The nord known only as Dovah was not far from Riverwood when he saw the dragon approaching. He ran all the way there. By the time he got there, part of the village was already burned, but the dragon was dead! He saw a mage get up off the ground. She was a Redguard. Another mage was running over to her, asking if she was okay. She waved him off. She was not badly hurt.
Dovah then ran in the direction of the dragon. It's soul was being absorbed! There was another Dragonborn here! Was it the one he was sent to find?
The mage ran after him. Once the dragon was in sight, they saw what was happening. On the ground, lay an Argonian, out cold and wounded. He was absorbing the dragon's soul!
The Dovahkiin knew it! This was who he was searching for! He ran up to it with the mage.
"Will he live?" He asked one of the mage's companions, whom was a healer.
"He'll be alright, hopefully. He's lucky to be in one piece, considering he took down a dragon. We'd better get him back to Riverwood. The inn is still standing, and he'll need healing."
# # # # # # # # # #
Several hours later...
Kalur slowly awoke. His tunic was gone, so was his hood. He tried to sit up, but it hurt too much. It felt like he had broke some of his ribs when he hit that tree, along with who knows what else. His body ached all over. Where was he?
He then saw he was at the inn he stayed at before the dragon attack. He had bandages on him, from where the dragon left burns. He also had a wet towel across his forehead.
He heard a noise. He tried to sit up again. "Who's there...?" He managed to rasp between pained breaths.
"Take it easy. You just took one hell of a hit." It was the mage he saved. She was alright. He felt some relief.
"Where's the... Dragon?" Kalur asked.
"Dead. You killed it, nearly getting yourself killed in the process. I don't think we've been introduced. I'm Dulian Hawker of the mages guild. What's your name?"
"...My name's Kalur. I hope everyone survived."
"They did. When we sounded the alarm, they all bolted away from the town. Luckily, we managed to save the sawmill, the inn, and a few houses."
"Good... I'm glad I was... Able to help..." It started to hurt even to speak.
"Take it easy. The healer did what he could do for you, now you need to rest. Go back to sleep."
"Yes... Sleep..." He was already starting to lose consciousness again. He welcomed the black void that enveloped him.
# # # # # # # # # #
"How is he doing?" Dovah asked Dulian.
"He should recover in a few days." She answered. "What I don't get is what happened when he killed that dragon? What was all that light?"
"He had a great gift with dragons." Dovahkiin answered.
"You mean he's... a Dragonborn?"
"Yes. Just be careful who you tell. Some people don't welcome our kind."
"So you're one, too?"
"I am. Again, be careful of who you tell that too. Tell me when he wakes. I will be waiting at the sawmill."
With that, he walked off.
# # # # # # # # # #
Kalur started to dream again. The dream he had many a night. He was in a courtyard of a temple. On a mountain. Around him were four nords dressed in black robes.
"Who are you?" He asked.
In response, he began to hear an ancient nord chant. Fus-ro-dah! Fus-ro-dah! Fus-ro-dah!
"Who are you?! Why am I here?!"
Again, no sound except for the chant. A loud wind began to howl around him. The chant grew louder.
"WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?!" He yelled. "WHY DO YOU TORMENT ME SO?!"
At that moment, he saw a dragon descend down from the sky, roaring. It landed right on top of the temple. The nords then all used a powerful dragon shout, and it burned to ashes.
A fifth nord then stepped into view, right across from him, the chant louder than ever. He pointed at Kalur, then morphed into a dragon himself, molting away it's human form! Soon, it was towering over Kalur! Then, a booming voice, followed by thunder and lightning.
"Hi can ni ru naan lingrah! You cannot deny your fate anymore! You will now heed our call! For dark forces now pursue you in hopes of enslaving your power to their own fruition! Fin zul fen kos hon! The voice will be heard! THE VOICE SHALL BE SPOKEN, DRAGONBORN! BO WAH MU!"
# # # # # # # # # #
Kalur's eyes shot open. He gasped for air as if he couldn't take in enough of it. He was at the inn, still in his bed. His pain had partially subsided, but he still had his bandages on. He felt well enough to sit up partway. Just how long had he been asleep?
The dream was still fresh in his mind. He sat up, and noticed an outline in the shadows! Someone was there, in the darkness of the room!
"Who's There?"
"Someone who sees your plight." The person said, lighting up a candle. It was a dark elf, with fiery red hair. "I've observed you for quite a while, ignoring the call of the graybeards. Walking alone in isolation. Let's just say we've taken an... interest in your abilities."
Kalur felt his blood run cold. Was the dream some sort of a warning?
"Who is 'we'?" He dared to ask.
"That is for you to find out, my friend." The dark elf put on a hood, covering his eyes. "Just remember, you can't walk alone anymore."
And he blew the candle out, vanishing right as Dulian walked in.
"Good to see you awake." She said. "How are you feeling?"
Kalur then tried to get up off the bed, but he still didn't have his strength back, if any at all! He tripped over his own feet trying to walk. Dulian barely caught him before he fell face-first on the floor.
"Woah, take it easy!" She said. "You've been out cold for three days now!"
For the first time, he saw Dulian's emerald eyes up close. Her lips were colored the same shade as the red rose, her skin fair, untouched. Her hair long, worn in a loose ponytail.
Dulian then helped him back to the bed. Kalur reluctantly cooperated. He wasn't sure if he was safe here, but he decided to trust this mage, for now at least. Strangely, he wanted her there.
Dulian then pulled up a chair in the room, and sat down, checking his bandages. She then noticed the rope burns on his wrists. Kalur saw her looking at them, then felt ashamed. How would he be able to explain that to her?
"What happened to your wrists?" She asked.
"I... It..." Kalur felt his hands shaking as he remembered the slaver tying the ropes. They were so tight, they cut into his wrists. He felt so terrified. He remembered screaming as they beat him, trying to break his will. He managed to escape and flee for his life from that slaver's cave, but the memories were still there.
"Are you alright?" Dulian asked. Kalur didn't notice it until he felt the tears running down his face. He was crying.
"It... hurt." He managed to say, referring to the rope burns. "The rope burned my wrists as I struggled. They were trying to sell me into slavery..."
Dulian then held his hand in hers. "Don't worry. You're safe here. No one is going to hurt you."
Kalur seemed to calm down somewhat. He didn't know this Redguard, but she had empathy for him. He looked in her eyes. Those deep, emerald eyes. Then he looked down at her hands. He didn't know what to say, what to do...
"You saved a lot of lives today, at the near cost of your own." Dulian continued. "You have no need to be afraid of us."
"...Thank you." He managed to say.
"You'd better get to sleep." She said, slowly getting up. "You'll need your rest."
With that, Kalur lay down, and fell into another slumber.
