So here it is ladies and gentlemen Chapter 9! Thank You for all the wonderful reviews, they really do make my day :)
Force.Balance.Push.
Collect Your Courage
''The Greybeards seem to think you are the Dragonborn. I hope they're right.''
Lianna shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other, her eyes took in the little hidden room. The room was surprisingly well lit; around the room were an assortment of vital travailing things. Vials of different colors and of many different affects sat upon a shelf, weapons hung upon the wall occasionally catching the light, they gleamed. Armour was lent against the wall, along with several chests. The staircase that led back out to the main floor of the inn was directly behind her. Lianna made sure of this just in case things took a turn for the more fatal, she would at least have an exit.
''What's with all the cloak and dagger?''
''I need to make sure you can be...trusted. Like I said in my note I heard you might be Dragonborn.''
''Why go to such an expense for only a possibility?''
''I needed to make sure you weren't a Thalmor trap.''
''Why should I trust you?''
''You were a fool to follow me in here if you didn't trust me. '' Delphine said simply. There was a heavy underline of suspicion.
''Who are you Delphine?''
''I guess my Inn Keeper act is not as good as I think it is.''
''You hold yourself like a warrior.''
Delphine smiled slightly, the Breton wasn't as hopeless as she appeared.
''I'm part of group that has been looking for someone like you for a very long time.''
''Like me?''
''The Dragonborn. Before I can tell you anymore, I need to make sure you can be trusted.''
''Why are you looking for me, the Dragonborn?''
''The Dragonborn is the ultimate dragonslayer. You're the only one who can kill a dragon permanently, by devouring its soul.''
''Permanently? Do you mean when they die it's only temporary.''
Delphine nodded ''Something like that. Can you absorb a dragon's soul?''
Lianna thought back to when she had absorbed the hot light that had flown towards her. How it had warmed every inch of her being and how the tight ball of pressure in her skull had exploded, cold mingling with the heat.
''Something like that.''
''I'll see for myself soon enough.''
Lianna's eyes narrowed at this, she didn't like the thought of taking on another dragon.
''So what's the bit you're not telling me Delphine?''
''You're right about dragon's deaths being only temporary, well partly. Dragons haven't just been somewhere all this time; they're coming back to life. Something is happening to bring them back, and I need you to help me to stop it.''
''Do you know how crazy you sound right now?''
Delphine's brow crumpled with annoyance ''I know they are. I've gone to their burial grounds and found them empty. I've figured out where the next one is, we're going there.''
''Let me guess, I've got to kill the dragon?''
''If you do then I'll tell you whatever you want to know.''
''So where are we going?''
''Kynesgrove. There's an ancient dragon burial mound near there. If we can get there before it happens, maybe we can stop it.''
''How long do we have?''
''Two weeks. Why?''
''You forget I still have the horn to return.''
''Of course, deliver the horn then meet me in Kynesgrove.''
''Understood.''
...
High Hrothgar hadn't changed in her absence Lianna noted. Though it probably hadn't changed in decades, maybe centuries. Time seemed to not control the mountain or its ageless milky eyed habitants. Lianna handed the horn to Arngeir who took it with much care.
''Well done Dragonborn,'' Arngeir breathed ''We shall teach you the final word of Unrelenting Force. Dah push.''
Lianna bit her bottom lip ''Arngeir, can I ask you a question?''
''Of course Dragonborn.''
Lianna prepared herself for the man's response, she had already guessed his reaction.
''Tell me about the other person who was under your tutelage.'' His reaction surprised her, it was blank if not for a hint of melancholy in his eyes.
''I suppose it is only natural, you wish to know of the other that you share the Voice with. But he turned away from the path of the Voice.''
''Turned away?''
Arngeir's was quick with rage ''Yes, he used the power of the Voice to acquire power. But worse still...''
Arngeir stopped as if unable to continue, his eyes burned with betrayal and rage.
''What? What did he do Arngeir?'' Lianna pressed her voice soft, trying in vain to calm the man.
''He used the Voice to enable him to kill another.'' Arngeir's eyes closed and his mouth became a tight line. He appeared to be reliving a moment from the past. ''I think it would be best if you retired for now Dragonborn your tutelage shall continue tomorrow.''
Lianna watched as the man turned away from her and vanished down one of the many corridors. She wished she could have said something to console the man but the words simply tripped over her tongue and died on her lips. She decided to take Arngeir's advice and retire for the night.
...
Lianna rolled over again unable to find a comfortable position in the bed. The freezing draft wasn't helping. She stared at the ceiling the events of the last few days rolled around loudly in her head.
''He used the Voice to enable him to kill another.''
''...a hero doesn't use the power of the Voice to murder his king and usurp the throne.''
A man sat beside her, bound and gagged as the cart rumbled through the trees
Lianna's jaw fell open in the darkness. Of course. It had been staring at her all along. Ulfric Stormcloak could Shout. Lianna lay awake knowing she would not sleep that night. She wondered how long it had taken him to Shout, months? Years? She wondered how well he controlled the Voice, sure she learnt quickly but her execution of the Shouts left a lot to desired, especially comparing with the Greybeards. No wonder the Imperials saw the Stormcloaks as a serious threat. No wonder they had gagged him, they feared his ability and the chaos it could cause. Lianna lay in the darkness staring at the far off ceiling imaging Ulfric Shouting Torygg into submission and then plunging a sword into his chest. It scared her how easy it was to envisage Ulfric killing someone. She shuddered and she rolled over pulling the quilt over her head.
…
The next few days were spent learning Dah and combining all three words into a Shout. Something that was easier said than done for Lianna, so she most of her time Shout at the air, trying to say all three words before the Shout actually escaped her mouth, so far she had only been able to get up to been able to get to Roh, once.
''FUS R-'' Lianna groaned as the Shout escaped her lips before the final words were said. Arngeir stood watching her slow progress. Joining the three words into a powerful Shout was always the hardest part of forming a Shout. Even the Dragonborn was having trouble, but he knew that whereas with normal people would spend months trying to form the three words, the Dragonborn would have it mastered by sun down.
Of course the old man was correct in his assumption. By the evening she had mastered the Shout, much to the Dragonborn's glee. By the time the sun had set the Breton had packed her belongs and had set off down the mountain off the Kynesgrove to the burial mound to kill a dragon. Lianna's journey to Kynesgrove was a long one. Three days travailing through the wilderness and sleeping under the stars, using her newly mastered Shout on anyone or anything that attacked her.
When she finally arrived at Kynesgrove, it was small. Tiny. Just a mine a farm and an inn.
Gods help them if a dragon attacked whilst we weren't here. Lianna thought as she walked through the little settlement towards the inn where she was to meet Delphine.
Delphine was stood against the wall of the inn dressed in leather armour she walked towards the mage as she approached.
''Come on Dragonborn. We must hurry, I fear that we're already late.''
Lianna was about to open her mouth but was interrupted by the loud sound of wings flapping and the whoosh as a large black scaled body flew over them and over the town higher up to the top of the mountain.
Delphine's eyes were set hard and her hand held her unsheathed sword.
''We've got to hurry.''
So Lianna finds out Ulfric can Shout. And Alduin's back. Warning shit is gonna go down next chapter. Until next week! :3
