Sorry this chapter took a little longer, but I started year 12 three days ago and have had my hands full with that. But here you go, my loyal followers! Shout Chapter 8! Enjoy!

Chapter Eight

"Come back to the house with me." Erik took Alinja by the hand, pulling gently for her to follow. "I have to show you something."

"What is it?" Alinja asked, wiping away some escaped water on her cheeks.

"You'll see." He replied with a smug look on his face.

They trudged back into the house, greeted by Meeko, who wasn't showing any signs of tiredness. Erik walked over to his bed and crouched down, extending his arms underneath. Finally finding what he was looking for, he hauled out a large wooden chest. He gestured for her to come over and look at what he was about to show her.

"When you were at the healers back in Solitude," he explained, heaving open the heavy lid, "Falk Fire-Beard—the steward at the Blue Palace—came to us. Apparently he had head what had happened to you and was feeling guilty that he may have led you to you death. He wanted to pay for any expenses that we have to pay the healers."

"Did he give you gold?" Alinja asked, leaning over her partner's shoulder to see what was inside the chest, but whatever was inside was covered by furs.

"Yes," Erik continued, "and when I told him the mages were trying to resurrect Queen Potema, he suddenly became hysterical…" Erik told her the story.


-Last Week-

"What did you find at Wolfskull Cave?" Falk asked, curiously.

"Some necromancers were trying to resurrect someone named Potema." Erik replied, not thinking much by it.

"Potema herself?" Falk's face twisted with fear. "Please tell me you stopped them."

Erik nodded, slightly confused with his reaction. "Yes, we managed to interrupt their ritual."

"You've done a larger service to the realm than you could possibly know." Falk shook slightly, but professionally steadied himself. "A resurrected Potema…I shudder at the thought."

"You don't have to worry about those mages anymore." Erik reassured. "They'll think twice before trying something like that again."

"Yes," Falk said, "but I do not think mere gold can show my—Solitude's—appreciation."

"What…what do you mean?"

"I have arranged with the Court's blacksmith to permit you to choose any set of armour and weapons from the royal armory." Falk seemed pleased with Erik's reaction.

"Wh…what? You mean…anything?" Erik didn't know what to say. "Are you sure?"

"You have done this city…no this world an amazing service." Falk clasped a hand onto Erik's shoulder. "And of course, you may pick a set for your friend as well."

"Woof! Woof!" Meeko barked, causing his sound to echo throughout the halls of the temple.

"And of course, your brave, furry companion may have a set as well." He added. "We have a set of leather hound armour we use for our war hounds."

"Thank you, so much." Erik said, his chest twisting with emotion.

"No," Falk smiled warmly, "thank you."


"You got us armour?" Alinja exclaimed. "Which ones?"

Erik lifted the furs to reveal two sets of armour. One was the gold and aqua colours of glass armour. The other was the deep, shiny black of ebony armour. Alinja's eyes widened with pure admiration. She had never seen such beautiful craftsmanship before. She couldn't take her eyes off them.

"I wasn't sure which type you'd like, so I thought I'd get you the glass armour." Erik explained. "I thought it would suit you…I mean…it is almost as beautiful as you."

Alinja chuckled, feeling her cheeks warm. "You flirt." She muttered. "Thank you so much!" She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek. "What would I do without you?" Her smile faded slightly. "What would I do without you…?" She looked at him. "I'd be dead so many times if you weren't there for me."

"Alinja…"

"And I was the one who said I wanted to be my own hero." She continued. "I was selfish, Erik…I'm so sorry." Tears welled up in her eyes again. "You've always been there for me. I know I wanted to protect myself, but I am so happy and lucky to have you by my side, constantly. Erik…you are my hero."

Erik gazed admirably at her. His hand left the side of the chest and was placed on her cheek. "I'll always be here for you."

She nodded and accepted his soft kiss before they turned their attention back to the armour glinting before them like a cache of precious treasure. Alinja lifted the golden glass armour. It was flawless. Every detail down to the engraved designs swirling around the chest plate to the shimmering malachite that decorated the shoulders was utterly mesmerizing. The gold put together with the aqua made her think of an underwater palace—or what she would imagine one would look like.

She shifted her eyes to the ebony armour. Its vast chest plate of black was as breathtaking as the night sky itself. The way light glinted off it was like the glowing stars. The armour reminded her of what a champion of the Divines would wear, a true Knight of the Pure. She flicked her gaze onto Erik's face. He was a true knight. Though he belonged a Knight of the Nine, he remained by her side. He belonged by her. He knight in shining armour. Literally.

"Come on," Erik's soft voice interrupted her thoughts, "the sun will be rising soon, we should get this armour on."

Alinja nodded and they changed uncertainly into their new armour. "How did you know it would fit me?" she asked, when her glass armour clipped perfectly around every shape of her body.

"I've…hugged you plenty of times to know what size you are." Was Erik's reply.

"But you've never hugged around here," she gestured to her chest, "and here," she gestured to her behind.

"Y-yeah, w-well…" Erik trailed off, looking to his shoulder and strapping the last of his armour on.

"You look like a god." Alinja blurted out.

"Huh?" He looked up, catching her eye.

She quickly looked away, embarrassed. "Did I say that aloud?"

"Well, you took the words from my mouth." He kissed her on her cheek and strode over the chest, lifting a set of leather hound armour out. "Meeko," he called, "come here, boy."

Meeko trotted over to his master and jumped up on him, licking his face. Erik calmed him and placed the leather around his back, clipping it around his belly, behind his front legs and around his chest.

"We need to leave soon if we don't want Mralki to find us." Alinja suggested, stuffing more supplies into her pack.

"Agreed," Erik answered, "so, we're taking the east road to Helgen?"

"Yeah, it's the quickest way to get there."

"Let's not waste any time, then."

The three companions slid out of the house, locking it behind them. The night was calm. A cool breeze whipped Alinja's hair and pleasantly chilled her skin. The once clear sky was now marked with pale blue clouds like islands floating above them. The night life was alive as well. Crickets and other night insects buzzed and rang, filling the air with nocturnal music. The hoots of an owl in the distance added to the atmosphere.

Alinja, Erik and Meeko trudged down the cobble stone path leading to the east and out of Rorikstead. One last glance at the dull life they were leaving behind once more and they were on their way to investigate Helgen.


The sun was halfway to noon in the sky as they approached the hill that lead to the gates of Helgen. Erik glanced around.

"Well, if there was a dragon here, there's definitely no sign of it being around this area." He concluded.

Alinja followed his gaze and looked at the shrubbery lining the road. Nothing was disturbed. Nothing was destroyed or on fire like it had been in her dream, but they hadn't reached the village yet. So there was still a chance that her dream had actually been a vision into the future. But she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. There was an eerie feeling sitting in the pits of her heart. She suddenly stopped walking, making Erik and Meeko stop too to look back at her.

"Hey, what's the matter?" Erik asked.

"Can you hear it?" Alinja whispered.

"Hear what?" Erik matched the volume pitch of her voice. "I can't hear anything."

"Exactly." She replied. "It's quiet. There are no birds chirping, not insects humming. This place would be great grazing grounds for elk, but…there's nothing here." A chill ran down her spine and she suddenly got the feeling that she was being watched. She lowered her voice more. "It's as if the wildlife are afraid to live here."

Erik took in her words and strained his ears to hear any signs of movement from animals. But there was nothing. Not even a rustle.

Meeko suddenly lowered his head, ears flat and tail lowered in-between his legs. He whimpered softly and took a few steps back.

"Meeko?" Alinja rested a hand on the canine's head. "What's the matter, boy?"

The dog flickered between whimpers and soft growls. Alinja's brow furrowed slightly. She observed Meeko's actions. They were…

"Meeko was acting like this in my dream." Alinja gasped. She swung her head around to the top of the hill. They wouldn't see over the crest, but the village lay just on the other side. "Come on. I have a bad feeling about this."

She led her companions into a run over the hill, the wood and stone walls of Helgen slowly rising up to meet them. Then…then the atmosphere changed drastically. The air was heavy. The aura was…haunting. The scent of thick smoke wafted towards them. Something was burning. Suddenly, the ground shook, causing loose stones in the road to shift loose and roll down the hill. The trees waved as if they were sentient beings trying to pull their roots out of the ground and run away.

"Graaaaw!"

The sharp shriek of a creature echoed through the mountains. Erik, Alinja and Meeko raised their heads to the heavens, to witness the monster of legend. It was the dragon.

**Dedicated to my uncle, Clyde. Left this world due to an unknown disconnection within the walls of his brain. May you rest in peace.**