Chapter 9: College of Winterhold
"What happened here?", I asked, looking at the dead Forsworn on the ground.
"We had to clean this area first, we can't let those Forsworn be near the temple.", Delphine replied and pulled her Blades sword back. Their armor and weapons are weird, but I could get used to them…
We made our way deeper into the temple until we came to a small cliff, where a bridge was already there but we still have to let the bridge down before we can pass it. There are also three stones near the bridge with some kind of… pictures or symbols on them. I had no idea and from the look of Delphine's face, neither of us had a clue what to do. But Esbern looked like this puzzle was the easiest thing on earth for him.
"There are three different symbols, one of them is the symbol of the Dragonborn. I think-", my impatient side got the better of me and I already putted the three stones into the right order before Esbern could finish and the bridge fell down so we could pass it.
"Never mind.", Esbern muttered before he walked over the bridge first.
After some minutes we came to small room where many pressure plates with pictures on them were on the ground. There was also the same symbol of the Dragonborn on some of the pressure plates…
Esbern wanted to say something again but I just acted instead.
I walked over the pressure plates with the Dragonborn symbols, easily reaching the end of the room where a small contactor was, deactivating something. Esbern muttered something of patience and we just continued our way after that. We came to another room, much bigger this time where a great stone door was at the end of it. In front of that door was a big circle with the same symbol again, and this time Esbern could finally speak again because now I had no clue what to do.
"Another masterpiece of the Akaviri. To open the door it requires blood, your blood, Dragonborn.", Esbern said. I stepped into the middle of the circle and pulled out my small dagger, before I made a small cut into the my left hand. I ignored the pain and pulled the dagger away, while the door opened itself. How such a small cut can hurt more than somebody might believe. I healed the cut with a small healing spell in my left hand before we walked through the door.
The rooms before and the entrance were really old and not really nice to look at, but the what came after the stone door looked more impressive. It was a huge hall with a long table in the middle, many ways leading into other rooms and a big wall with pictures on it.
Alduin's Wall.
Esbern and I walked towards it while Delphine was still too impressed by this place.
"It is even more fitting for a base than I would have hoped.", she muttered while Esbern held his torch near the wall, revealing a small part of the wall with light.
"The complete history of the past written on this wall. The Akaviri art is just amazing.", Esbern said in awe. I took a closer look with my own torch, some dragons and the Nords were shown, the dragons superior and bigger.
"This shows how the dragons were ruling over Skyrim and the Nord, the mortals nothing compared to the dragons.", Esbern explained before walking a bit forward to another part of the wall.
"And this is where the Nord are rebelling against them, the dragon war. And here in the middle is Alduin showed, the ancient Nord using some kind of shout against her. And the last part is where the Nord were the superiors at last, the dragons never seen again after that. Well, until now.", Esbern said, already standing at the other end of the wall while I was still standing in the middle of the wall, frozen in place, my eyes fixed on the mighty dragoness which was showed, defeated. I couldn't take my eyes away from that picture… I wonder what would have happened if Alduin would have won this war… I just wanted to see for myself so badly how her reign was, she just… couldn't have been always so evil, right? I wonder…
"So that's what we're looking for? A shout? Great, how could we possibly find out which shout that is?", Delphine's sudden interruption brought me out of my thoughts and I looked up again. An idea came into my mind.
"I can always ask the Greybeards for such things.", I replied with a slight smile but Delphine didn't seemed to be as motivated about that idea as I am.
"Oh well, it's great that you're already a part of their little group. I bet they wouldn't welcome us as much as they would you, Arcos.", she huffed. They don't like each other? But both groups seem to know much things about dragons. Although the Greybeards wisdom is rather about more… peaceful and positive minded things. And the Blades are rather dragon-killers, another thing which sets them apart. And this is also the point why I rather feel connected to the Greybeards. They respect the dragons more and are more similar to me than anybody else, and I have no problems to talk with them about every worry I have. They understand me better than anybody else could. Except for my parents of course...
"I had hoped to avoid involving them but it seems we have no choice. You'll have to ask them about this shout.", Delphine said with a sigh. Do they hate each other so much? Anyway, I should get back to High Hrothgar as soon as I can.
"We'll stay here and look around a bit more, this temple is just perfect for us.", Delphine said before she went to another room while Esbern was looking at some other things.
XxxxxX
When I went out of the temple, the only thing I saw were all the Forsworn dead on the ground and the dragon nowhere to be seen. And this was at least a small army of Forsworn…
I arrived in High Hrothgar after two days of travelling, the way up there not really bothering me anymore. Guess I'm getting used to this now, even with my steel plate armor. When I entered this time, Arngeir wasn't in the main hall for the first time. Instead I encountered two of the other Greybeards meditating there. They're looking all the same but until now I can tell who of them is who. Sometimes Arngeir was also in the courtyard in one of those towers so instead I searched there. And soon found him meditating on the top of one of those towers. Well, if it helps him concentrating. He didn't notice me before I calmly spoke up.
"Ehm, Arngeir? There is something I have to talk about with you.", I said before he stood up, a bit surprised.
"Oh, Dragonborn, welcome back in High Hrothgar. What do you need to know?", Arngeir asked, I hope I haven't disturbed his meditation too much. Or how he will react to my question this time, it was then when I actually realized for what I'm here right now. Now that I have found a weapon against Alduin… I will have to…
No, I quickly shook my head. I can't bother myself with that now, I have to focus. And I don't already have this weapon. But still… I'm afraid. Of so many things. To… defeat Alduin and fulfill my destiny. To kill her… a Nord doesn't fear his opponent or anything else. But I'm afraid to face her. I would either die in battle or finish her, yet it was the second fact I was afraid of. Arngeir looked at me with slight confusion, I haven't even noticed that I was lost in thought.
"I'm sorry, what I wanted to know is that I need a specific shout to defeat Alduin.", I said, but to my surprise Arngeir's expression immediately changed.
"Who has told you about that?", he asked without really much emotion and slightly narrowed eyes. Was it wrong to ask that?
"I found it on Alduin's Wall.", I simply replied but that seemed to be enough to make Arngeir slightly angry.
"The Blades, I knew it. They always have their nose in things which they don't understand. Haven't you learned anything from us? Do you want to be a slave of them, doing whatever they want you to do?", Arngeir said with a tone I have never heard from him before, it was also the first time that he wasn't as calm as usual. If this is making him angry, then the Blades and the Greybeards really don't like each other even more than I thought.
"But they are only helping me, I'm not their slave!", I replied but with a rather confused tone. Arngeir turned around before he spoke up again.
"They are just barbarians, nothing more. And I can't tell you anything if you aren't following the path of the voice. Return when you have thought about my words.", Arngeir said and looked into the distance though I could guess which expression he was having right now. But what the hell? Doesn't he realize that I need this shout more than anything? Even if the Blades told me, they were right with what they've told me, I need this shout! It is certainly not my fault if the world is going to end, I've tried to save it but failed because of a conflict between two groups.
"Fine.", I said with no emotion as I turned to take my leave but was interrupted.
"Dragonborn, wait. I… forgive me because of my temper. I… couldn't control my emotions.", he said with a sigh while I turned around before he continued.
"But the truth is that I don't know this shout. It is called Dragonrend, but it has never bothered me, Dragonrend has no place in the way of the voice. But perhaps… our master could tell you what you have to know.", Arngeir said. Now that he mentions it, I have never seen anybody else than the Greybeards who are here. But nobody who could be their master.
"Why haven't I met him before?", I asked with curiosity.
"He lives alone on top of the Throat of the World, and it isn't easy to reach him. But I'm sure that you will be able to meet him. Follow me, I'll teach you the shout which you need to know to make your path towards our master.", Arngeir said and mentioned me to follow him.
We went back to the courtyard where a way was leading further up the mountain by a stair but at the end it was blocked by a barrier of… wind?
The other Greybeards were also there, looking at me while Arngeir shouted three words to the ground before they appeared again in a glowing orange colour.
"Consider this as our last gift to you, Dovahkiin.", Arngeir said calmly before he took a step back. I looked at the three word before they burned themselves into my mind again. Learning three words at the same time wasn't any different than learning a single one. I walked up the stairs until I reached the barrier, I could feel the Greybeards watching from behind.
"Lok Vah Koor!", a shockwave cleared the barrier and the fog behind it completely away, revealing the path which led up the mountain. I like that.
XxxxxX
It went on for some minutes, the fog always returning behind me after some seconds and I had to move quickly without wasting too much time. Although some ice spirits were thinking that it was a good idea to try to stop me. But they weren't really a problem, I simply ignored them. Somehow it doesn't take so long to use this shout more often in some seconds, normally after I've used a shout I would have to wait until I could do it again. It feels like it takes my breath for a moment to release the shout, but this time it was no problem. But in the end, I've finally reached the very top of the highest mountain in Skyrim. And whoever has decided to live here alone must be out of his mind.
However this thought was quickly pushed away when I suddenly heard a roar from above and a slight fear came into my mind. Please don't let it be a certain black dragon, I couldn't bear this now. I pulled out my sword and looked around, my fear was at least a bit taken away when I noticed that it wasn't Alduin, but it was still a dragon. It was a white one, but looked a bit… I don't know, older if I can say that to a dragon. Since they are immortal beings. I got ready and took a deep breath before the dragon landed right before me, letting the earth tremble a bit. Whatever it wants, I'm prepared.
"Drem Yol Lok, greetings joor. I am Paarthurnax.", the dragon suddenly… said to me in a deep and a bit older voice. I stayed silent for a moment while I awkwardly looked at the dragon in front of me, who was actually… slightly smiling?
"... what?", I asked, loosening the grip on my sword a bit, but the dragon named Paarthurnax countered with another question.
"Who are you? And what brings you to my strunmah… my mountain?", he asked while returning my stare. This… dragon, is the Greybeards master? But how is this possible. He seems calm and wise, just as the Greybeards.
"You are the Greybeards master?", I asked and tried not to sound too confused.
"They see me as a master, old and wise. It is true that I am old.", Paarthurnax said but with a bitter undertone. How long has he been living here, yet even alone? Not something I want to think about…
"But tell me, volaan, why did you come here and interrupted my meditation?", he asked neither with an angry or angered voice, but rather with a curious one. Well I didn't come here to see a dragon but I'm already enjoying this conversation. Somehow.
"I didn't expect to see a dragon here but this means that you could help me. I need to learn the Dragonrend shout, could you… teach me?", I asked a bit unsure. Maybe it's rude to just come here and demand something already…
"Drem, patience, Dovahkiin. There are formalities which must be observed at the first meeting of two of the dov.", he spoke. How did he know that I'm a Dragonborn?
"But I am not even a dragon.", I said, but Paarthurnax seemed slightly to narrow his eyes.
"A part of you is dov, Dovahkiin. Do not think of yourself that you are not a true dovah. Your kah, your pride of your dragon side won't allow this and you can feel it, can you not?", he spoke calmly, and he was actually right. I kinda felt… sad when I said to myself that I'm just a human. I always did… but it is true. I'm just a mortal human compared to dragons no matter how I put it, Dovahkiin or not. It doesn't change anything. Regardless, I didn't wanted to argue with him, I'm just keeping those thoughts to myself. I will probably always do…
"However, by long tradition the elder speaks first.", he suddenly continued before he turned towards a small stone wall before he spoke up again.
"Hear my Thu'um! Match it, if you are truly Dovahkiin!", he said before he unleashed a fire breath.
"Yol… Toor Shul!", he fired a powerful fire breath against the stone wall before he stopped and a word of power appeared on it, somehow it's power pulling me towards it. How did he do that?
"Consider it a gift, Dovahkiin. Understand Yol, fire as the dov do and give me a taste of your Thu'um.", he spoke while the complete meaning of this word burned itself into my mind again, but it didn't felt like i would have the whole meaning, not even the half of it without the other two words. Paarthurnax waited and looked at me while I was unsure what to do. Just shout at him? Well here goes nothing…
"Yol!", a fire breath directly hit Paarthurnax, but instead of the powerful fire breath dragons would unleash, this was pathetic. It wasn't a full wave of fire, it was just a little wave with no actual form. I felt a bit disappointed but Paarthurnax seemed to think otherwise.
"Ahhh, yes! Sossedov los mul. The dragonblood runs strong in you. It is long since I had the pleasure of speaking with one of my own kind.", he said. He must have been living here alone for longer than I thought. Without somebody to talk with, I feel sorry for him.
"So you have made your way here. What would you ask of me?", Paarthurnax asked.
"I need a weapon against Alduin, Dragonrend.", I answered again.
"I have expected you, prodah. You seek a weapon against Alduin.", he said, which wasn't quite the answer I wanted.
"How did you know I would come here for Dragonrend?", I asked.
"Alduin komeyt tiid. What else would you seek? Alduin and Dovahkiin return together.", he answered, but his words caught me off guard. Yet he continued before I could say something.
"But I do not know the Thu'um you seek. Krosis. It cannot be known to me. Your kind- joorre- mortals, created it as a weapon against the dov… the dragons. Our minds cannot even… comprehend its
concepts.", he said while looking slightly at the ground. Humans created a shout? One that even the dragons couldn't understand, even though they were the masters with the Thu'um… amazing. But still…
"How should I learn it then?", I asked with a hopeful tone but Paarthurnax instead asked me a question which caught me off guard yet again.
"Drem. First a question. Why do you want to learn this Thu'um?", he asked calmly, I had to think about that for a moment but the answer seemed clear to me.
"I have to stop Alduin.", I answered, but Paarthurnax didn't seemed to be content with that.
"Yes, Alduin… zeymah. The elder sister. Gifted, arrogant and troublesome, as it is often the problem with firstborn. But why… why do you have to stop her?", he asked with a tone and expression I couldn't read. And neither could I really find an honest response to that…
"My destiny tells me to do this.", I said, but Paarthurnax only asked further.
"True, but prophecy tells what could be… not what should
be. Just because you can do a thing, does not mean you should be. Do you not have a better reason than destiny? Are you really just a plaything of dez, of fate?", he asked. He, he disturbed all of my thoughts… why is he even arguing? I… have to act for the people of Skyrim… and I have to act without letting any emotion judge my decisions.
"I… I do not believe in destiny. But I have to stop her, for everyone.", I said but I couldn't keep the slight shiver out of my voice.
"Perhaps, nobody could say. And your destiny may be fulfilled with
that. But Alduin thinks that she will prevail, and with good reason. And she is no fool either… far from that. But you have indulged my weakness for speech for long enough. Krosis. Now I will answer your question. Do you know why I live here, at the peak of the Monahven, what your kind calls the Throat of the World?", he asked which confused me a bit. I thought he would answer my question…
"I… have never thought about it.", I answered honestly.
"This is the most sacred mountain in Skyrim. This was the place, where the ancient Nord defeated Alduin.", Paarthurnax said, though I could hear a bit… pain in his voice?
"Using Dragonrend, right?", I asked.
"Yes, and no. Alduin was not truly defeated. Otherwise you wouldn't be here now, seeking for a weapon to stop her. It was the Kel… the Elder Scroll. They used it to cast her adrift of the currents of time.", he said.
An Elder Scroll? I don't know much about them… and neither did I know that it possessed such power. However…
"You mean, they used it to send her… forward in time?", I asked a bit disbelievingly.
"Not intentionally. Some hoped that she would be gone forever. Meyye. The Kelle… Elder Scrolls, as you name them, are often used for prophecy. Yes, your destiny comes from an Elder Scroll. But this is only a small part of their power. But time flows onward… one day she would surface again. Which is why I have lived here. For thousands of mortal years I have waited. I knew where she would surface, but not when.", he said. This conversation was… keeping me firmly pinned here. My destiny comes from a piece of paper… this is just, everything of this is…
no, it's just too much. Too much to regain my thoughts and put them in right order. And I finally need my answers I need.
"But how does all of this help me?", I asked, my head slowly starting to get a headache.
"Time was shattered here because of what the ancient Nords did do Alduin. But if you would bring that Kel, that Elder Scroll back here... to the Tiid Ahraan, the Time wound… you could cast yourself back and learn Dragonrend from those who created it.", he explained. If it would be that easy. I may have my task in front of me now but I don't think he knows where to get an Elder Scroll, since it would be guarded with the best security so nobody would even lay a finger on it. What to do…
"You may be better informed than I am. Trust your dragonblood and instincts, Dovahkiin. It will lead your way.", he looked like he still wanted to say something but decided against it. Have I imagined this? Well, never mind… there is only one place where I could look for something like that. A place which most of the Nords despise because of its bad history and because most of the Nords despise the thing which is being learned there, but I am not like that.
The College of Winterhold.
I don't despise magic just as most of the Nords do, but I rather use my own strength rather than than. Still, I highly respect those who have mastered different kinds of magic and use it correctly, it is something which can be one of the most precious and useful things if you know how to use and control it correctly. Especially the mastering of destruction spells, which I respect the most. I know a few things myself, but still I just want to get that Kel… ehm, Elder Scroll. Now I'm starting with this too. I couldn't do otherwise but notice the sad expression Paarthurnax had when I turned to leave. It must have been really great for him to finally speak to somebody again...
"Ehm, Paarthurnax? You know, I would like to learn the dragon language from time to time and I wondered if you could teach it to
me?", I asked to which he looked at me for a second before smiling from ear to ear.
"I would gladly teach you that, Dovahkiin.", he said to which i had to smile myself. It made me happy that I could help him. After that, I made my way towards my next destination in mind.
XxxxxX
Winterhold wasn't really a town which you could consider as worth to see. It was the complete opposite. A few little wood houses, covered with snow, and some of them even burned while there was a little snowstorm almost always around. Only one tall and proud stone building with a huge tower, hovering over the little houses nearby. The College of Winterhold, the only building not looking like it's almost going to fall apart, part of the reason why it is despised so much. Most people gave them the fault because they "did" something. In the past there was a great accident which destroyed almost the whole town, only the College remaining almost untouched. And since I haven't been here to see that for myself, I'm not going to blame anybody for anything.
The College was also not affected by the mage's guild which is why they are still remaining while the mage's guild doesn't exist anymore.
I know things about the history of this, part of me is just showing interest to such things. I made my way towards the little stone bridge which led to the College, where a female Altmer was standing, stopping me in my tracks when she spoke up.
"Wait! Passing the bridge on your own safety. It is dangerous and the gate wont open!", she said.
"I want to enter College to look for something important.", I replied.
"You want to join? Very well, but first let's see if you have what it takes. If you can use a fireball spell, it would would be enough.", she said. This is taking a wrong course! I never said I wanted to join.
"But I just-"
"If you can't do that you won't enter the College.", she interrupted me which made me slightly angry. Fine, I know destruction spells very well, such spells are no problem for me. I casted the spell in my left hand and fired it into a stone wall next to us, the explosion not really damaging the stone but it left burning marks.
"Impressive. Very well, you can enter the College, speak with Mirabelle Ervine to join the College. I'll open the gate.", she said before passing the bridge towards the gate.
"Hey, wait! I don't even want to-", I shouted but to no avail. Oh, great, do they have only such a small number of members so they have to do that or is she just stupid? I quickly followed her and passed the bridge too, a big iron gate was already open and I could enter the big courtyard of the College. A big statue of a mage was in the middle of the courtyard and the door which led into the huge tower just behind it where a Thalmor wizard was talking to somebody else. So they are even here. And this other Altmer was already gone, I don't know where she went. And now I have to join them or what? Well that's just great.
But my thoughts were interrupted when I suddenly heard another familiar voice.
"Arcos? I never knew that you're part of the College. Looks like you're interested in magic just as much as I am.", a male voice said from behind me. I turned around and to my surprise I found a certain Altmer standing there with a slight smile. That was the last thing I would've expected.
"Teldir? But I thought-"
"Don't worry. I took care of that, and I have most of the things you needed but I still have to wait for some things, which is why decided to visit and join the College of Winterhold, every Altmer should know as much of magic as possible. And here I am, with you standing in front of me. I thought most of the Nord don't like magic at all.", he said with surptise but still smiled.
"Well I didn't plan to join them or anything, I'm here because of something else but because of an… accident, I'm supposed to be a part of this now. Still, it's great to see you.", I said.
"Well since we both have something we're looking for here, we could both join the College and see what we can learn here. Trust me, it does never hurt to know more about magic, it can be very useful for you while you're looking for… whatever you're looking for, I don't really want to know, and I still have to wait for some things.", he said eagerly. Maybe it would be really useful for my main task, I would get stronger with that...
"Well, I suppose… very well then, let's see how this is going to turn
out.", I replied and sighed, while Teldir seemed to be happy about that.
Seems like I'm going to be here for longer than I thought.
And that's it. Well my holidays are long over and it could take a bit longer for me to upload. Sigh. But still hope you enjoyed, leave a review if you want.
Translations:
Drem Yol Lok / greetings
Volaan / intruder
Sossedov Los Mul / Your dragonblood is strong
Prodah / prophecy
Alduin komeyt tiid / Alduin let loose of time
Zeymah / sibling
Krosis / sorrowfully
Meyye / fool
Have a wonderful day!
