Dragonborn 5.5

Music tracks: ...

I could have used the map to teleport to Dragonsreach. But flying on Paarthurnax's back was simply too awesome to pass. We ended up crossing the mountain chain and flying over the tundra before landing in the great porch of the castle, much to the surprise of Hrongar and Proventus.

"Harry?" The steward asked. "I wasn't expecting you back so soon. Is your training progressing?"

I stretched and got down Paarthurnax.

"It is. Actually, I just have a trial to complete before I'm acknowledged as an 'official' Dragonborn. But that's not what I'm here for."

I emptied my backpack on the table while Hedwig put the huge quiver of Ancient Nord Arrows on one end.

"I heard you complaining the finances weren't doing great and the guards were under-armed. My last trial involved retrieving an artifact from a barrow. I decided to help myself on the treasures."

Proventus began counting the coins.

"This is old Nord money, but I know the changes well enough to know there's for at least a thousand Septims in there. Add to this the money we could get from selling the jewelry and… Yes indeed. This won't restore our finances completely, but this is a good start regardless. If you find other barrows to raid, you're free to donate. When it comes to Septims, there is never really enough."

Hrongar was checking the arrows and a few weapons I had retrieved I had deemed interesting.

"This is good quality. Usually, I would have gone after trusted iron and steel arrows, but the ones you brought are in good enough shape to make for decent ammunition. I will give the weapons to some of my best men. Between the Civil War and the dragons, we can't really afford to care for uniformity and style. Whatever works, works. And I'm not gonna spit on it."

"Take the potions to Arcadia as well." I told them. "I have business in Riverwood, otherwise I would have stayed longer. And tell Balgruuf I say Hi!"

Dusk was falling when we reached Riverwood. Paarthurnax dropped me by a place called the Guardian Stones, three monoliths engraved with a warrior, a mage and a thief. From there, the village was a short walk away. The Sleeping Giant Inn was crowded when I entered. I saw Faendal arguing with the local bard, Sven, until the bard finally said something that earned him a fist in the face. The two were quickly caught in a violent fistfight, with Faendal coming on top. I went to sit by the bar.

"Do you want something, kid?" Orgnar asked.

"One cooked beef, please. And where can I rent the attic room?"

Orgnar raised a brow.

"We don't have an attic room, kid. Dunno where you heard we had one."

I gritted my teeth. When I got my hand on that thief, I didn't care the place was crowded, I was going to FUS ROH him from one side of the room to the other!

"Are you looking for the attic room?"

I turned to see the waitress, Delphine, looking at me. I crossed my arm.

"I was told to rent the attic room in the Sleeping Giant Inn, at Riverwood. Whoever told me that is a bloody liar."

Delphine looked away.

"We won't have an attic. However, you can take the room on the left."

She opened a door. I nodded and dug in the steak Orgnar served me. It tasted good. Once I was done, I went to the room and sat on the bed.

"What now, Hedwig?" I asked.

Hedwig said nothing. Instead, she just flew on my lap and snuggled against me. I caressed her feathers. As conversation died down and people left the inn, the door opened and Delphine entered. She seemed rather disbelieving.

"So you, of all people, are the Dragonborn people keep talking about."

I admit, I was taken aback at the moment.

"…You're the one who snuck into Ustengrav." I said lamely.

"Yes, I did. I am the one who took the horn of Jurgen Windcaller. Surprised?"

"Make that two of us, if your expression is anything to come by. For you to sneak into a Draugr-filled barrow, you mustn't be a simple waitress."

"And neither are you just an amnesiac teenager. I guessed there was something strange about you the first time you entered the inn, but I would have never guessed you'd turn to be the greatest legendary figure of old Nord tales."

"I know, I'm just a kid, it's not the first time people react like that." I sighed. "Well, looks can be deceiving."

"We both are the proof of that."

Finally, she took something from under her apron. It was a grey curvy horn.

"I believe this is what you're looking for. Here. You can have it back."

I took the horn and glared at her.

"…You know you nearly made me mess up my trial, do you?"

"I had no choice." Delphine shook her head. "I needed to meet the Dragonborn, but I also had to make sure it wasn't a trap from the Thalmor. In my line of work, we simply can't afford to be too cautious." A smirk crossed her face. "The Greybeards are predictable, once you know their habits. I knew they'd send the Dragonborn to retrieve the horn. Find the horn and I'd get the person I was looking for."

I put the horn in my backpack, then rose and returned the smirk. Hedwig closed the door.

"You know, messing with someone who can kill you with just a word is not a good idea."

"You haven't reached that stage yet."

"I have reached that stage."

Before she could react, I spoke.

FUS ROH

The blast sent her ramming against the door. She was still conscious, though. I crossed my arms.

"You're right, I don't even know a complete Thu'um yet. Doesn't stop me from being cross with you for stealing the horn."

Delphine rose and massaged her head.

"I didn't think you were the kind to be petty."

"I wasn't being petty. That was anger management. Now, what did you want to meet me for?"

Delphine looked around.

"Not here. In my quarters."

I followed her in her room and closed the door. Delphine opened a closet and unlocked the bottom to reveal a fake door. A set of stairs led to a cellar filled with several chests, shelves and small tables covered with potions and other tools. On the middle table were a map and a black book with a silver dragon on it. Delphine looked at the map. There were several red crosses on it. One of them, located fairly close to Windhelm, was circled.

"So, why were you looking for me?" I asked.

The sooner we were done, the sooner I could return the horn to the Greybeards. Delphine looked at the map, her face tense.

"I belong to a group who has been looking for someone like you for a long time. Long ago, our group used to be feared dragonslayers, which is why we always were by the Dragonborn. Because Dragonborns are the ultimate dragonslayers, the only persons who can kill a dragon for good, by absorbing their soul."

I nodded, remembering Parthurnax's teachings.

"As the children of Akatosh, dragons have an immortal soul. It doesn't return to the Aetherius when they die, unlike the mortal races."

"Yes. It stays within them, even after their body has turned to bones." Delphine looked at me. "This is why we need you: the dragons aren't simply coming back. They are coming back to life."

My eyes widened.

"Sounds a lot like necromancy to me. I don't like that."

"Me neither. Anyway, if we want to stop the dragons from coming back, we need you to go after them and absorb their soul. I have visited the ancient burial mounds and an order quickly appeared to me. The resurrections are following the Jerall Mountains, from Riften and toward Windhelm. I believe the next location will be Kynesgrove."

Frowning, I took my map and compared it to Delphine's. Kynesgrove had appeared as a small hut in black, a handful of miles from Windhelm. I couldn't teleport there.

"Alright." I nodded. "I'll lend you a hand. But I'm not doing that because my powers make me good at killing dragons. I'm only going after them because they are targeting populated areas."

Delphine shrugged.

"Whatever you say. As long as you kill them…"

We looked at each other.

"The night is falling. Meet at Kynesgrove tomorrow?"

Delphine looked at the map.

"At noon. There's quite the distance between Riverwood and Windhelm."

I grinned.

"I've got my ways."

The horn in my pack, I returned to the Guardian Stones. Paarthurnax was waiting.

"Pruzah, Harry. Did you get the horn?"

"Yes. Here."

I showed him the item. Paarthurnax nodded.

"I felt you use the Thu'um. What was that?"

"Just me showing the thief why it wasn't a good idea to piss me off. It was Delphine, the innkeeper."

I recalled our conversation. When I mentioned the dragonslayers, Paarthurnax reared. There was fear and anger in his voice.

"Tuzkriiddov! That woman is a Blade!"

"A Blade?"

The dragon's eyes met mine. I shuddered under their intensity.

"An ancient order, come from a land far from Tamriel. Gutbomuz. Foreigners. After the dragon wars, they went looking for the Dragonborn and then went to kill the dovah that had survived the war. They later became the keepers of the Dragonborn Rulers, the Septims. Then the Oblivion Crisis happened, and the Septim line died when Martin Septim became the Avatar of Akatosh to stop Mehrunes Dagon, the Daedric Prince of Destruction. It was two hundred years ago."

I looked at him.

"For someone who doesn't leave his lair, you're surprisingly well informed."

Paarthurnax grinned deviously.

"Bormah sometimes sends me visions in my sleep. And I may live alone in my lair, but this doesn't mean I am." He looked away. "Harry, you mustn't forget the true reason Akatosh bestowed a part of his soul upon you. You must stop Alduin but please, refrain from pointing your bow indiscriminately to any dragon you meet. It may be in our nature to conquer and destroy, but not all of us act on it. I am the proof of that."

"It's alright." I smiled as I caressed his chin. "I know better than to put every dovah in the same basket. I told Delphine as much, anyway. I would much better raid barrows and further my mastery of the dragon language, rather than going after dragons for the He – wait, Oblivion of it."

Paarthurnax chuckled as my slip. I chuckled as well.

"However, if one of your brethren targets a city or a village, I'll fight back."

"Of course. We dovah always watch over what we treasure."

"And mine just happens to be the people of Skyrim. Tough luck for you guys."

We returned to High Hrothgar together. The Greybeards were waiting for us in the courtyard.

"Here." I gave Arngeir the horn. "Mission complete!"

Arngeir took the horn and smiled.

"Indeed. Well done, Harry. You earned the right to learn the final word of Unrelenting Force."

Turning to the pavement, he whispered.

DAH

Instantly, I felt the word hammer itself in my brain as the world disappeared. When it came back, I was on my knees. Master Arngeir stepped, only for Paarthurnax to stop him.

"Yuvon. I will be the one to teach him."

I turned to the dragon. Even though the situation was different and I wasn't absorbing his soul, just absorbing his knowledge made me feel high. I staggered on my feet s elation rose in my chest. It was slightly different from learning a word. This time, it felt better.

I turned away and breathed.

FUS RO DAH

And so, Harry learns his first complete Thu'um, the iconic FUS RO DAH, and becomes a full-fledged Dragonborn. I was planning to write until after the fight with Sahloknir, but I decided Harry using the complete Unrelenting Force made for a nice ending of the chapter. One more plus an Interlude and the arc is complete.

Now, a little translation:

Pruzah: Good. Paarthurnax uses it to express his happiness at seeing Harry back.

Tuzkriiddov: litterally, Sword Kill Dragon. The Blades. Yes, Paarthurnax uses this term rather than Dovahkriid, dragonslayer.

Gutbomuz: Far Come People; people who come from far away, strangers.

Yuvon: (It is) Fine.

Now, for the reviews:

- Me Myself and I: Harry is the friggin' Dragonborn. Of course, he has a choise, especially with Paarthurnax at his side. As for what will happen about this, the arc's Interlude centers on Ulfric. You'll see when it gets there. Dawnguard? Either fourth or fifth arc, depending when I do the Daedra arc.

- Missingyes: sorry, no mod for you.

- Mangahero18: that's why I write barrow raids that way. As for Delphine, the REAL disappointment will be next chapter. Heheheh...

- AnFan-n-More: thank you for the advice. I'll keep it in mind next barrow/cave/Dwemer ruin. To answer your questions: yes, there are still some ties left between Harry and his whole world. Remember how Hermaeus Mora is currently in posession of Voldemort's soul shard? That plotline is only hanging until the trouble in Skyrim is solved. And he won't take a 'break' per se. It's just, one story ends, another begins, and the loose ends are tied together in a brand new tale. Somewhat.

- EroSkackerMicha: Substitute, heh? Well, remember what Paarthurnax told Harry about Mantling? As for Delphine, as you can see, I don't like her too. I was particularly proud of the part where Harry sends her flying, but the real treat will come next chapter.

- jsun25: Fourth year. Harry is currently slipping the third.

- Guest: no Dragon Priest mask.

- Vangran: indeed it is, and Harry tells Delphine as much.

And here we are. See you soon!