrow. And I will never forgive myself if the worst should come to pass. Stendarr, please grant mercy on my traveling partners. I will give anything in return for that one wish.
The others prattled back and forth for a moment while her own attention remained trailed on the burning logs, of the ash in the earth at her feet. Focus on what must be done. If you are prepared then perhaps no harm will come to them.
And perhaps the World-Eater will not destroy us all.
She felt a presence next to her but she did not need to look to know who it was. His hand fell on her shoulder, offering a tender squeeze for reassurance. "You haven't said anything."
"Excellent observation," she muttered.
He let out a deliberate exhale, relaxing into the ground beside her. "We have your back, you know this."
"I'm aware." Her words were clipped, an attempt to conceal the emotion that traitorously rumbled underneath the surface but even she caught the way her voice wavered at the end.
"You aren't alone." His fingers intertwined with hers, his thumb caressing against the palm of her hand. He understood, he always did. She need not tell him how she felt for him to know.
She tore her gaze from the inferno to meet his, her silver against his bronze. "I'm scared," she breathed, confession barely audible.
"We all are. But we are in this together."
She nodded hesitantly. So much has happened. And to think, all I wanted was adventure. Not to be swept up in some grand tale of prophecy. Had I known, I never would have gone to the watchtower, never would have helped kill that first dragon, never would have joined the Companions, never would have left Riverwood.
A second voice pushed through the first, 'Would you really?' came its graveled question. 'Could you truly go back to the life you held before?'
She did not bother with an answer. It already knew.
'Don't fool yourself, this path has always been yours and you have craved it since the beginning. You are afraid, and that fright is causing you to think illogically.'
You don't know that. But the reply sounded weak to her own ears.
'I know you, a perk of sharing your bloodline. And I am here if you need me.'
I don't need you, not right now. Leave me.
'As you wish.'
The presence subsided, leaving her mind her own once more. Though she hated to deny it, he had a point. He was right. Come the sun, she would be able and willing. After everything that had happened, going back now… it would be impossible.
"Tomorrow," she started, her words directed to the man beside her.
"Tomorrow can wait," he finished. "For now, get some rest." His lips pressed against her temple, his breath tickled her cheek and swirled her white honeyed hair. She could not help the smile that flitted across her face, the flutter of her eyelids as she leaned into him. Some good has come of this too. Not all has been soiled with darkness.
She stood, body shuddering from the lack of contact. "Join me?"
"In a bit, let me make sure everything is ready come sunrise. I will be there shortly."
With her back to the group, their words faded in the slightest. Block them out. Focus. Think of what must be done. Let nothing stop you.
Not even Alduin himself.
The prophecy foretold eras before rang in her ears.
And here she was, in the center of it all.
When misrule takes its place at the eight corners of the world.
When the Brass Tower walks and Time is reshaped.
When the thrice-blessed fail and the Red Tower trembles.
When the Dragonborn Ruler loses his throne, and the White Tower falls.
When the Snow Tower lies sundered, kingless, bleeding.
The World-Eater wakes, and the Wheel turns upon the Last Dragonborn.
