I drew my wrist over my mouth, wiping away the remnants of any sweet fruit juices as I turned back to face the man. The last bit of food I slipped into one of the many pockets I'd added when I refined this armor. They'd serve me better if I made them last.

He stared up at me from his throne, his face propped lazily up on one fist. "I'm not one to take kindly to noisy troublemakers making a mockery of my guards, but," his mouth quirked up into a half smirk. "That was amusing, so, I'll let it pass."

"My jarl!" sputtered the dunmer woman. "She-!"

"Slipped past you as if you weren't there at all? Maybe you need to train a bit more, Irileth," He teased. I like this guy. He's my kind of jarl.

"Hmph…"

He shifted his gaze back to me. "You said you had a message for me?"

I bobbed my head once in a nod. "I was sent to warn you of a potential dragon attack. And to ask if you had any spare troops to send to Riverwood."

"A dragon attack? I had heard rumors of Helgen, but I thought it was just drunken babble."

"Well, I may have dipped into your wine a bit, but, I was at Helgen that morning and I can tell you there was definitely a dragon." I pulled out a little violet berry and tossed it into the air.

"Really?"

"Oh, yeah," I quipped conversationally, my tongue flicked up to catch the grape. "Had a fantastic view of it with Imperial soldiers backing me into a wall."

The brunette, Lydia snorted. "Glad to know you're so flippant about your crimes."

"Oh, what big word. Did you hurt yourself?" I tossed the words back at her.

She growled. "Not nearly as badly as I'm going to hurt you."

"Lydia…" Baalgruf warned. "Reign it in."

"… Yes, sir."

I stuck my tongue out at her and she sneered, her hand still poised on the hilt of her sword. My lips parted again to mock her but, I was quickly interrupted.

"And, you, elf. Stop antagonizing my captain of the guard. You may put on a good show, but I won't stop her from throwing you in the jails."

My mouth snapped shut with an audible click of teeth. Jails were unpleasant, dank, and smelly things and even if I were to escape I'd have to wait 'til sundown to do so.

"Now, if you are done acting like a child, how many days ago was this dragon last seen?"

"Morning before last, I think."

"You think?"

"Ralof told me about it. I was… on another errand at the time." The magic infused bit of rubble hummed against my thigh at these words.

"I see… Let us go speak with Farengar." He stood from his throne. I had thought he was large before, but standing I only came up to his upper arm, not even to his shoulder! "Irileth, Lydia, come with us, please." He strode off, the other two on his heels. All three were tall, even for nords and dunmer and I had to half jog to keep up with their strides, much to my chagrin.

He led the way to a small study filled with the sharp repugnant smells of potions. Sitting there, scribbling away at the desk was a man in ornate violet robes. He rubbed at his stubble as we approached. Jarl and his guard stopped in front of the desk and said nothing.

What? Come now, this waiting game is getting tiresome. I opened my mouth to demand the mage's attention. Again, I as cut off. "I'll be with you in just a moment, elf."

He hadn't even looked up. A spark of irritation lanced through me, but soon enough, he put down his quill.

"How can I help you, Jarl, Captain, Irileth and…" He raised a brow at me. "Guest?"

"Farengar," the jarl's deep voice rung out. "I think your special research will finally come in handy. There's a dragon on the warpath."

The mage looked overly excited and I could practically see starlight shining in his eyes. "Ah, yes! I'd heard the rumors but no one in town seems to know much about it."

"Well, you're in luck." He pushed me towards the mage. "This one's seen it first-hand."

"Really?" The mage was looking at me the same way a cave troll looks at goats. "You've seen the beast? How big was it? What was it like? What did it do?"

For some reason, I felt the overwhelming urge to correct him. "He," I said.

"What?"

"He. 'Twas a male dragon."

Farengar looked shocked. "You've seen enough to tell the difference?"

"No, I've seen just the one. I just," I paused. I just… what? It was a male dragon that I saw. Of that I was certain. I don't know why… The deep smooth timber as his tongue curled to form some strange sort of word. He sounded male, I suppose, but maybe they all sound like that. But, something else told me it was male, not my ears.

An odd sort of compulsion. A phrase slithered into my head. Nonsense words. Faint and incomprehensible. Tar… Tarvoknaak…jun…?

"I… just know."

"Okay…" Farengar said. "Tell me about him." Instantly, the phantom scent of brimstone and death filled my nose and a stifled the shudder that lanced down my spine.

My head hurt and my temper was rising. The stone slab pulsed again. "What is there to tell? He was big, scaly, sharp teeth, fire breath. Ate a few people, too, I think."

"I imagine everything is big to you," muttered the captain of the guard. I snorted, but didn't respond.

The mage looked disappointed but didn't push it further. Instead, he asked, "How did you survive the attack then?"

"I've been known to get out of a bind or two. Mostly lots of running and hiding."

"I see… is there anything else? Anything out of the ordinary you can recall?"

"Other than the dragon burning down a village?" The mage shot me a disproving look. Apparently, my cynicism wasn't appreciated. I considered telling him the truth. About the way his roaring melted into words. The way my very soul shivered in anticipation at his presence; in reverence at the sound of his voice. But, instead… "N-no, not much of worth." My tongue flicked out to pass over my lips.

"Hm." All four regarded me carefully, before Farengar eventually nodded. "Well, if you remember anything of value, please do not hesitate to come and tell me." I blinked.

The slab pulsed once more, this time with a magical sort of heat, burning insistently at my side. "Tsk! Damn it all." I pulled it from my pockets, with a hiss. "What is with this thing?"

The mage gasped the very moment the etchings caught the candlelight and practically ripped the relic from my hands. "Where did you get this?"

I scowled at him. The stone piece was mine. "I found it." I stressed the word "I." "In an old barrow in the mountain by Riverwood. Picked it off a walking corpse."

"Do you know what this is?" He asked giddily.

Yeah. It's mine.

Instead, Balgruuf spoke up. "Why don't you enlighten us, Farengar?"

"This is the Dragonstone of legends!"

Irileth spoke up this time. "The what?"

"The legends are true!" He laughed heartily but, then trailed off. "Oh… But that must mean…"

"Hm?" I asked. "What was that?"

I was ignored. "Jarl Balgruuf, there is much we have to discuss and it cannot wait."

The jarl cocked his head, but nodded. "Of course, old friend. Let's talk in my private quarters. You, wood elf."

I glanced at him before my gaze flicked back to the stone. I inclined my head towards him and my ears twitched.

"Stay in town. I may send for you if we need more information. I wanted to protest but he and the wizard had already begun walking away. "Lydia, Irileth, with me."

Irileth followed wordlessly but Lydia turned to speak to me. "You'd do well to obey, elf." And with that, she stalked after them.

I rolled my eyes and with one last glance around Farengar's office I turned and left Dragonsreach.

I awoke to hammering on the door. The scent of pine and earth fluttered over me as Aela stomped past me to answer the door, swearing all the way. She'd allowed me to sleep on a spare bedroll in her room in Jorrvaskr. I kept my body relaxed, my eyes closed, but my ears still perked, ready to catch even the sound of mice moving in the walls.

"This had better be important," she grumbled. She threw open the door with a huff and with a growl said, "What?" I pressed myself down closer to the bedroll. I'd never get used to that, it was so very off-putting.

A man's voice, breathless, panted out, "We need every able bodied warrior at the western watchtower, now!"

"What? Slow down, you great git! What's going on?!"

"Dragon…" He whispered. "Dragon!"

There was a roar in the distance. It was muffled but unmistakable. In tandem with the thunderous sound I heard words. My mind could not comprehend them, though it felt like I should. My soul quaked in anger in response. Hi fen ag!My eyes snapped open. Every fiber of my being recognized those words for what they were: a challenge.

I was filled with a rage I'd never felt in my twenty three years of life. A loathsome sort of feeling. I wanted to slaughter the dragon that spoke those words. I wanted to feel his blood between my fingers, on my tongue. I wanted to scream my victory over his corpse.

My blood burned hot in my veins and I could not stay here, idle in this bedroom for even a moment longer. I pulled my armor on as I pushed past Aela and the guard, forgoing my boots. I had no time to bother with them.

I snatched up my bow and quiver and dashed out into the night, ignoring Aela's shouts. The streets were filled with rushing soldiers moving far too slow for my tastes. I could hear the dragon still roaring its taunting challenge. Hi fen ag!

Damn you, I snarled. There was no way I'd manage to pick my way through the crowd.

Traveling by roof was easy. Far faster than taking the streets. I scaled the walls of Jorrvaskr and threw myself to the next roof. And, the next and the next. I reached Whiterun's gates in just a minutes time and as I stood on its pinnacle, I turned toward the roaring. I saw the Western watchtower not a mile off. The huge beast flew circles around it, breathing fire on the soldiers below. Again it roared. Hi fen ag!

I threw myself down, rolling when I hit the dirt. I would not let a moment be wasted. The worm needed to die. I broke into a sprint barefooted. There was another company of soldiers not far behind me. My tongue flicked out to pass over my bared teeth as they got closer. Among them, I recognized the captain of the guard, Lydia.

We exchanged a glance.

She nodded. I nodded back. An agreement.

We were almost upon the watch tower when my rage reached its breaking point. I still did not know their meaning, but they bubbled up from deep in my gut. My blood boiled as I roared at the top of my lungs, "Hi fen ag!"

The dragon turned its attention on me, still circling overhead. It swooped down, diving at me. Its lips parted and it laughed wildly. "Brit grah! Yol!" Fire streamed at me from its jowls.

I spun away from the stream of heat, drawing my bow as I took cover behind a crumbling stone wall. The moment the flames began to fade I notched an arrow and let it fly. It buried itself in the beast's cheek. Just a few inches shy of my target: its eye. It roared but did not seem to hurt. It circled around again. This time, it spoke in the common tongue.

"I had forgotten what fine sport you mortals can provide!"

For some reason, the word "mortal" struck a chord in me and my fury grew.

This time, my arrow found its mark. Blood gushed from the dragon's left eye. It balked and howled painfully. By the time it had landed, I had already slipped into the watchtower. Several guards made a charge for it. It made quick work of them with a shout of "Yol!"

I was dimly aware of Lydia backing away from me as I growled viciously. "I am no mere joor," I sneered.

"What did you say?" she asked.

I shot her an angry glance, my lips pulled back in a snarl, baring my teeth. I shot up the crumbling stone stairs to get a better view. Lydia followed, but at a distance.

Apparently, I was too predictable.

The dragon was already at the window, his mouth gaping open and I could see embers rapidly pooling and brightening deep in his throat. I rammed Lydia back just as fire engulfed the room. She fell on her backside with a grunt and my anger grew more still at the sound of the dragon's cackle. "Thuri du hin sil ko Sovngarde, joor!"

My heartbeat hammered in my ears like war drums. I rolled away from Lydia, snagging her sword from the ground as I did. "Stay down," I hissed to her. She had her shield for defense, she'd be fine.

The dragon still was in the window, clinging to the side of the watchtower. His huge slitted orange eyes peered in, the one I struck clouded over. Still, I do not think he was ready for me to charge at his face through the flames.

My bare feet burned as they met the super-heated stone floors, but I paid the pain no mind. He drew open his mouth to attack me again. But, he was too slow. With a wide arcing swing, I severed his forked tongue. It fell to the floor as he shrieked wordlessly in agony. He swiped blindly with his claws as he jerked against the watch tower, still screaming. They grazed my side as I took another swing. Blood poured down my side as red as that which gushed from his mouth, his eye, his wing.

He clumsily leapt backwards, still flailing instead of flying, barely holding himself aloft. His belly was exposed and my bow found my hands again. I notched an arrow and sent it flying into his throat. The next three into his gut. He fell to the earth, still screaming. He landed on his back, thrashing wildly. Any nearby men were thrown away from him. I looked down at him, blood dribbling down my split lip as I held the bloody sword in a clenched fist. He looked back up at me, glaring hatefully.

I leapt down at him and despite all his thrashing, plunged the sword into his heart. His body jerked, fear dribbling into those cold flame colored orbs. I twisted the sword, plunging it deeper still. He hissed out, with a rasping breath "Dovahkiin? No!"

I looked down into those eyes and hissed out in a voice both my own and not, "Hi fen ag!"

And, with a terrible scream, filled with fear and hatred and desperation, the great dragon fell limp and died.

I panted, still frenzied from the rush of battle. The warriors rushed at the beast again, but paused at the sight of me perched on the monster's unmoving chest. I recognized a few faces: Irileth, Lydia, the guards from the gate, Aela, some of the Companions.

I took deeper breaths now, trying to calm my heart. The rage had faded as had the fire in my blood. I yanked the sword from the dragon's chest and thought, heh, Farengar'll love this.

I leapt down, landing sloppily, but still on my feet. The crowd, except for just a few, stepped back. I looked around at them. What's the problem?

I caught sight of Lydia. She looked a little singed but no worse for wear otherwise. I looked down at the bloody blade. Tiredly, I mused, Well, it is her blade.

I shook the blood off a little before holding it out to her. She stared at me wide eyed and after a moment's hesitation, she took it.

"Thanks for letting me borrow it," I rasped.

She blinked owlishly at me, "…Any time."

"Heh."

There was a sound of burning behind me and I turned to see the dragon's corpse being consumed by some sort of unnatural flame. As more of the dragon's body was burned away, the larger the white fire grew. Eventually, all that was left was the beast's skeleton and a few patches of scales the fire turned to mist.

I was transfixed as it swirled and glittered in front of me.

I was very unprepared for the mist to come rushing at me.

I couldn't even scream. There was no air in my lungs to do so. I could see nothing but whiteness and hear nothing but the sound of rushing wild winds. I felt as if I were being engulfed in the fires of Oblivion, yet at the same time, it was like I was buried in ice. Only one word came to my mind.

Fus.

Fus.
Fus.

Force.

In the next instant, everything went dark.

I dreamed of my mother. She tended my scrapes and bumps. She fed me milk laced with moonsugar. She swatted my behind when I troubled her. She taught me to cook. She taught me to clean. She taught me to heal. She taught me to survive.

I dreamt of my brothers. They taught me to play. They called me names. They teased. They fought with me. They took me climbing. They taught me to lie. They taught me to steal. They taught me to kill.

I dreamt of the warm sands of Elsweyr.

Of sweetest moonsugar.

Of strong skooma.

In a haze, I saw bears the size of mice. I saw mountains become molehills. The clouds were well within my reach.

I dreamt there was fire in my belly, it kept me warm even as I flew over mountains.

I dreamt of the hunt. With arrows. With blades. With nails. With teeth.

I dreamt of man and mer and beastkin. Armies of them.

I dreamt of gold. Vast valleys of it. Mountains filled to over flowing with all manner of treasures. I rolled in it. Slept under it. Guarded it. I dug it raw from veins. I sunk ships for it. I burned cities for it. Spilled blood for it. There was never enough of it.

I dreamt of werewolves and vampires.

Of walking corpses and skeletons.

I dreamt of the sky filled with glittering stars.

I dreamt of the moon eating the sun. The sun eating the moon.

I dreamt of dragons. All many shapes and colors.

I dreamt of slaying them.

I dreamt of flying with them.

I dreamt of feasts with fine wines.

I dreamt of madness.

I dreamt of peace.

I dreamt of war.

I dreamt of kings.

I dreamt of the divines.

I dreamt of daedra.

I dreamt of the black dragon at Helgen.

I dreamt of sages on a mountain.

I dreamt of countless voices. Some large, some small. Some of beasts, some of man. All whispering, Dovahkiin.

And, eventually…

I dreamed of nothing.


a/n: heck yeah, we've finally slayed a fucking dragon. we can cross mirmulnir off the list now.

quick guide to dovah:

Tarvoknaak jun - ravenous king

Hi fen ag - you will burn

Brit grah - beautiful battle

Thuri du hin sil ko Sovngarde, joor - my high lord will devour you in sovngarde, mortal

Everything else is probably self explanatory.