Arlene
"Time is running out Forengor, do not forget this is not some theoretical question. Dragons have come back." A women's voice spoke.
Forengor opened his lips to speak right before I dropped the Dragonstone onto his stone desk. He stared at me with surprise before an amused smile crossed his lips. "Ah the Jarls protégé is back from Bleak Falls? You didn't die it seems."
I ignored his comment as I examined the woman by him. Her hood was up but I could still see her blonde hair sticking through and falling over her shoulders. Her body was packed with different types of blades surrounding her armor, the moment I looked to her our eyes met as if I had just challenged her to some unknown battle. I took a deep breath as I tried to shove back everything I had done and seen in the barrow. "I got you the Dragonstone. What's next?"
Forengor smiled as he examined the Dragonstone closely. "This is where your job ends and mine begins, the work of the mind." He stopped to stare towards the Jarl's throne before continuing. "Which is sadly undervalued in Skyrim..." The woman moved closer to him to examine the stone herself, excitement shining in her blue eyes.
"Ah, yes my…associate here will be pleased to see your handiwork as well. She was the one to discover its location." He handed her the stone before continuing. "Though she has declined to share how she found it with me." He grumbled.
Irileth quickly came around the corner, her sword out and ready, her face showing complete excitement and determination as she looked at us. "Farengar! You need to come at once. A dragon's been spotted nearby." She looked at me, a slight smile curving on her lips. "You should come too."
Farengar matched her excitement as he quickly walked past his associate, completely forgetting she was there. "A dragon? How exciting!" He almost seemed to fly out of the room as he followed the house carl.
The hooded woman bowed to me slightly before brushing past me. "Excuse me." When I looked back to see where she was going she had seemingly disappeared.
"I'd take this more seriously if I were you Farengar, if a dragon were to attack Whiterun I don't know if we could stop it." Her voice was still filled with excitement but also had an edge of panic to it. I followed them quickly up the stairs to see the Jarl standing with a guard.
"Tell them what you told me guard, about the dragon." Irileth spoke.
His voice shook as he talked, as if he were still there with the dragon. "We saw it coming from the south. It was fast…faster than anything I have ever seen. When I left it was circling overhead. I ran as quickly as I could, I thought it would come after me for sure." His face paled as he tried to keep himself balanced. The jarl placed an arm on his back, helping the guard find a sense of balance once again.
"Good work son. We'll take it from here. Head down to the barracks for some food and rest." The jarl spoke calmly. As soon as the guard was out of sight he turned to Irileth, his voice completely serious. "Irileth, gather your guardsmen and get down there."
Irileth smiled proudly at the Jarl as she spoke. "I've already ordered my men to muster near the main gate."
"Good don't fail me Irileth." He watched her walk down the stairs before he turned to me, a sigh escaping his lips. "You survived Helgen, you have more experience with dragons than anyone else here. I need you to go with Irileth and help her fight this."
I hesitated for a moment. "I escaped from the dragon, I didn't fight…" I paused as the memory of the little girl came flooding back into my mind. The memory of watching as her mother watched her burn to death. I couldn't forgive myself if I walked away and let Whiterun die without at least trying to save it. "Okay. But I need some weapons."
The Jarl turned his back to a large chest behind us before turning around with a long sword in hand and a wooden bow with some arrows in the other. "Will this do?" He asked happily.
"Thank you Jarl." I wrapped the arrow holder around my shoulder so that it rested gently on my back as I seethed the blade choosing to hold onto the bow. Could these arrows really shoot a dragon out of the sky? I took a deep breath as I turned to follow Irileth.
"I should come along. I would very much like to see this dragon." Farengar begged.
"No." The Jarl ordered. "I cannot afford to risk the both of you. I need you here working on ways to defend the city against those dragons."
Farengar sighed but accepted the answer as he silently headed down the stairway back to his room. Consider yourself lucky. I thought. He considers my life more expendable then yours.
I walked silently out into the city as little kids ran passed by me excitedly. I imagined each one of them running afraid, every last one of them being consumed by fire. I can't let these people die. I have to stop it.
I grasped my bow tighter as I found Irileth once again, guards stood anxiously in front of her, most of them probably unsure of why they had been called here in the first place. Each one of them were in full armor, golden cloth wrapped around their chest plates, their face hidden by their helmets.
"Here's the situation." Irileth spoke confidently. "A dragon is attacking the Western Watchtower. I do not know where it came from or who sent it. What I do know is that it's made the mistake of attacking Whiterun!"
Some of the guards slumped their soldiers. Each one mumbling to themselves about what fighting a dragon would take. "But housecarl…" one spoke up. "How can we attack a dragon?"
"That's a fair question." She admitted. "None of us have ever seen a dragon before, or expected to face one in battle. But we are honor bound to fight it. Even if we die on this day, this dragon is threating our homes, our families. Could you dare to call yourself Nords if you ran from this?"
The men continued mumbling to themselves. "we are so dead…"
I found myself talking without even thinking about it. My patience already gone from all I had experienced since losing Lyla. "I have seen a dragon before. I have seen what it has done to people! Do you want to watch everyone you know burn because you refused to do your job and protect them? If we can kill this thing, we will have the glory of killing a dragon! We have the evidence to show that you can protect your people! Now, are you with me?"
One guard stepped forward from the crowd. "Damn right we are!"
Irileth smiled at me slightly before pulling her sword from its holder. "Let's move out men!"
The men followed her with a new sense of purpose that I couldn't help but smile over. For a moment I thought of how I admired Irileth, how she led a group of men with such confidence and showed no fear. She reminded me of the kind of hero Lyla and I had always wanted to be.
Irileth looked up to the sky as we left Whiterun, walking completely ahead of the group. "No signs of the dragon right now, but it sure looks like it's been here." All of our eyes looked towards the watchtower that was now lit up in flames and smoke. Any sign of the strong building it had once been was now completely gone. "The dragon could still be around here somewhere. Spread out and look for any survivors. We need to know what we are dealing with."
"No! Get back! It's still here! It's still…" A dragon that blended in with the earth itself lifted off the ground, snatching the running guard in his mouth before he could complete the sentence. Everyone watched in horror as the dragon bit down, shredding the man before he even knew what was happening.
"Find cover men! Make every arrow count!" Irileth shouted as she dived behind some of the remains of the building. I dove beside her as I watched the dragon circle around again. My fingers quickly found the arrows on my back and latched it into my bow. Kill it before it can kill anyone else.
I stood as the dragon approached and released the arrow instantly. The first arrow scraped the dragon but then broke as it fell to the ground. "Damn" I murmured.
"Come down here and fight you coward!" Irileth shouted as she put herself out into the open. The dragon locked its golden eyes onto its target as it headed towards Irileth. I watched as it flew towards her, its jaws barely missing her as she fell to the ground, raising her sword to slice the dragon's stomach.
The dragon came back at her with a vengeance, fire pouring from its mouth as she moved just in time. I stood while it was distracted and fired another arrow into its back causing it to land. The dragon began to attack the guards closest to it as Irileth and I both charged towards it. "Now!"
I pulled the sword from its holder and jumped onto the back of the dragon. The dragon spun itself around, throwing me off of its back and crashing against the ground. I quickly crawled towards my sword as it moved towards me with what almost looked like a smile.
The dragon's jaws opened inches from my face as I thrust my sword down towards the dragons head. The dragon's eyes widened as it looked at me. "Dovahkiin!" The dragon screamed at me before it seemed to catch on fire. I quickly tried to crawl away as the dragon was completely absorbed in the flames before the same blue mist that I had seen when in the barrows flew from the dragon and towards me. I covered my body but it was no use. I could feel the sensation of fire running through my body as the dragon's words became understandable, as if he had spoken it to me from the very start. Dragonborn
"I can't believe it! You're dragonborn…" A guard stared at me stunned, his mouth hanging slightly agape.
"What does that mean? Dragonborn?" I pushed myself up placing my blade back in my holder as I realized that I wasn't the only one to see the blue mist.
"In the very oldest tales, back from when dragons still existed in Skyrim, the Dragonborn would slay dragons and steal their powers. That's what you just did isn't it? You stole the dragon's soul?
"I…I don't know what just happened." My own voice became shaky as I backed slowly away from all of the guards, thinking of any possible escape route.
"There's only one way to prove it. Try to shout."
"I don't know how." I admitted as I stared down at my hands to see they were still glowing with the blue mist.
"Just focus on wanting to shout. Try to scream, see what happens." The guard encouraged.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath in before forcing myself to shout. The men were pushed back from the very air that had escaped when I let out the shout, forcing them all to their knees.
I covered my mouth in shock as I continued to back away. "I'm sorry I didn't mean too…"
All the men got to their knees. Each of them showing excitement. "According to legend only the Dragonborn can shout without training. The way dragons do. She has the dragon's blood in her! You must be one!"
Irileth stood quietly as she watched the conversation. "Some of you would be better off keeping quiet than flapping gums on matters you know nothing about. The dragon is dead, we now know we can kill them. That's enough for me. I'd advise all of you to trust in the strength of your sword over tales and legends. Now all of you return to Whiterun, let the Jarl know that the current threat is dealt with."
"Understood house carl." They all walked back together. Each one of them whispering excitedly as they walked away.
Irileth looked at me, letting a smile hint at her lips. "I don't know about this Dragonborn business but I can say I'm glad you are with us. You better join the guards back at Whiterun, the Jarl needs to know what happened here."
"Where will you be?" I asked curiously.
"I am going to search for any survivors now that the dragon is gone and bring some of these dragon's bones back for Forengor."
I smiled back at her as I slung the bow onto my back. "Be safe Irileth."
I had reached the steps of Dragonsreach when a loud shout came from the mountains, shaking the whole city of Whiterun for only a moment. Proventus threw open the doors as I stared towards the mountain, confused on what had just happened. "Good. You're here. The Jarls been waiting for you to arrive."
The jarl stood when he saw me approaching, recognizing my dumbfounded expression right away. "You heard the summons. What else could it mean? The Greybeards…" He broke off remembering the topic at hand. "What happened at the watchtower?"
"We killed the dragon." I answered honestly even though I knew the guards had probably already told him what had happened afterwards.
He chuckled slightly to himself as he slid back in his throne. "What do you know about the Dragonborn?" He asked his voice suddenly serious.
"I don't know anything, when it died I absorbed something from it, something that allowed me to do something impossible." I admitted.
The Jarl sat up watching me intensely. "So it's true. The Greybeards really were summoning you then."
"The Greybeards?"
"They are the masters of the Way of the Voice. They live in seclusion high on top of the Throat of the World. If you really are the dragonborn they can teach you how to use your gift."
Proventus puffed out his chest slightly. "What does this nord nonsense have to do with her?"
One of the other men by the Jarl faced Proventus, his face red from anger. "Why you puffed up ignorant…"
The Jarl lifted his hand which silenced both men. "Don't be so hard on Proventus."
Proventus gulped as he backed away from the other man. "I meant no disrespect…of course. It's just that…what do the greybeards want with her?"
"That is the Greybeards' business, not ours. If they think she is the Dragonborn who are we to argue." The Jarl said. His eyes then turned back to me. "You better get up to High Hrothgar immediately. There is no refusing the summon of the Greybeards. It is a tremendous honor. High Hrothgar is a peaceful place. Very…disconnected from the troubles of this world." His voice grew solemn as he looked towards the ground. "I wonder if they even notice what is going on down here. They haven't seemed to care before." He paused before continuing. "No matter. Go to them and learn what they have to teach you." I forced a smile as I tried to copy my sister in a curtsey but ended up just slightly bowing to the Jarl.
"Wait, before you go Khajiit. You have done a great service to all of Whiterun. By my right as Jarl I name you Thane of Whiterun and assign Lydia as a personal housecarl to you. We are honored to have you as Thane of our city, Dragonborn."
I remembered the conversation that I had earlier, about how Khajiit were rarely allowed in the cities, definitely not allowed to live in them or be a Thane of one of them. "Thank…thank you Balgruuf." I forced the words out.
He smiled at me before speaking again. "Be safe dragonborn, may the gods guide you on your journey."
LYLA
I wondered through the caves alone, my body and mind completely numb. I already lost sister. Now I have lost T'aro. Images of his bloody hand reaching out stopped me dead in my tracks. What would Arlene have done? What could I have done to stop them?
My feet walked blindly ahead without direction as my shaky hands found the letter. Should I even look? I thought of Arlene, of how she was always so determined to protect me, to give me the life that others couldn't. Images of Helgen twirled in my mind, images of the little girl whose scream was forever frozen on her face. Is that what sister looks like now? Tears began to flow down my face, soaking into my fur as I leaned against one of the cave walls. She wouldn't want me to give up. She wouldn't want to die for nothing.
I allowed a scream to escape from my lips as I collapsed onto the ground, not caring if the assassins from before were still behind me or what may have just heard me; I only cared that they were both gone. I thought of the little golden locket that I had taken. I had wanted to prove to her that she didn't have to do it all on her own, that she still had me to help. "I didn't want her to die…" I tried to take a deep breath in only to fall into deeper sobs.
I allowed myself to become wrapped in a small ball within myself. It was what I had always done when I felt like my world was falling apart. In my mind I could see Arlene smiling down at me as she plopped to the ground beside me. Her sweet smile as she ran her fingers through my hair and sang me a lullaby until the crying stopped.
I would usually awaken to a warm blanket covering me, and sister announcing that all of our chores were done, an accomplished smile resting on her face; one I could not help but return. Sometimes I would try to thank her, but she refused to ever accept it. She would only say "Just promise me you'll never give up okay? You have way too much to offer the world to just quit."
Her memory faded away as I uncurled myself, stretching out onto my back in order to see the roof of the cave. What could I possibly offer?
I took a deep breath in as I clenched the letter in my hand. My fingers ran over the edge of the thin paper until I finally got the nerve to push the letter open. The letter looked as if it had been written years ago. Dust slightly collected on each one of the edges from years of being hidden away until the emperor decided it was time.
My dearest son,
I know how much you may hate me, and you have every right to wish for my death. Please believe me when I tell you that it was all to protect you. If you had grown with me then you would have been assassinated along with me. Casper. I beg of you. Find a way to fix the mistakes that I made, let Skyrim be at peace once more. The Khajiit that will arrive with this letter can be trusted. Let her work with you to heal this broken land before it falls apart completely. Time is short and I need to make my escape, know that though you may not understand, I do love you my son.
I closed the letter as I sat up, tucking the note gently into my clothing. Casper? Why didn't he write where to find Casper? I paused as I re-read part of the letter. And how did he know a Khajiit would be given this letter?
I let out a slight sigh as I forced myself to stand. Come on Lyla, be a hero. You can do this. My feet almost seemed to move themselves without permission towards the exit of the cave and into the moonlight. I could see far away cities and towns from the ledge as I fought to keep standing. There are so many places he could be.
Screams broke me from my thoughts as fire lit up the dark night. I took off running towards the town without a second thought. I have to help. A hero would help. The screams grew louder as I got closer. I stopped in my tracks the moment I saw her. She was unlike anything I had ever seen before.
A woman stood in the middle of the chaos laughing happily. Her skin was pale white with a fire burning beneath her thin complexion. Her long white hair fell back behind her, each strand dripping with blood as her hand opened and released flames onto more unsuspecting victims. Her red eyes lit up as her victims fell to the ground, each one of them screaming in pain until the fire finally allowed them death. "I want more. More." She laughed as she ran her burning hands over her face, not seeming to realize her own skin burning at her touch.
"Kill the monster!" A soldier ran out into the street, his blade held high above his head. The metal had barely touched her skin before he flew back, flames consuming him almost immediately.
A young woman stepped out from behind a burned down house and reached towards the woman. As soon as their eyes met the woman stopped moving as curiosity came across her face.
She tipped her head slightly as she reached out for the girl. "What is this? Would you like to become my new pet?"
The woman smiled as their hands met. A bright light shot from around them as the fire from within the monster began to crawl across the skin of the woman. A painful scream escaped from the woman's lips as her body began to collapse from beneath her. Her originally brown hair slowly began to transfer to white as her lips opened, her words barely heard. "Now Casper!" She cried out before her body became completely hallow, all signs of light leaving her green eyes as they faded to black. The monsters hair began to move on its own, each strand turning into a separate blade. Each strand of hair pierced the woman's chest, blood trickling across her skin as the hair absorbed it, almost as if the hair was feeding off of the woman's blood.
"Rayne!" A man jumped out from the same house that the woman had come from. His blade finding his target almost instantly. The blade stuck through her chest but yet she seemed completely unfazed. Her hand releasing the woman's body as it crumpled to the ground, the blood now dripping onto the ground beside her.
"Do you want to become my pet too handsome boy?" She grasped at his shirt before throwing him back, his body crashing against one of the broken down houses. The creature walked gracefully towards him, a smile crossing her lips as she walked towards him. "You are all just so easy."
Without thinking I had jumped in front of the man. "Are you Casper?" I shouted quickly. Holding my blade in front of me in case the monster decided to attack again.
The man looked up at me, his bright blue eyes struggling to stay open as he gently nodded yes. Almost on instinct I dropped my sword as she neared me. "Don't move." Think of the cold winter after mother and father died. Think of the ice that covered my fur.
The woman's hand reached out for me, her fingers gently stroking my fur before surprise washed over her face. "What did you do?" She began to pull away before I grabbed her hand, forcing her to stay close to me. Her skin began to bubble and burn as she tried her best to pull away. Snow and ice wrapped around her ankles holding her in place as I ran my fingers across her face. I watched as her skin started to bubble once again before it turned black, freezing her body into stone. A blue mist came from my fingers as I traced around her, only stopping when she had completely become a mass of black bubbles, each one still holding a tiny bit of her flame before Casper stood.
His hands found my sword once again before he struck the monster once more. This time the blade forced her body to shatter, as she had been nothing but an ice statue. He stared at her remains for a second longer before running to Rayne. Her body still laying helplessly on the ground, flames beginning to work their way through her body. "Why did you do it Rayne? Why did you stray from the plan?" He held her body close to his own, his lips kissing her forehead and cheeks. "Come on Rayne wake up." Tears streamed down his cheek as he looked back at me.
"I won't let this take you. I refuse to let you become a monster." His fingers ran through her hair as he stood, cradling her in his arms. "Hey stranger." His eyes looked back at me with determination. "Would you mind helping me with her?"
I shook my head gently as I stepped beside him. Why must this world be like this? Why do we all have to lose those we love? I stepped inside one of the still in-tact wooden houses as I watched him set Rayne onto a broken bed. Maybe we don't have to lose everyone. Maybe I can do something to help her.
Casper took a deep breath before stepping back from his friend's body. "I don't know who you are Khajiit, or how you know my name, but I need to ask you a favor." His eyes looked deeply into mine as he turned to me, his face completely serious. "Do you know how to save Rayne? Can you save her?"
I felt slightly taken back as I stared down at my hands. "I…I don't even know what I did to that monster back there. I felt the ice move through my hands, but I didn't tell it too, I didn't even know that I could."
Casper stepped closer to me, desperation hinting at his eyes. "I'll give you whatever you need to heal her. And…I'll owe you. Whatever you need I will give to you, just please help her."
I took a deep breath as I looked over at the woman, her chest rising and falling slowly as the fire continued to spread beneath her skin. What are you getting yourself into Lyla? "Okay I will help her the best I can." I felt like it was an empty promise, I still didn't even know how I could help her.
The man pulled me into a hug before looking outside. "I'm going to go see if there are more injured out there. You work on Rayne, I'll bring you anyone else I find."
Before I could protest he was already out of the door, leaving me alone in the stranger's house. You can do this Lyla. You can do it. I reassured myself as I searched the house. I found countless books on different spells before I found a restoration book. I flipped the book open quickly, my eyes scanning the pages and my hands began to glow slightly, as if the sun itself was trying to break free from my body.
I approached Rayne cautiously, still watching my hands nervously as I placed my fingers lightly onto her face. Please let this work. Please let it work. I watched as her breathing stopped completely. The fire stopping as she let out another scream. Within seconds Casper was back inside, his body tense with fear.
"What's happening?" He asked fearful.
I forced my hands to stay on her face as her body began to twitch as more screams escaped from her lips. Her lips paused, a weak whisper escaping her throat. "Casper, help me."
Her breathing stopped again before it slowed, her eyes fluttering open slightly as she tried to take the light from the room in. Her hand reached out for Casper who quickly grabbed it, his fingers wrapping around her own. "Rayne?"
I released her face as I backed away, still unsure of what I had done today.
"Thank you…" Casper whispered before breaking into slight tears once again. His fingers running through Rayne's now white hair.
I pulled the letter from my clothing remembering why I first came here. I was supposed to find you. I stuttered a bit nervously before forcing myself to speak. "Casper, you said you would help me if I helped her right?"
Casper nodded a bit hesitantly, his eyes still not leaving Rayne.
"I actually came here looking for you. Skyrim needs your help."
Arlene
I stood at the beginning of the walk way, trying to somehow prepare myself for the journey ahead. There can't be that many stone steps right? The blizzard is probably just making it look longer.
A man leaned against the post ahead of me, sadness crossing over his face before he saw me. His legs shook as he walked in my direction, he carried a heavy pack on his back as one of his legs tripped him. The old man fell to the ground before his hands could even catch him. Embarrassment crossing his face.
I ran over quickly, holding out my hand to help him up as he once again found his footing. "Thank you young Khajiit." His lips curved into a smile as he slid the bag off of his arms, letting it crash against the ground. Apples and bread fell into the snow as he looked down downheartedly. "I'm supposed to bring the Greybeards their monthly food but the steps are becoming too much for me. I just can't climb seven thousand steps anymore." He leaned against another one of the posts before sighing a deep breath. "Anyway you could carry the food for me?" He asked hopefully.
I felt all prior hope and energy fade away as I looked back towards the steps. Seven thousand steps? I let out a small sigh as I reached down and grabbed the pack, quickly stuffing the food back into the bag. I can do this. I looked back towards the man as I slug the pack onto my shoulder. "The graybeards are at the top of these steps?"
The old man nodded his head excitedly. "They live at the very top of that mountain, though they are not the most talkative type of people. They never come out of their home, in fact I think I am one of the only people to ever talk to them face to face and even with me they simply thank me then shut the door."
Unless they summon you. I thought to myself. "Is there anything I should worry about on my journey up there?" I thought of all the monsters in the barrow. I couldn't help but hope that those monsters were not all over Skyrim.
"Nothing more than some wolves on the journey up. But usually if you leave them alone they will do the same." He encouraged as he started to slightly push me towards the steps. "Now good luck traveler, thank you for helping me!" He smiled happily as he slightly limped away.
I shook slightly from the cold as I looked up towards the mountain. One step at a time. I began to walk along the stone steps as the town got smaller below me. I slowed as I saw a woman sitting beside a small stone tablet. She seemed completely unaware that she was being watched as her eyes moved along with the words on the stone before her. I tried to make out the words from afar as I slowly inched closer to the tablet. "Kyne called on Paarthurnax, who pitied man, together they taught men to use the voice. Then the dragon war raged. It was dragon against tongue." I whispered aloud.
"Her story is an interesting read don't you agree?" I jumped back as the woman spoke, her eyes still never leaving the stone. "It was her very breath on this mountain that formed all of us, it was her will that she taught us how to fight against the other dragons."
I stood silently unsure of what to say. Why had I never heard of her? I wondered to myself. Then again, my old home was not always best at getting information from Skyrim.
"Is there anything I can get you?" I looked around for some sort of warmth option I could provide her with but she simply shook her head as she looked back at me.
"My only want is to meditate on our history, to try to understand our future." She said thoughtfully.
I stood awkwardly beside her for a second before forcing myself to speak again. "Am I nearing the end of these steps?" I asked slightly exhausted.
She smiled as she spoke. "You're almost there. Though I do have one warning before you continue up the mountain."
I waited for her to continue speaking until a few moments passed. "What is the warning?" I asked a bit impatiently.
"There's a snow creature ahead. I wouldn't try to fight him unless you want to be torn to shreds." She stood as she looked down towards the town beneath us. "Though, it would be a good story to tell the village." She lifted her hand as she started her journey back down the steps, leaving me frozen beside the stone.
A snow monster? I shook myself free of the thought as I forced my feet forward. I already have fought against those creatures in the barrow. I'm sure I could handle the snow creature.
I started to pick up my step as I became more confident, letting my body relax to the sound of my feet crunching the snow beneath me. At least I'm almost there.
Large stone bridges hung over my head as I walked through a small path between two of the mountains. Darkness seemed to take over the once cold blizzard leaving me in utter silence. The only noise being my own footsteps and breathing.
My hand grasped my sword nervously as I quickened my pace. I stopped moving as soon as I heard footsteps above me. I listened closely to hear that they had stopped as well until I went to unseat my sword. A large roar filled up the sky around me as a monster jumped down from one of the ledges above; blocking my way to the greybeards. His body blended into the snow and stone beside for his claws that excitedly scraped the ground. His three eyes watched me carefully as he stood tall, his body a mix of fur and hardened gray skin.
I pulled my sword from its case as the beast charged at me. His mouth opening wide to reveal a sharp row of teeth. I wouldn't try to fight him unless you want to be torn to shreds. I ignored the warning in my head as I charged towards the monster, sword held high in order to attack the beast.
With one swing of its claw, half my chest plate armor was missing and I was flung against the side of the mountain. I quickly stumbled to my feet, his claws missing my head by just a few inches. I went in for another strike, the sword grazed his fur but he only pushed it away with a grunt, sending me back once again.
I looked down at my sword to see it was completely clear of any blood from the beast, if anything I had barely just given him a haircut. My hands shook slightly as I considered my options. I watched the beast run towards me once again as his arm outstretched in order to claw me. I ran towards him, dropping to the ground a second before his claw had found me. He stood puzzled for a second as I quickly pushed off of the ground, only taking a second to quickly reseath my sword before running towards the grey beards home.
Don't look back. Just keep running. I had not even checked to see if I was bleeding as I ran away from the sound of a loud roar behind me. Ahead I could see a large castle of stone, a dragons face etched into the wall. I ran up the last of the stone steps as I desperately reached for the door, slamming it shut behind me as I leaned against the wooden frame for a moment. Listening to see if the monster was still going to try to attack. I can't believe this. I can kill a dragon but not even cause a dent to that thing. I hung my head in shame before a voice broke me from my thoughts.
"So this is the dragonborn?" A man in a gray robe slowly approached me, his face stoic as he observed my broken chest plate.
"Looks like she has been in battle recently." Another man spoke from behind him.
"I'm answering your summons." I said a bit nervously as I followed the first man into the middle of the room.
One of the men handed me an old gray robe which I quickly slipped on to hide my missing armor. The first greybeard turned towards me, his voice indifferent as he spoke. "Let us hear the voice."
"The voice?" I spoke still slightly hesitantly.
"Your shout dragonborn. Let us see if you truly are the dragonborn."
I remembered shouting from before when I had first killed the dragon. Am I still able to do it? I concentrated as I shouted, sending all the greybeards slightly back.
The first greybeard smiled slightly as he brushed his hands across his robe. "Welcome to High Hagathor Dragonborn. We will teach you what we know of the voice. I am Arngeir." Another one of the men stepped forward his face just as stoic as the rest. "This is Einarth. He will teach you what we know."
Einarth stepped forward, his arms folded together within his sleeves as he looked at the stone floor. The light from the torches in the room danced off the walls as his lips opened to form the words.
"Ro."
As soon as the words escaped his lips a glowing blue symbol began to appear on the floor. It was as if the fire's had suddenly gone out, taking all the color of the room with it. I felt the now almost familiar blue mist wrap around me, warming my skin as the word gained new understanding for me. All of my nervousness and fear washed away as I opened my eyes again, seeing that the world was back in color. "Thank you." I spoke confidently.
Einarth simply nodded as he walked towards the back door. The other greybeards urged me to follow as we once again entered the blizzard. Before me stood a tall metal gate that led to the edge of the mountain. "Watch first. Then it will be your turn." I watched as one of the greybeards went to a lever by the gate. They both nodded to each other before the gate opened and slammed shut within seconds. At first I stood there confused until I saw him. Einarth stood calmly on the other side of the gate, as if he had simply teleported there. "You will have three seconds to run to this side of the gate dragonborn." Einarth nodded once again to the other greybeard before holding up his hand slowly. His fingers signaling the start of the three seconds.
I tried to focus on the gate as my feet left the ground. Air flew past me as I stopped my feet just in time to stop myself from falling from the cliffs edge. I turned around proudly to see Arngeir smile back at me. "Your quick mastery of the Thu'um is…astonishing. I had heard the stories of the abilities of the Dragonborn, but to see it for myself…"
"I don't really know how I do it. I just think about it and it happens." I replied.
"You were given this gift by the gods for a reason. It is up to you to decide how to best use it. But for now, you are ready for your last trial." Arngeir approached me, walking me back towards the large metal doors to their home.
"Retrieve for us, the Horn of Jurgen Windcaller, our founder from his tomb in the ancient fane of Ustegrav."
"Thank you teacher." I bowed politely and reached for the doors before his voice stopped me. "Dragonborn, remember that you were given the gift of the voice for a reason. Do not misuse it."
Each greybeard crossed paths to separately go to their own rooms as I walked towards the doorway. Before I exited I turned to speak to Arngeir one last time. "May I ask who was Jurgen Windcaller?" I asked curiously.
"He was a great war leader of the ancient Nords. A master of the voice, or tongue. After the Nord army was annihilated he spent many years pondering the reason as to why they all had to die. He finally came to realize that the gods had punished the Nords for their arrogant and blasphemous misuse of the voice. He was the first to understand that the voice should be used solely for the glory and worship of the gods, not for the glory of men."
He paused as he walked towards his bedroom. "How you will use the voice remains to be seen, but we have high hopes for you Dragonborn. Find Jurgen Windcaller's horn, then we will tell you your next task."
I opened the door, slightly relieved to see that the snow troll from earlier was now gone. I took in a deep breath of fresh air as I looked out over the mountain. It seems life is keeping me separated for a while longer. I thought to myself. But maybe you're already here Lyla. I smiled at the thought of seeing little Lyla once again. She would love to hear that I am the Dragonborn.
