"Forces of the northern light – assemble

Forces of the northern night – call to arms

Summoned by the secrets of sacrifice

Meeting destiny on the road we took to avoid it

As we only compete with ourselves

Left is that of a confident union

What bridge to cross and what bridge to burn

Deceit is everywhere you turn

We weed out the weak and their weep

Evolving – compulsively

Behaving – inconsistently

Yet the pulse is pounding

Restoration is the name

For those who are left in the game

Invocation in the name of our flame

The deviants seek but one place

Forward onward march

Forgive we shall not

Forget we shall not

With trickery and treat

Enemies will face defeat

No place for dreamers

As our formation is lava

Fire is with or against you

And so it burns

Constant retribution calling

From the shadows of three consecutive sixes

Merging with the cold dark vacuum

Talent is worthless unless excercised

When the world is turning

You'll find your true nature

When the first is last and the last is first

You'll be where you choose to be

Forgive we shall not

Forget we shall not

Fire is with or against you

And so it burns

Dimmu Borgir

CHAPTER THREE:

"Dragonborn? What on Nirn are you talking about?" asked Valdis fiercely as she was getting tired of not knowing what was happening to her.

The man stood up from the treasure chest and slowly stepped down towards her. As the beams of light from high above the cavern hit his figure, she bit back hard on a gasp that threatened to escape. The mysterious stranger had the height of an Altmer but the braun of a Nord. His fair skin had a metallic, pearlescent sheen to it. A thick, straight mane of midnight black hair reached his elbows which clashed heavily with his pale complexion. But the thing that startled Valdis the most, were his vivid ruby-red eyes. Could it be? Standing only mere inches in front of her she caught sight of the reptilian-like slits he had for pupils.

"You my dear, are Dragonborn…have you not heard the tales the Nords told of the Dragonborns slaying Dragons and stealing their souls?" asked Al with barely contained disdain.

Valdis could not believe what she was hearing…her? An empty, bitter shell of her former self who lived only for revenge was the Dragonborn? However, after all that was going on in her mind that day and the word on the wall, the invading glow, the whispers in her head, the Dragon and Al…perhaps he was right.

"I know the stories well, my father often told me tales of mighty battles between Dragon and man when I was a child. But…would that not mean I would have to slay Dragons now?" To her own astonishment, an overwhelming sense of sadness washed over her at the thought of having to kill a Dragon. It had been years since she felt any emotion other than hatred and bitterness and now to feel the same emotion she felt four years ago when her friends had died, was hard to swallow.

Al sensed her emotions and was pleased that her soul was proving to be more in favour of the Dovah.

"No…I have the means to bring you to full potential, without having to slay a single Dragon" replied Al while sitting down on the rim of the sarcophagus in the centre of the cavern with his foot resting on the recently slain draugr's head in front of him on the floor.

Valdis folded her arms and tilted her head to the side, unsure of what to make of this Al. He seemed too sure of himself, and was he even speaking truths to her?

"Alright, say that you can give me the power of the Dovahkiin without killing a Dragon – the question is why? Why help me? And what is it that YOU gain from helping me?...and no lies, I want the truth" asked Valdis sternly.

The more she thought on her being a Dragonborn, the more she relished in the promise of the power to come her way. She could crush the Empire to dust and perhaps this Al could be the key to her victory over the Empire.

Al glared at the floor and was near shaking with rage from thinking on what he needed and why. Thousands of years was he cursed into the black void of time itself, having nothing to do but slumber in a pit of venomous hatred for those who killed Dragons simply for what they were. The lies plastered in books and tales about him were near staggering. But he would have his revenge and he would be the victor. And this beautiful, battle hardened creature before him would be the means to a long and overdue bitter end.

Al stood up and stepped towards Valdis, raising his arm and gently placing his icy cold, hand upon Valdis's scarred cheek, dragging his fingers ever so lightly across the contours of the scars. Valdis shuddered at his touch, feeling a ghostly sensation dance down her spine. Al then brought his other hand up and placed it on the smooth cheek that was untouched by battle. Valdis stared long and hard into those fiery orbs, unsure of the situation she was in. Al slowly brought his forehead to rest upon hers and a faint crimson glow appeared between their joined foreheads. Then without warning, as if Valdis was struck by a speeding arrow – memories of the past and present flooded her mind with enough impact to render her speechless and immobile.

As the memories branded themselves in her mind, the sensation rushed through her veins as if a blast of raging fire erupted in a mine full of gas. Valdis screamed with pain from feeling as if she was being burned from the inside out, like fire in her veins. Through all the pain she saw many dragons and the great black one known as Alduin. The truce the Dovah had formed with the humans to live in harmony and the betrayal ignited by man and mer alike to the Dragons. The revenge that Alduin sought for his 'people' and the war he waged against the mortals, eventually ending in his exile from Nirn into the abyss.

Tears poured freely from her eyes as the emotions of all the Dovah along with Alduin embedded themselves in her very soul. She felt the immense pain, the sorrow, the regret, the hatred, the anger, the betrayal and it fused with her own demons deep within her soul. Then she saw a chamber full of men and women alike with a similar appearance to Al…speaking the dragon language which was slowly leaking into her mind with her understanding every word. On top of the platform in the chamber sat Al, looking down upon the others with a chalice of red wine in his hand.

As one of the men reached the throne, he bowed and addressed Al in a name which Valdis gasped at. Alduin severed the connection between himself and Valdis by stepping back causing Valdis to drop to the floor, gasping for air. Once Valdis managed to wrap her mind around the severity of the situation, she stood up on shaky legs looking into the crimson orbs and stared at the man with a torrent of emotions for him.

"Alduin…" was the one word Valdis managed to get out as she stood transfixed looking upon this magnificent being.

"I apologise for the pain you had to endure to see the beginning of it all, and why what will come must happen. Do you see now what happened to us? How the overly ambitious mortals were blinded by their need to dominate Nirn and destroy those more powerful than them? Do you see how my people suffered? How they were betrayed? How they were slaughtered like pigs! Do you see why I am consumed by my need for revenge? Do you…" at the last of Alduin's rant his voice lowered into a whisper which sounded as if his throat were constricted by a thick lump caused by tears that wanted to make their presence known.

Valdis stared up at him, her cold heart constricting at the all too familiar feeling of those you loved being murdered, the injustice of it all, and your person being engulfed in hatred and a insatiable need for revenge.

"I shall help you carry out your revenge Alduin, I know all too well how you feel. You have my 'voice' and my blade" Valdis said with determination, she would destroy the Empire, the Dominion and all those who would stand against her and Alduin. She was Dovahkiin, and she would fight for the Dovah, and for herself.

Alduin's heart fluttered with a small promise of hope, a feeling he had not felt in a millennia. He turned his intense gaze upon her being, trying to sense any dishonesty coming from her. When he found none, he grinned maniacally, exposing razor sharp teeth. For now the engines were turning and he would not stop until his revenge was spent.

"I am pleased by your allegiance with the Dovah, Valdis. I would have you meet the rest of the Dovah, but that will come later. For now though, you must make haste to Whiterun"

"What is so important in Whiterun?" asked Valdis, who was still recovering from the assault on her mind and body earlier.

Alduin grit his teeth, and a sneer crossed his pale features.

"You my dear are not the only Dovahkiin. There is another, who would slaughter my people without a single thought to it and steal their soul. One who also openly sides with the Empire…" at Valdis's flaring nostrils, Alduin knew he hit a nerve which would only fuel the need to destroy this other Dovahkiin – which is exactly what he wanted.

Valdis gripped the pommel of her iron sword, her knuckles turning white from the pressure. A rival who would kill Alduin's people and who sides with Empire filth? Death would come swiftly to the Dragonborn thought Valdis venomously.

"Go to Whiterun, and stop this fool from killing Mirmulnir, he will know you are friend the moment he senses you. Kill the dragonborn then make your way to Bonestrewn Crest in the volcanic tundra, wait for me there and I shall take you to the sanctuary that is Skuldafn" said Alduin while his mind was racing with thoughts on what was to unfold.

Valdis felt like she had just being thrown into the sea of ghosts, the option was sink or swim and she would do anything but sink. She also felt a deep sadness and need to help the Dovah, whether it was her dragonsoul speaking or simply her personal understanding for the need Alduin had for revenge – she did not know, but the need to help was strong and she felt she could trust Alduin, and would see this through with him.

"Then I will be on my way, I will see you at Bonestrewn Crest" Valdis said as she nodded her head at Alduin in a farewell gesture and made to walk past him but he gently gripped her arm before speaking.

"Before you leave my Brii – take a look in the chest, I have left a few gifts for you which I am confident you will like" Alduin said while gently tracing a black claw along her cheekbone before disappearing into a crimson portal.

Valdis stood, re-tracing the trail Alduin left on her cheek with her own finger, unsure on how to feel. Was he making advances upon her, or was it simply his way to communicate? She shook the thoughts out of her head and walked to the chest, opening the large ornate wooden lid and went wide eyed at what she saw…


The word 'Brii' in Dragon tongue means 'beauty'.