Declaration:I do not own Skyrim.
Chapter four:
It took her around fifteen minutes to exit the cave tunnel. When she finally left the tunnel, she found herself standing on the edge on a high cliff. She looked around for a path that could lead her towards the village. She spotted a small pathway leading east towards where Riverwood was. It was snowing and there was an unpleasant wind beating straight into her face. It was near twilight. „I should be able to reach the village in around three or four hours. I hope this blizzard doesn't get stronger." She heard wolfs somewhere in the distance but didn't pay much attention to them because it seemed they were far away. After two hours she stopped and checked her wound. „Alright, the bleeding hasn't stared again, and it seems there are no factors for infection. I will have to change the stiches when i get to the village and clean the wound." After a while longer she noticed the road that she had waked on when climbing the mountain. When she reached the village it was late night. Elliora continued towards the gates when suddenly she heard a strong voice:
-„Halt. Who goes there?"
„Strange... The guards didn't stop me last time i was here, and then it was also late night."-she grabbed the two swords by the handlets and continued cautiously. When she reached the gate, someone lit a torch and she understood immediately why they stopped her. It seemed that the garrison from Whiterun had arrived. There were two guards in heavy plate armor standing at the gate, and she noticed ten archers standing at the ready above it. She closed on them:
-„I am Elliora Silvereye, i am on mission from Jarl Balgruuf, i was planning to rest in the inn and make my way to Whiterun on the morning."-she told the guards. A man appeared at the top of the gate. He had Captain Stripes. He took a look at her and said:
-„Ah yes! Housecarl Irileth told us about you. Hmm, it seems you had quite the battle with someone. Did you encounter bandits on the road?"-he asked when he saw that her clothes were bloodied and torn. –„Open the gates men!"-he shouted to someone behind the walls.
The gate opened and Elliora made her way in. She was startled by the picture in-front of her. The village streets were crowded with soldiers and their shacks. Elliora headed towards the inn. The only thing that came to her mind when she entered it was „Damn it is crowded in here." The inn was full with soldiers from the new garrison, there were a few villagers and a group of the village regular guards. She pushed her way towards the innkeepers.
-„I really hope that you have a free room!"-she told the man behind the counter. He nodded. She took a look around the room and noticed a free space at one table occupied by some of the guards that were from the village. –„Give me a tankard of mead, then prepare something with meat – it doesn't matter what is the cost- i will sit with the village guards."- when the innkeeper poured her the mead she headed towards the guard's table.
-„Mind if I take a seat here guys?"-she asked them. They turned their attention towards her, watched her for a few second with interest and then one of them nodded. Elliora seated herself in the free chair. Elliora unstrapped her swords and placed them near her tankard paying attention not to topple the tankards of the soldiers. The man who had nodded stared at them. She noticed that he was a sergeant.
-„Are these Akavari swords? Their scabbards look just like new. Who crafted them?"-the man asked.
-„I do not know. I found them in Bleak Falls Barrow."-she answered. The men around her choked with their mead.
-„You have been in the Barrow? But i heard that the Draugr have awakened. There were also a few fel'as from the village went up there a few weeks ago and disappeared."-one of the guards said quietly.
-„I knew it, it's only lies. I bet they only moved somewhere else without announcing it to anyone."-another one countered him.
-„Draugr? Is that what these undead creatures i encountered inside the ruins called? I have never heard of Draugr before."-Elliora announced. The whole inn went silent.
-„You... you mean you really encountered Draugr in Bleak Falls Borrow?"-one of the villagers asked with panicked tone.
-„Yes, and they were no ordinary undead too. First they didn't smell like thousands of years old corpses should. Second – i believe they feel pain. At-least one of them acted so. And he had some strange magic i haven't seen ever before. One of them smashed me in the wall with amazing force. And that one also had intelligence in him to some degree."-Elliora explained to them.
-„Then, are the rumors that the dragons have return true? It is said in old legends that the Draugr are awakened when their masters are near."-another villager said. This time a soldier from the garrison answered him:
-„We believe so. That is why the Jarl send us here. Someone reported to him that Helgen was destroyed by a dragon. We are here to do everything we can to stop it if it comes this way."
The inn buzzed with murmurs. Elliora took a sip from her tankard and pulled one of her swords out of his scabbard. The murmurs stopped and everyone turned their attention to the girl. The diamonds on the handle were reflected in everyones eyes.
-„Well whatever these things are, they are dead now. I had to find something for the Jarl there. It seems Nocturnal was with me because i found these swords. I haven't tested them yet, but i believe they will prove very useful."-she sheathed the sword again and left it on the table.
-„By the way. Can anyone tell me where is the Valrius store? I killed the bandits that robbed him and found something of his. I need to return it tomorrow."-Elliora asked the villagers.
-„From the north gate you go straightforward the south gate, on the way you will see it , you can't miss it."-someone answered her. Elliora nodded. Then she saw that her meal was coming.
-„Give me another tankard of mead!"-she told the woman that had brought her the food. After she placed the food in-front of her the woman nodded and headed back to bring her another tankard.
Elliora dug in instantly. She was starving. All her food for the trip was some smoked meat and a few fruits.
When she finished her meal the Sergeant asked her:
-„What was this item you had to retrieve for the Jarl from the ruins?"
-„I do not know. It's a stone tablet of a sort. The court wizard told me it was important and it might be related to the dragons."-she told him.
-„I still can't believe the draugrs are waking up. I have only heard stories about them. What unbelievable times we are living in. Draugrs awakening, dragons reappearing... unbelievable!"-one of the soldiers mumbled.
-„I haven't been around for a few days, has anything interesting happened?"-asked Elliora. One of the villagers looked at her:
-„It seems there was a big battle near Dawnstar between the Imperial Legion and the Stormcloaks. The Empire has pushed out Ulfric from the region there. It seems it was a surprise attack and the Stormcloaks were caught off-guard. Ulfric has lost around twenty thousand men in the skirmish, the Empire only around eight. It must have been quite the blow to his plans. We still wonder which side will Jarl Balgruuf take in this war."-the man took a look around himself giving displeased look at the soldiers. One of them countered his accusation:
-„The Jarl doesn't want to take a side because either way nords will have to spill the blood of other nords! You are fully aware that the legions in Skyrim are mostly filled with nord population."-the were a few silent murmurs across the inn for a few minutes but then everyone went back to their conversations. Elliora finished hear meal, paid the innkeepers and went towards her room for a nice relaxing bath and a good sleep, that she knew, she needed very much.
The next day the blizzard had already stopped. Elliora packed her things, bought and ate a small breakfast and headed towards the Valrius family. The village was overcrowded as the day before, even more now because there were many more villagers going about their business. Few of the soldiers that had been the previous night at the inn greeted her, but they didn't stop to chat because they had to take their posts. It took her around five minutes to reach the store. When she entered she saw that there were no customers at the moment. Lucan noticed her and he nodded at her with anticipation. Elliora pulled the golden claw from her bag and gave it to him.
-„I can't believe you managed to retrieve it. How did you persuade the bandits to give it back?"-he asked amazed and thankful at the same time.
-„With a few rolling heads and some knives in their backs."-she answered him. He startled for a moment but then regained his composure. –„Aand some of them had a close encounter with the Draugrs, I found them dead in the ruin."-she added. Lucan stared at her for a few moments speechless, but then made another nod and placed the claw on one stand.
-„I must say, I am pretty amazed that you killed them and survived an encounter with these undead. I have heard from the people here that they are not normal undead. I always thought that they were only stories that the locals made to scare their children."-he said shaking his head. –„Ah, yes! Here is your reward for bringing the claw back."-he pulled out a large coin purse from behind the counter. After counting five hundred gold coins he passed them in her hands.
-„Thank you very much! Also i wish to know if i can trade some precious stones with you?"-Elliora pulled out four of the stones she had found. Two diamonds and two rubys with considerable size. Lucan's eyes went wide open.
-„Where did you find these? They must be worth around ten thousand gold coins each."-he said with a sparkle in his eyes. –„Look, i can buy one diamond and one ruby from you. That's all i can afford right now. How about it?"-he asked her with anticipation in his voice. Elliora thought for a few seconds and then dropped the stones in-front of him. The man beamed and rushed towards a small chest in the other end of the room. When he opened it she saw that it was full with coins. After a few minutes he went back to her with three large coin pouches. –„Here twenty thousand gold coins. It was nice doing business with you. If you want to sell or trade other gems like these come back here. A friend of mine will be passing by after a month or so and he will be bringing some interesting stuff, especially useful for mercenaries and adventurers."
Elliora bid farewell to the merchant and headed towards the stables. She had to buy a new horse before going to Whiterun. After bartering with the stable-master for a few minutes she managed to buy a nice young and strong black steed. „I can't believe my luck has finally turned a new page. Ever since i came in Skyrim i had only bad luck. At-least now i have plenty of gold. Maybe I can even buy a house in Whiterun or something."-she thought. „Ralof said that i could join the stormcloaks if i wanted. I have to go to Windhelm and see how are the things there.". After restocking her provisions-this time with much better food than before- Elliora headed towards the city. „I do hope that this dragon stone is useful at-lest a little bit. I am going to kill that wizard if it's useless."
After two days regular stride she met a group of people on the road. Elliora noticed them from a few hundred steps. They were all clad in white-gray robes and pants. All of them were armed. Some had large swords and hammers, others shields, swords and axes. She proceeded with caution towards them with her right grabbing the handle of one of her swords. When she neared them a few turned towards her. She noticed that they were examining her cautiously. One of them spoke:
-„Greetings fellow traveler. May i ask where are you coming from and where are you headed towards?"- Elliora noticed that his tone wasn't threatening.
-„I am coming from Riverwood and my road leads towards Whiterun. Who are you people? You look like monks, but last time i checked monks hired guards, they didn't carry weapons themselves."-she asked them with her grip tightening. She was ready to attack at the smallest jest from them.
The man that had spoken noticed that the young woman in-front of him was tensed. He also noticed that one of her hands was grabbing what it seemed like an akavari sword, and she had two. Her position showed that she wasn't frightened- which surprised him. His group was numbering thirty people, all carrying weapons. When he saw her eyes he startled for a moment. Not only they were in the color of silver but they were emitting coldness and the promise of a quick and painless death. He sensed shivers going through his body. „This girl is not an ordinary mercenary. What is this strange aura she is emitting? I am sure it is not daedric, but it is much more powerful."-he thought.
-„Me and my friends are a part of the Vigil of Stendarr. You do not have to worry about us. We hunt Daedra, daedra worshipers, monsters and beasts. I do not sense daedra energy around you, and i am pretty sure you are not a monster or a beast in human skin."-he added with the hint of a smile on his face. Elliora relaxed and dropped the handle of her sword. She had heard of the order and she once even had considered for joining in it.
-„Ah Vigilants? What a nice surprise. I am familiar with your order, actually i helped a few of your brothers and sisters a few years ago in Hammerfell."-she told them. She had encountered few members of the order two years ago, and helped them destroy a daedric shrine that was crawling with daedra. Some cult had killed a whole village to summon them. Their numbers were a few hundred.
-„Ah so you have been a part in that mission? Come to think about it i heard somewhere that there was a group of mercenaries that had helped with the task. I also heard that there was a young girl that had an outstanding swormanship."-the man turned towards his brethren. –„Brothers and sisters it seems we have encountered a friend of the order today."-then he turned back to her. –„If you wish you can camp tonight with us, you are most welcomed."
Elliora thought for a moment then nodded:
-„Alright, i could use some company and maybe you can tell me if you have encountered anything interesting in the near past." She jumped down from her horse and continued walking along with them.
When the night came they made a camp near the road. The weather was much better than when she was in the mountains, it wasn't snowing or raining and there was no wind at all. Few members of the party went in the nearby forest to hunt. After few hours they brought two deers with them and started preparing them for cooking along with two others that were making a large bonefire. When the preparations were ready they gathered around it. Elliora turned towards one of them:
-„I wonder, could you explain to me how can someone summon daedra even after Martin Septim closed the gateway? I thought that it was impossible to summon daedra after the Oblivion crisis."-she always had wondered about that. The man she had spoken to answered her:
-„Well the thing is – Emperor Martin didn't close the link towards the planes of Oblivion. It seems he just made it impossible for anyone to open more Oblivion gates from both sides of the realms. People can still summon daedra, but they can never call upon whole armies. That is why the Orden was created. We stay vigilant and keep our eyes for daedric energies and worshipers, and when we find them we put an end to them."-he explained.
-„Hmm, that makes sense, but after „The War" people might think that mages would think twice before doing stuff like this."-Elliora stated more to herself than to the others. She heard a few snickers around her. –„What's so funny?"-she ashed curiously.
-„There will always be people who strife for greatness and power. That is just the way the world works."-said the leader of the party. –„And there will always be people like us who stay vigilant and ready to fight them."-he added passionately. Elliora noded, turned hear face towards the bonefire and burrowed herself in her thoughts.
She continued with the group until they reached Whiterun. There they parted ways. The orden's warriors were headed towards their base that was placed in a mountain south of Downstar.
The vicinity of the city was full with life just like the last time she had been there. Small parties of soldiers were patrolling the main roads and farms, merchants were going in and coming out of the city gates, and farmers were working on their field. Elliora headed towards the stables that were placed right in-front of the south gate. She had decided to leave her horse there and head to the palace by foot. She also needed to visit a jewelry store and a banker.
After several hours of wandering around she managed to find a decent looking jewelry shop. Elliora entered it and went towards the counter. A man with expensive clothes gave her a disapproving look. Elliora just shrugged and pulled her pouch with precious stones. She placed all eight in-front of him. Two rubys, three diamonds and three sapphires. The man's eyes were about to pop when she placed the last one on the counter.
-„Such beauty, such perfect shapes, and they are all so large, around forty-forty five karats each."-his eyes were sparkling. –„Are you by any chances here to sell them?"-it seemed he would kill a person to have these jewels.
-„I want to know how much it will cost me for a necklace with one of the saphires made with a silver chain embroidered with diamonds?"-Elliora asked the jewelmaker. He took a look at her and started thinking. It seemed he was calculating in his head. After a few seconds he raised his head again:
-„Well given that you are supplying the jewel, the price will be around fifteen thousand gold pieces."-he took another look at her and her torn out clothes.
-„Alright, now tell me how much are you willing to give me for the rest of the jewels!"-she told him with a grin. The merchants eyes lit again:
-„Give me a few minutes to examine them and i will tell you."- he said and Elliora nodded. The man pulled out some strange device and started examining the goods. After half an hour he was done with the last jewel and placed it in-front of him along with the rest:
-„Such high quality. I have seen such jewels only on royalty. I can buy them off for five hundred thousand gold pieces. What do you say hum?"-the jewelmaker told her.
-„Sold!"-Elliora raised her right hand. The man shook it and went towards a large metal safe. He pulled out three large bags and dragged them towards her.
-„Here. Five hundred thousand gp. If you want you can count them when you have the chance to be sure."-the man said. Elliora shook a hand and grabbed the three bags in one hand:
-„I believe you. Can you direct me towards a bank? I will have them count the gold."-she pulled the coin purse and dropped it on the counter. –„Here. There are around eighteen thousand gp. In here. I want you to make that necklace i told you about." The merchant nodded and took the purse.
-„There is a good bank down the street of the left. I believe it is the safest because the building is made of marble and the safes are made from ebony steel."
Elliora thanked him and exited the jewelry-store. She continued down the street and found the bank exactly where the man had told her it will be. The building was massive. Three stores high and brilliant white. She pushed the steel door and entered. There weren't many people inside. Only a few customers and the bankers. Elliora turned towards one of the female staff.
-„Greetings! I would like to deposit a large sum of gold."-she told the woman. The banker took a sceptic look at her.
-„How much are you depositing?"-her tone was almost unpleasant. Elliora smirked:
-„Forty eight thousand gold coins."-she said with a loud voice on purpose. The bank went silent. The woman in-front of her was speechless.
-„F-f-four .. kh-kh."-the woman pulled a glass of water and drank it on ex. –„You have come to the right place, miss..?"-she was still shaking a little, but she was preparing a few parchments.
-„My name is Elliora Silvereye. Silvereye as one word."-she told the woman which was now writing on one of the parchments. After a few minutes the woman finished her writing and pulled her head up looking at her.
-„Alright miss Silvereye. Now – „ –the woman started- „-here is how our bank works. We store your gold in one of our safes. The only people who will have access to it will be me and you. The bank doesn't take responsibility if someone robes the vaults."-Elliora raised her hand but the woman countered her. –„But! You can sign another contract with which we take will take responsibility for an yearly fee of one percent of the deposited sum."-the banker- woman finished. Elliora thought for a few seconds:
-„Alright, i want that extra contract."
When they were finished with the paperwork, the banker showed Elliora to her vault. There were three men waiting them there.
-„These men will count the sum."-she explained to Elliora.
-„Alright, just wait a few seconds, i have to fill my pouch."-Elliora told the banker.
It took the personnel around two hours to count everything. When they were ready the banker locked the vault and gave one of the two keys to her.
„Now time to do some shopping. Then on my way to the damned wizard. Oblivion have mercy on him if he was aware of the draugr."-Elliora thought to herself while strolling trough the streets looking for a clothing store.
The sun was setting down. It seemed it was around eight o'clock. The streets were beginning to empty. „Damn, i hope i can find a damned store before they all close." Just as she was thinking that. She reached the end of the street that she was walking on, and found herself standing in-front of a large store that had many different clothes displayed on the windows. „Finally!" Elliora rushed inside. The store was empty. There was only one woman that was reading a book behind the counter. The woman took a quick glance towards Elliora, nodded and went back to her reading. Elliora started looking through the store. She bought a couple of nice black leather shirts, a large gray leather cape with a hood, and few pairs of under-ware. After she changed in the store she headed towards the Bannered Mare. It was late so Elliora decided to visit the court wizard the next day. The streets were emptying. It took her a couple of hours to reach the inn. There were only few patrons in the place. Elliora ordered some food and a tankard of mead. She instucted the innkeeper to prepare a bathtub for her in her room. She didn't waste anytime chatting with the other customers this time. She was tired, and after she finished eating she went straight to her room.
The morning came faster than she liked it. She ate a small breakfast and headed towards the palace. Unlike in the night, the streets were crawling with people. Elliora spotted Adrianne Avenicci resting in-front of her forge. Adrianne saw her and waved her hand. Elliora waved back, but didn't stop for a chat. She reached the stairs. „Ah gods damn it, not again." – she hated climbing stairs.
When she reached the top it was already noon. The guards were the same from the last time she was here and they nodded to her when she passed them and entered the keep. She made her way towards the main hall. The Jarl wasn't in his throne, and advisor Avenicci was also nowhere in sight. Elliora went to the wizard's door and knocked twice on it.
-„Come on in!"-she heard a muffled shout.
She opened the door and entered the room. Farengar wasn't alone. In-front of his desk was standing a middle aged woman wearing full plate armor in bronze coloring. Elliora noticed that the woman had an akavari sword strapped on her left thigh. The insignia on her armor looked familiar. Farengar was talking to her :
-„You see? The terminology is clearly First Era or even earlier. I am convinced that this is a copy of an much older text. Perhaps dating just after the Dragonborn. Maybe i can use this to cross-reference with other texts."
-„Good! I am glad you are making progress. My employers are anxious to have some answers."-said the woman.
-„Oh, have no fear. The Jarl himself has finally taken some interest in that matter. I now have time to devote most of my time on this."-said Farengar with reassuring voice.
-„Time is running out Farengar, don't forget this isn't some theoretical theoretical question. Dragons have come back."- she seemed very disturbed.
-„Yes, yes don't worry. Although to see a dragon up-close personally will be tremendously valuable. Now, let me show you something else that your employers might find very intriguing... Ah!"-he didn't finish because he saw Elliora.-„Yes, the Jarl's protege. Back from Bleak Falls Barrow? Huh, you didn't die it seems."-he said with a cheerful tone. Elliora barely contained herself from breaking his teeth. –„Ah, you have the Dragon Stone. It seems you are above the usual brutes the Jarl sends my way." Elliora almost choked at his words.
-„How did you know i have the Stone?"-she asked him.
-„Because i can feel it's power from you."-he answered. Elliora pulled down her bag, took the stone out and placed it on the table. The armored woman pulled her head from the map she was examining and turned her attention towards the stone.
-„Ok, so what is next?"-Elliora asked the wizard. He looked at her:
-„This is where your job ends. And mine begins. The work of the mind. Sadly undervalued here in Skyrim. My associate here would be pleased to see your handiwork. She discovered it's location by means so far she has declined to share with me."-he turned towards the other woman: -„So your information was correct after all. And we have our friend here"-he pointed with his head towards Elliora-„to thank for recovering it for us."
The woman looked surprised.
-„You went in to Bleak Falls Barrow and got that? Nice work!"-she turned to Farengar : -„Just send me a copy when you decipher that alright?"
All of a sudden the the door opened with a loud „BANG" and Irileth entered the room with a dark expression on her face.
-„Farengar, you need to come at once. A dragon has been sighted outside the city."-she looked at Elliora: -„You should come too."
-„A dragon? How exciting! Where was it seen? What was it doing?"-the wizard sounded like a child in-front of candy. Unlike him Elliora felt shivers running through her body. It seemed Irileth wasn't sharing the wizard's excitement.
-„I wouldn't be so happy about that. If a dragon decides to attack Whiterun, we have no means to stop it from burning down everything. I don't know if we can stop it."- she headed towards the second floor. Elliora and Farengar followed her. Elliora noticed that the armored woman was nowhere to be seen. „Hmph! Wonder where she ran to?"-she thought to herself. They reached the second floor of the palace. There she saw the Jarl siting on a chair infront of a small table covered with different maps. Proventus was standing in his right side like the last time, and there was a large nord with a huge axe standing on his left side. In-front of the table a soldier was kneeling. The Jarl was talking to him:
-„So.. Irileth tells me you came from the western tower?"
-„Yes my lord."-he looked exhausted. Irileth stood beside him:
-„Tell him what you told me! About the dragon."-she commanded him. The soldier took a deep breath:
-„That's right. Saw it coming from the south. He was fast... faster than anything i have ever seen."
-„What did it do? Is it attacking the watchtower?"-asked the Jarl.
-„No my lord. It was just circling overhead when i left. I never ran so fast in my life. I thought it would come after me for sure."-answered the soldier.
-„Good work son! We'll take it from here. Get down to the barracks for some food and rest. You've earned it."-the Jarl turned to Irileth-„Irileth! Take two hundred guards and head down there."
-„I have already commanded my men to wait for me at the main gate."-she told him.
-„Good. Don't fail me!"-he turned to Elliora this time: -„There is no time to waste. I need your help again. I want you to go with Irileth and help her fight this dragon. You survived Helgen and have more experience with these creature than anyone else here. We will be in your debt if you help us out."-he looked at the wizard: -„Farengar, i want you to stay here. I can't risk losing you with Irileth if things go south. I need you to stay here and prepare any defenses you can if the dragon comes this way."- he said. The wizard didn't look very happy but bowed and left. The Jarl turned towards Elliora again: -„So what will you decide?"
Elliora thought for a moment. „Damn them to Oblivion. Why is this happening. And here i thought everything will be alright. But the Jarl is right. Maybe i can do something that will save some lives. Blast it!"
-„Alright, i will go with your men. Irileth!"-she turned to the dark elf- „ Lead the way!"
The dunmer bowed to the Jarl and made her way down the stairs with Elliora following her. They left the palace in a hurry and made their way trough the city towards the western gate. The city guard was in an uproar. There were soldiers everywhere running to their posts on the towers and walls preparing if the dragon appeared. The citizens were running towards their homes. When they reached the gate Elliora saw that the party of guards that was supposed to leave the city had gathered. Irileth stood in-front of them:
-„Here is the situation men! A dragon is attacking the western watchtower." A wave of panic spread trough the lines.
-„WHAT?"
-„Now we are in for it!"
-„A real live dragon?"
-„You heard right!"-said Irileth: -„I said a dragon. I don't much care where it came from, or who sent it. But i do know that it has made a mistake of attacking Whiterun."-she said with burning passion and the soldiers relaxed a little.
-„But Housecarl... How can we fight a dragon?"-asked one of the soldiers.
-„That is a good question. None of us have ever seen a dragon before, nor were we expected to meet them in battle. But we are honor-bound to fight it. Even if we fail. This dragon is threatening our homes... our families. Could you call yourselves Nords if you ran from this monster? Are you going to let me face this thing alone?"-Irileth shouted. –„It is more than honor at stake here. Think about it! It's the first dragon sighted since the last age. The honor in killing it will be ours! Now what do you say? Shall we go kill us a dragon?"
-„Yea! Damn right. This thing is good as dead!"-heated shouts started coming from the crowd of soldiers.
-„Alright soldiers. Lets go."-she turned to Elliora: -„The tower is two thousand feet from the city. It will take a while until we reach it. Can you keep up with us? We will be keeping a standart training running pace. The cavalry has taken almost all of the war horses so we can't use them at the moment."
Elliora nodded and they began their fast march after the gates were opened. The tempo was easy to adjust to. Ten minutes running, ten minutes walking. After half and hour she saw the tower in the distance. Her eyebrows narrowed. There was smoke coming from the direction where the watchtower was. They closed in, and stopped around a hundred feet from the tower behind a large rock formation. The tower was in ruins. The top of the tower was torn apart. There were pieces of it all around the construction. Small flames were still burning on the grass. The dragon was nowhere in sight. Irileth stepped in-front of them:
-„I know it looks bad. We need to figure out what happened, and if that dragon is still lurking around. Spread out and look for survivors, we need to know what we are dealing with."-she commanded and the soldiers started to spread around the tower. Elliora headed towards the entrance. She passed a couple of training dummies that were torn apart. Elliora grabbed the handles of her swords and proceeded with caution. She was about to reach the entrance of the tower when all of a sudden a panicked soldier ran out.
-„No! Get back. It's still around here somewhere. Hroki and Tor were just grabbed when they tried to make a run for it."-he said. Then she heard a loud road from above them. –„Xynareth save us! Here he comes again!"-the soldier ran inside the tower.
-„Draw your bows and make the arrows count!"-Irileth shouted. The soldiers dispersed and readied their bows. Then Elliora saw him. A massive gray behemoth swooped above them. „It's a different dragon. It's not the black death i saw in Helgen. And this one is smaller than him. So it is true. The dragons are returning in numbers."
-„Don't stay in groups!"-she shouted towards the soldiers, but was just a few seconds late. The dragon was above a group of twenty soldiers. He opened his jaw and she heard the same strange words she had herd the black dragon speaking:
-„YOL TOOR SHUL!" –a blazing inferno sprung from his jaw burning the soldiers below him to crisp instantly. Elliora noticed that the flames were less intense than the flames the black dragon had called. The dragon turned towards her. –„YOL TOOR SHUL!"- she heard again. She jumped behind a large rock, mostly by reflex and then she heard the noise of the inferno behind her. She smelled melting rock. She could never mistake the smell. She had visited the vulcano in Morrowind, and she could never forget the smell of molten lava. „Damn these are some hot flames this monster is conjuring." The inferno stopped and she made a run for the tower. Few arrows passed near her. She turned her head instantly, only to see them bouncing off the dragon scales. „It seems Irileth's plan wont work." Then the dragon did something very strange. He landed on the ground near another group of soldiers. He dove his head towards them. There was as short struggle and then the dragon raised his head. Elliora saw that he had a soldier in his jaw that was struggling to get free. She ran towards him. There was a loud cracking sound and the soldier went silent and unmoving. The dragon made a wide swing with his head and threw the body in-to the air. He turned towards the group again and opened his mouth for-what Elliora thought-another Dragon Breath. She reached him just in time. Pulling her swords she jumped near his left wing. She struck it with a savage double left swing tearing a large part of it away. The dragon roared in pain and turned towards her. He lashed his thorny tail towards her but she dodged it with a rear somersault. She lunged for his neck with her right hand while swinging for his jaw with her left. The dragon, seeing the sword heading for his jaw raised his head, but he didn't react fast enough to dodge the sword pointed at his neck. Her sword struck true and he roared in pain again. Elliora was bathed in the blood that was squirting from the wound. The dragon looked at her again and opened his mouth:
-„FUS RO DAH"-came out a familiar shout.
An invisible force smashed right in to her and send her flying towards the tower behind her. She smashed in the wall with unbelievable force. She could have sworn she heard bones cracking. Then she fell on the ground blood pouring from her mouth and nose. „Shit! SHIT! That was so freaking stronger than that thing in the crypt did!" She took a very painful breath and choked spewing more blood on herself and the ground. „Oblivion! I hope atleast one potion is still whole, i need to stop my internal bleeding." – she crawled towards her bag that was laying a few feet away from her. She took a look at the enemy. He was in the air again. „Damn it! I thought i had disabled that damn wing!" It seemed he was busy with another group of soldiers. „Their numbers are runing thinner by the moments. What a monster!"-she thought grimly. She reached her bag and started looking for surviving porions. After a few seconds she managed to get a hold of a whole one. Her breathing was geting harder. She drank the potion as fast as she could and almoust choke again.
-„KILL IT! Bring IT DOWN!"-she heard the frantic shouts of Irileth.
-„The arrows can't penetrate his scales! Damn it! SPREAD OUT he is coming for another Breath attack!"-a female soldier shouted.
Elliora coughed again. This time there was no blood coming out of her mouth. „The internal bleedings have finaly stopped. I dont have much time." She checked her chest, arms and legs for broken bones. She couldn't move her left hand from below the elbow. „Gods be damned, it's broken. I can't even hold my sword." She took her sword and sheathed it. Then grabbed her other sword with her healthy arm and rushed towards where the dragon was attacking some of the surviving soldiers. „I have to lure him near the tower somehow. Then maybe i will be able to do something...! I wonder if he understands human languages." Then the dragon landed again. He sweped two soldiers with his unharmed wing and threw another wave of burning inferno at the others of the group. Elliora reached his tail and swung with all the force she could muster. She managed to cut off the thorny edge of it. The dragon shook with pain and turned his attention at her. His eyes opened wide when he saw her. „Heh! It seems he thought i was dead or something. Well, surprise surprise you damned lizzard!"-she thought wickedly. The dragon roared with anger and Elliora ran full-speed towards the tower. The huge monster shot in the air and swooped towards her. She managed to dodge his claws by rolling on the ground. She stood and continued runing towareds the tower. She saw two soldiers that were shouting encouragingly to her. The dragon was coming for another round. He was just about to grab her but she made a large forward jump and landed on her belly inside the watchtower. She rolled sideways towards the walls because she was followed by another fire blast from the dragon outside. She took a glance outside and saw that „he" – atleast she thought that it was a „he"- was circling the tower. She also niticed that he was flying one level below the maximum height of the tower. Then an idea popped in her head. She stood on her feet. Whrapped her hand tight to her body and headed towards the top of the tower. The shouts outside were much less than few minutes ago. „Gods be damned, there are less than fifty soldiers left alive by the sounds of it!" She hurried on the stairs. She stopped and looked down to the two soldiers.
-„HEY!"-she shouted. They startled and looked up at her. –„I want you to draw the dragon's attention when i tell you!"-she told them.
-„WHAT? WHY?"-one of them asked. He was at the brink of snapping.
-„I have a plan. Just draw his attention. I am not asking you to go outside and fight him. DO as I say and maybe we will be able to survive. We are good as dead anyway. Atleast we can try something."-she told him. The soldiers took a look at each other then turned to her and nodded. She continued climbing the stairway. The roof ot he tower was missing. „Ah, so that is where the rubble came from." She took a peek outside. The dragon was hovering over two soldiers not thirty feet away. Elliora looked down behind her and shouted:
-„Ok! Draw his attention here!"-she commanded them. They both ran outside of the tower and started shouting insults at the gray behemoth.
Elliora crawled slowly towards the edge of the tower and took cover behind a part of the wall. She glanced towards the dragon and saw him flying towards the sawthat his trajectory was still one floor below where she was hiding. Elliora tightened her grip over her sword waiting in anticipation. The dragon lowered his speed when he reached the watchtower and prepared to fry the runing humans below him. Elliora made her move. She took a few steps backwords and then ran as fast as she could. The dragon was just infront oh her. She jumped as hard as she could and landed on his back, just below his neck. The dragon shook in amazement and tried to look back. She didnt give him that chance. She made a hard thrust with her sword in the base of his neck. The dragon screamed in pain. Elliora continued thrusting her sword repeatedly. The monster began to loose height and soon he crashed in to the ground. Elliora was sent flying again, but she managed to land withount severe injuries this time. The dragon's blood was everywhere. The creature was convulsing with pain. He tried to raise but crumbled on the ground again. Elliora approached his head slowly. She raised her sword in a finishing stance. The dragon looked at her and she could have sworn he was laughing inside. She made a thrust and stuck the sword deep in his head. All of a sudden the dragon screamed again, but this time she heard human language:
-„NOOO! DOVAHKIIN!"-and he fell to the ground dead.
Then something verry strange happened. Somekind of energy began to separate from his body and a strange light shot towards her. She felt power. Her wounds began to heal instantly. She could feel the exaustion fading away. The feeling was amazing. She felt a tingle on her body. „What a strange sensation." She took a look around. The surviving soldiers were gathering near the tower behind her. Irileth was still alive, her right hand was burned but otherwise she didn't seem to have any major injuries. Elliora headed in their direction. The soldiers were giving her strange looks. She noticed something strange in those looks. „Well, I did just kill a dragon after all, maybe they are too shaken at the moment." She was about to talk to Irileth when she heard a rumbling noise. She looked above her and saw a large piece of the wall falling right above her. She didnt have time to think and do anything. Then out of nowhere the words in the Bleak Falls Barrow came to her mind. The most strange thing was that she knew what they were saying. Most of the words were incompleate but she remembered one that was intact. She acted on instinct.
-„FUS!"-she shouted and the falling wall was blown away. „WHAT THE?"-Elliora was shaken. The soldiers were standing speechless behind her. One of them stepped forward:
-„I can't belive it! You're... Dragonborn..."- he said trembling like he was in the presense of one of the gods themselves.
-„What? What do you mean Dragonborn?"-asked Elliora confused. The other soldiers had the same looks in their eyes as the man infront of her. A mixture of awe and fear.
-„In the very oldest tales, back from where there still were dragons in Skyrim, Dragonborn would slay dragons and steal their power. That's what you did right? Absorb the dragon's power. That bright syphon of energy."-said the soldier. Elliora was gering more and more confused.
-„I do not know what happened, and what i did. But yes, my wounds are healed and i feel like i have sleped for a whole day straight."
-„Yes! I am right. You can „Shout" now, can't you? That's what you did with the wall chunk. That means only one thing. You- are – Dragonborn!"-he said with awe.
-„Dragonborn? What are you talking about?"-asked another guard. And a third interfered:
-„That's right! My grandfather used to tell me stories about Dragonborn! Those born with the Dragon Blood in 'em. Like old Tiber Septim himself."
-„I never heard of Tiber Septim killing any dragons."-countered the guard that hadn't heard of the Dragonborn before. The older one smacked him behind the head:
-„There were no dragons then idiot. They are just coming back now in ... forever."-he looked at Elliora again. –„But the old tales tell of Dragonborn who could kill dragons and steal their power. You must be one!"-then he looked at Irileth:
-„What say you Irileth? You're being awfully quiet."
-„Come on, Irileth, tell us! Do you belive in this Dragonborn business?"-asked a female soldier thsi time. Irileth's expression was dark.
-„Hmph. Some of you would be better off keeping quiet than flapping your gums on a matter you don't know anything about. Here's a dead dragon, and that's something i definitely understand. Now we know we can kill them. But i don't need somekind of mythical Dragonborn. Someone who can put down a dragon is more than enough with me."-she looked at Elliora with respect. The old soldier who had spoken about the Dragonborn shook his head:
-„You woldn't understand, Housecarl. You ain't a Nord. Irileth countered him:
-„I have been all across Tamriel. I have seen plenty of things just as outlandish as this one. I'd advise you all to trust in the strength of your sword arm over tales and legends."-she said with steel conviction. But the soldier wasnt backing out. He looked at Elliora again:
-„That was „Shouting", what you just did. Must be. You really are a Dragonborn then..."-he didnt finish because Irileth shouted:
-„Alright everyone, see if there are any wounded among the bodies and then we will head back towards the city."-she turned to Elliora: –„You can go on ahead and inform the Jarl of what happened here. We can't thank you enough for your support. Well then, i have work to do. See you later in the castle!"-and she turned towards the surviving soldiers.
Elliora packed her scattered things in her bag and headed slowly back to the city. „Hundred and fifty soldiers dead for twenty minutes. And they were scattered on small groups. What monstrous magic and strength."- She unstrapped her left hand and made a few moves with it. „My injuries are fully healed. I wonder if what the old man said is true. Dragonborne was it? I ahve to find some information on this topic. If my memory serves me right Martim Septim was the last of the Dragon Blood. But nowhere in the history books is said that he had dragon powers or magic. How very strange."- She continued contemplating.
She was half her way back to the city when all of a sudden the ground shook violently and a thunderous shout came from the huge mountain that was visible on the southeast side of Whiterun;
-„DOOOO-VAAAAAH-KIIIIIN!"
„What in the world was that? Such power to shake the whole plain. I wonder what in Oblivion has happened now!" She continued with a jogging speed.