AN- Hey all! with this chapter I have taken down the legacy version "of Ice and Dragons" from now on this will be my cannon story. :]
still alive, though not writing as much as I used to I'm afraid. And Master T-Rex is still out there terrorizing (and tenderizing) the countryside. geuss we both need the time off a bit.
so feel free to read and review! send a note! I always want to hear your voice in this!
Ace W
Of Ice and Dragons
Chapter 13
Three weeks had passed since The Great Freeze, two since The Great Thaw. Elsa was feeling a little out of sorts, like she was missing something important in what she was writing. But after numerous drafts, She had just finished writing and polishing a letter to the King of the Southern Isles, explaining what had happened and why She was kicking Hans back to him in persona non grata. It still didn't make the white and blue clothed Queen, who had discarded her dress of the Ice Sorceress for any but special occasions, feel any better about things.
It felt strange, to remove her ice dress for some new clothes tailored by the kingdoms best tailors in the land. Considering that she was used to the rough texture of her dark clothes, the feeling of such softness still needed some getting used to.
On the bright side of things, Elsa had made good with Anna on her promise to replace Kristoph's sled, where the original was destroyed in their 'quest', as Anna put it, to reach her. And from what the gossip Elsa managed to overhear from some of the maids, those two were getting along rather nicely. It made her smile to think of her sister's honest love, and how the Ice Harvester, now the 'Official Ice Deliverer' as Anna always emphasized like it was the most important title in the kingdom, returned it. It seemed they were taking it the right direction this time, and Elsa hoped that if the spark blossomed, She would be able to give her blessing.
A glance to the window told her the day was almost done, and she wanted to at least get out for some of the evening and into the fresh air outside. A knock on the door, which wasn't locked this time, warned her of a certain beloved red head that just poked her head inside.
Elsa gave a warm smile in seeing her after work and said, "Hello Anna!"
The smile which lit up Anna's face at her greeting made Elsa note that she was getting better at interacting with her sister. As the redhead stepped into the room closing the door behind her, Anna said, "Good evening, my Queen!"
The sarcastic remark playfully done with a curtsy earned her a shaken fist and smiling glare from her sister.
"So what's got you 'locked' up in here?" Anna asked, emphasizing on some of the many puns she uses to tease Elsa.
Ever since The Great Thaw, Anna had begun to make a point of talking with her sister every day, as they slowly eased their way into the new open relationship they found themselves in, and if Anna had read the signs right today, Elsa needed to talk. The all but downed reply about the letter Elsa had wrote was all the confirmation she needed as she sat down in a chair in front of her sister's desk.
A sudden inspiration hit Anna, like so many that had been coming lately, and gave a suggestion, "Maybe you should take a walk in the gardens? The moon is full tonight and should provide a nice airy walk for you."
Elsa chuckled lightly at this as she leaned back in her chair to say, "I was just thinking about doing that. Do you want to join me?"
Anna shook her head smiling "You need some alone time I think, opening the gates is wonderful but you still need to think about yourself sometimes."
To say Elsa was shocked was an understatement, but She was actually a little more surprised than shocked.
Anytime Elsa had ever suggested something to do with Anna, since the two had made their reconciliation, the younger girl had always accepted. Her eyes narrowed as she looked accusingly at her sister, who in turn was looking very seriously at her, and said, "What is it Anna?"
The redhead sighed and looked away a moment before speaking, "You know how I found that scroll?"
A sound of agreement and a nod from Elsa was her reply. It was currently sitting in the royal vault, until they figured out what it was, as all who attempted to read it were temporarily blinded for about a minute, and it even happened to Elsa when she had tried to take a peek out of curiosity. A most nerve-racking experience.
Anna wanted nothing to do with it either. One encounter was enough for her.
"Well, as of lately, I've been getting more and more of these strong feelings, like a strange shiver or tickle on my neck or fingertips. And the weirdest thing is that they're usually right! I don't know what the scroll did to me but I'll tell you, it totally did something! You must go for a walk this evening and it has to be alone. I don't know why, but when you mentioned wanting me to walk with you, I got this tickle that told me you should do it alone."
Elsa stood up and walked around her desk, spreading her arms in invitation, which was immediately taken up on. And after a few moments of their warm embrace, Elsa breaks away to look her sister in the eye's and said with concern, "Why didn't you tell me about this before?"
The look in her younger sisters eye's was very serious, "I didn't know what was happening before... but now things are starting to make a little more sense every time it happens."
Elsa's ice blue eyes stared off into space as she processed this, then she said to Anna with worry, "If you get more of these feelings in the future, tell me. You were there for me, and if it gets worse, we can go see the trolls for help."
There was a pause as Anna smiles at her sister and waves it off, prompting Elsa's more serious side, "you were her for me Anna, It's only fair that I'm here for you."
Anna then says again seriously, "But tonight, you have to walk alone, and please be careful. Kristoph and I will be down at the piers watching the sun set if you need us."
Suddenly, a small but wicked grin rose on Anna's face as she thought of something and leaned back to look her sister in the face, "Who knows? You just might have a good man fall into your lap. Like me!"
Anna's giggles bounded the room at the Queens flaming face.
Elsa then corrected, "Anna, the sun's already setting."
Anna's eyes widen when she quickly glanced at the window to see the orange hue pouring though and said with a gasp, "You're right! I gotta go!" Anna ran quickly out the door while repeating, 'gotta go, gotta go' until she couldn't be heard.
Now it was the queens turn to giggle at Anna's ditzy reactions. Who knew her sister could be so clumsy?
OOOOO
Elsa noted the cool night air heralded an early return of fall this year, and as she passed the stables on her way and felt the sudden urge for a ride. One horse saddled and readied minutes later, and she was riding at a gentle trot though the gates of the city, her dress wasn't the best for this but she still felt good. Her head held high as the horse moved through the fields of Arendelle. It was a fine evening as the sun set over the Fjord, and she thought on the two lovebirds and wondered what they were doing.
OOOOO
Currently, Kristoph was in the only spot he ever wanted to be. Holding Anna lightly as the two watched the sun set. Earlier, she was huffing in a hurry to meet him, leading her to be a little late. After waving it off did they start to enjoy their time together again. He knew Anna had talked to Elsa about going out alone to walk this evening because besides her sister, Anna also tells Kristoph about her 'tickles' every now and then. He hoped she would be okay, for he had an inkling that Anna knew more than she was letting on.
He hoped she was right when it came to the fact that Elsa would not be in danger. So for the first time in a long time, He asked a silent prayer to the divines.
OOOOO
Her ride had taken Elsa to the high meadows of Arendelle. With the sun setting, fireflies were starting to fly around while their little lights blinked throughout the flowery fields. A deep breath brought the cool earthy smell to her, and she sighed.
It was a very good thing I decided to get out when I did. Elsa thought as her horse slowly walked through the meadow. She then looked up to the bright stars of the heavens, the fullness of the moon. And thought of Anna, how her sister had read a scroll and now has these weird tenses in her focus that almost seem psychic. The day Anna had been frozen. The day Elsa herself had almost died.
She suddenly had to fight the urge to run back to her Ice Palace, for she shuddered at the memories of the days of that week, and slowly put them away, knowing she had a home where she was accepted.
She looked up to the sky again, and if any could have seen her face, they would see curiosity graced upon it. In the heavens the northern lights appeared, moving with the grace of a beautiful dancer, and so she dismounts and moves to the near center of the clearing, leading her horse with her. Even as a child filled with wonder, she had never seen them move so franticly before. As her eyes locked upon the display, she noticed a hole, for lack of a better term, form in the lights.
With a roar of crashing thunder, a blue spark is shot from the abyss, as Elsa watches unmoving.
Fear takes her as the spark falls in silence, its brilliance lighting the evening sky.
It was for a quick moment before it quickly crashes into the meadow she's standing in, its flame washing outwards.
Without thought, she raises her arms in defense.
Her eyes close as Thunder and Flame surrounds her.
A distorted echo of Words rebounding off the hills and into the valleys beyond.
When all was silent, her horse quivering beside her, she opens her eyes to see she has raised a half circle wall of ice in front of her and her horse. She rubs the horse on the face to calm it as she peeks around the wall.
Destruction surrounds her, for the meadow was burnt flat but in a perfect circle, save where she stood behind her shield. No flames rose but smoke did flow from the area. She looks closer to its center to see a hole has formed from the impact of whatever it was.
She thought that maybe it was literally one of those 'shooting stars' that crashed here, but her thoughts didn't have any sound arguments to this until she got closer. She is glad of her riding gloves; for her fear was bounding and her gift might have accidentally lashed out. A sound draws her attention to the end of the pit, and she slowly walks more forward to stand at its edge.
What she sees causes time to stop. In the center, lying on its back, is an armored figure… the body of a large man. She hesitates for but a moment, then steps into the shallow pit, releasing the reins as she did so. She pulls her riding gloves off, her cold hands raised as she steps closer, not knowing what is going on. She hears a man's groan as she gets closer, and sees how terribly wounded he is. Blood seeping through gashes in his chest plate, multiple small gashes that pierced so deep that bright blood continued to flow out.
Seeing and sensing the dire situation at hand, Elsa quickly put her gloves back on and tries to speak as she kneels next to him, "Sir! Sir!? Can you hear me!?"
She looks into the face of the man partially obscured by his horned helm. She gently pulls it off to see his face, and her eyes widened and she huffed at just how heavy this steel helm weighed in her arms alone and with another huff, tossed it away from him. His face was scarred once on the right, dark of hair and beard, his eyes closed. She gently touches his face, and in the moment of contact, His eyes flutter open, Green-gold in a hue she has never seen before lock with her startled ice-blue eyes.
Though she can see the pain in His eyes, the man makes no sound to communicate back to Elsa. Then His eyes roll into his skull and flutter close as he falls back into the cold blanket of oblivion.
OOOOO
Elsa paced in her office from one point of the room to another while the mysterious man was being attended by healers in a small guest room in the castle. Anna and Kristoph, plus some guards had met her on the way back. Attracted to the commotion of the sparks fall. Elsa told the miraculous story of how he fell from the sky and how She had managed, by using her powers over ice, to get the man up onto her horse. Though it had been very difficult considering her mental state and how physically heavy the armored man was that the horse had a hard time getting to Arendelle quickly or else He would fall off.
That actually happened once accidentally, causing more harm than good on Elsa's part. A circular patch of snow and frost would probably mark the area for several days hence.
They had immediately transferred Him into the back of Kristoph's new Wagon/Sled, and raced back to Arendelle as quickly as possible. Guards ran ahead as she had ordered them to fetch all the doctors that were available at this time.
When they had finally arrived in the castle, the healer had also arrived, and quickly pushed them out of the room the man had been placed in so he and a couple of assistants could work.
Anna spoke up after Elsa finished telling her story to her and Kristoph, "He fell from the sky?!"
Of course, it sounded unbelievable, but Elsa said with full certainty, "Yes Anna."
Despite how ridiculous it all was, the twisted lip of her sister made Elsa pause for a moment in her pacing and questioned with confusion, "What? You think I hit my head or something?"
Anna smiled and said, "No. It's just that when I said you could have a man fall into your lap I didn't mean it so literally."
Elsa thought back to their earlier conversation and chuckled lightly, but then suddenly resumed her pacing. Kristoph spoke up, "Elsa," it had taken a royal command to get Kristoph to address her on more common terms in private, "Pacing like that is making everyone uneasy, please calm down. Also, whoever He is, it would take some very powerful magic to get him here like falling from the northern lights."
Anna and Elsa both nodded at the statement, for it seemed very logical.
The Senior member of the castle staff, Kai, spoke up as he entered the room they stayed in and informed, "Your majesty? The healer is done and wishes to speak with you."
A quick gesture from Elsa and the man was ushered in, looking haggard from his feverish work of the past few hours. All were staring at him as he gave a short bow and spoke, "He will live for now, your majesty. I have done my best, but now it is in the hands of the gods. If not for your quick thinking, he would have died before the morning."
She straitened and nodded to the man before speaking, "Thank you. My servant Kai here will see to your payment for your service."
Another bow and the healer spoke again, "I thank you, your majesty. I have left instructions with the castle staff to help him in his recovery, though I do not know if he will ever wake again." His sad eyes looked to each in turn as he spoke, "Any lesser man would have succumbed to his wounds by now. If he survives the next few days, then I believe he shall live."
OOOOO
He sees the days and nights pass by in a matter of seconds, the turning of the seasons in minutes, the turning of the world in hours, war and death and destruction rage across it with every blink of an eye. Soon a return, the rightful time of the World Eater unleashed once more. And all is darkness once again.
A spark, he sees the land created anew once again, stars whirl by as time continues to float forward. He watches as Man and Mer and Beast folk rise and flourish and fall. Forests, farmland, and kingdoms also grow and age. The phases of ascent played in front of him, the moon Masser disappears from the sky. The beast folk vanish soon after. He watches as man and mer struggle to survive in a world of ice and snow, war comes, falls and rises again. The gods have less influence as the stars harden in the night sky. Lifetimes pass, war rises again with weapons unseen and untold, the ground shakes at the sound of them and the World Eater is unleashed once again.
Time sped ever dizzyingly faster, the world created anew once more, all is strangely changed, only Secunda hangs in the nights sky. Ages pass, man and mer rise, but the mer fall low, hiding in the deep corners of the world. Time flows slow and He feels Fall in the wind.
OOOOO
Zingrahdrog saw only darkness, and thought once more that he died. But then He remembered that he passed The Great Test, so he's obviously not dead. He slowly opens His eyes to what light there was in the room, His body in pain, his mouth thick from thirst. He slowly sits up, levering Himself off the bed He is in, as He feels terribly weak when on His two feet, and very hungry. A quick side glance to notice the pitcher of water He sees, and His shaking hand reaches for it, but He can barely lift it, showing just how weak He was. A soft drink, some little sips of water glided down his tongue as He soon becomes satisfied with his drink. He wonders where He is after setting it slowly down where he left it earlier, and the thunderbolt of memories strike Him. The battle with the Wyrm, falling, the Great Dragon of Time. Ice-blue eyes and snow whitened hair…
He closes His eyes to the world as it spins from his movement, but after a moment opens them as his stomach flips over, seeing fuzzes of blue and purple cloud his vision. He closes his eyes and sits back onto the bed as He slowly breaths, and soon the nauseous feeling went away. He looks about this room, it feels familiar, this place, like He has been here before. Like Dragonsreach, but with more rich polished wood rather than carefully carved stone.
He feels His chest, the bandages that swaddle Him. He can feel the dull ache of pain, and he can hardly think. Herbs, He finally decides, to dull the pain from healing. But if He has bandages on, He must have been gravely wounded indeed. And with herbs, a healer has attended Him.
He is out of his armor, dressed only in light cotton short pants and no shirt. He grasps the edge of the table next to the bed, and begins to stand, slowly straightening, He rises to his fullest height. Pain lashes Him, but He must find out where He is, and slowly steps to the door.
OOOOO
Matilda the maid was having a good day, chores were finished early, and with her final duty coming up she looked forward to the rest of the evening. Bearing a plate of warmed gruel to feed to the gravely injured man, if he was ever to awake. As instructed, it would be around this day or tomorrow that the man would wake up, so she was ordered to bring food in case he was awake. She didn't mind because she thought of how handsome he looked, despite the scarring of his face and body. It was obvious to all that he was a soldier of some renown, his odd armor and swords were proof of that! And she hoped he would wake soon today, so the queen would stop fretting over him. That, the kingdom did not need. A fretting Queen was never a good thing. A fretting queen with powers of such miraculous wonderful creation and terrible destruction… nope.
And the manner of his arrival to the castle had the entire castle staff buzzing with rumors and whispers. It was said that he was escorted by the Queen herself! It was also she who had commanded he be taken care of by the very best healer in the capital. That alone had the staff in a whirlwind of gossip and conjecture. Who was he? Did the queen somehow know him? Was it his handsome face that caught the queens charms?
The youngish maid shook her head at the last. The questions among the staff always gets out of hand when there is little entertainment in the kingdom. Even for a professional gossip like Matilda.
Stepping to the door, she held the silver plate that held the man's food in one hand and was just about to put her other hand on the handle…
OOOOO
Opening the door, He nearly is walked into what appears to be a maid of some sort. Said maid let out an unearthly shriek at the sight of him, while she jumped back nearly spilling the tray she carried.
He didn't intend to scare her, but seeing that full moment made an amused smile crossed His face, and then immediately dropped away as she began to scold him in a foreign tongue He didn't recognize.
OOOOO
"Oh by the divines, you gave me a fright!" Matilda began to scold him and began to tell him just how rude he was being up an about, (Nearly scaring the wits out of her!) but slowly stopped when she saw the blank look cross His face. After a moment of confusion, Matilda decided that He probably didn't understand her and asked, "Do you understand me?"
The blank look continued, then He replied with a series of weird hand gestures that she didn't understand. Was He mute? Deaf? Or was this the only way he knew how to communicate?
Regardless of that, the man didn't understand her, so that spoke clearly of him not speaking her. Matilda decided that the best thing to do was to get him back in the room and get Kai, who could hopefully figure this out better than a simple maid! Beside's if the Queen found out he was up an about, and half naked to boot! Matilda would be in definite trouble. Shooing Him back into the room as he backed off on her actions, she set a table and chairs with the food.
Matilda could clearly see His instinct to eat as he obviously understood her intent and slowly but urgently sat down to eat. Making a stay here gesture, she rushed out to find Kai.
Regardless of His handsome face, Matilda didn't really feel like taking care of a giant man-child. Hopefully Kai can handle the man better.
OOOOO
With the maid gone, probably to find someone in charge, He began to eat with earnest, and also began to think. He would need to find out where He was, and He would need to find the lady of ice blue eyes and snow whitened hair, who had obviously helped Him since she was the first thing He saw, if she wasn't a figment of His imagination… but something deep inside told that it had happened. And if so, He had a debt to pay. A very large one.
OOOOO
To say Kai was impressed was an understatement. The impression from the healer had been a week or two of recovery before the man even woke! Not a score of days and the man's capable of walking! He rushed down the halls following the chattering maid to the small room the man was in, he would have to commend Matilda for her quick thinking, as he got the gist of her story. Entering the room, he watched as the man painfully stood and was impressed by his height and muscle, he bowed slightly and was bowed to in return before speaking "My greetings stranger. By what name do you call yourself?"
The Dovahkiin Zingrahdrog listened but still had no idea of which language the people here spoke. Not that He could talk, He'd shake the whole building down if He wasn't careful. He responded to the obvious question he didn't understand with a series of exaggerated hand signals.
Kai watched as the man tried to communicate using His hands that He didn't understand them, but he could hear them just fine and couldn't speak.
Kai then thought, Well, this just got very interesting. as he turned to Matilda, patiently waiting for his orders. Kai spoke, "Please go get Father Uriel. He may be our best chance of communicating with this man."
A quick nod and the maid was out the door. Using hand gestures himself and his own words, he asked the man to stay put in this room for now. Another nod once the man got the idea of it, and He sat down to get back to His food.
OOOOO
Father Uriel was a kindly and very well learned old priest of the nine, who could walk only with the aid of a staff. Balding and stooped, when he saw Kai pacing in the hall, he decided to chide the younger man, "You'll wear a hole in the floor doing that, my son."
The quick smile directed his way was one of reassurance as Kai began to speak to the man, "Father, has Matilda explained why I wanted you here?"
Giving a nod, Father Uriel replied with a reassuring smile, "Yes, it appears our mysterious guest has finally awoken."
OOOOO
He stood as a much older man wearing a simple monks robe walked in, and He saw his insignia of office, a large medallion, in service of the Nine. Zingrahdrog bowed as deeply as his wounds made possible.
The old man bade Him to sit and then opened with a series of words He didn't understand, but it seemed the old man was repeating himself. He finally got the idea that the older man was a master of languages, but not being able to speak himself the people here were trying to find one he spoke the hard way, similar to how He can learn the native language after a period of time. A twist of his lip as he became frustrated, and he 'spoke' in the Tinvaak du haal,"I still do not understand you."
The old priests eyes widened and a hand signal which he had learned from the greybeards was directed at Zin, "I did not fully understand that."
He was easily able to reply to this, "I spoke of not understanding you. In hand talk."
The priest said something to the man whom he had pegged as a high servant of some kind, and then finger spoke again, the gestures halting and stilted as if he was very unfamiliar with the language, more likely the old monk was dredging half remembered vocabulary from the distant past, "My greetings to you. I am Father Uriel." The old man spoke his name aloud before continuing with his hands, "By what name are you called?"
His lips twisted at this, "My greetings returned. I have no name, but I am called by many titles, the one I am known most by is Dragon-born. Although that is only a translation of an older tongue…"
OOOOO
The question and answer session gained ground as the Stranger spoke of His tale, a mighty battle with a creature which injured him, the places he was from, and the powers he could use by simply 'speaking' words of no meaning. Kai had asked many questions and the stranger spoke truthfully, but not of everything. With this in mind, they questioned Him on the name Dragon-born and were told it was an honorary title, and He had spoken quite early that He did not know where He was, and upon hearing the name of the kingdom, didn't know still. Both parties resolved to try and solve that at a later date. The man did communicate of wanting to get his armor and swords back as they had great value to Him, and Kai promised that when the man was strong enough he would take Him to them, but for now the man was weak, and they resolved to speak again in the morning when the sun began to set.
As the Father and Kai walked down the corridor, the servant spoke to the elderly priest, "Do you think he is telling the truth? He is not very forthcoming of his past."
The wise old man replied with another question "Would you be? This man is a warrior from a strange land far away. Who has been in battle fairly recently, and this civil war he spoke of but did not take part in, has bound to have spilled over by now into the other provinces of the empire he spoke of. But that troubles me."
The high servant grunted agreement before speaking "We know of much of the world. And this land of 'Skyrim' is not one that I am at all familiar with. Or this empire that he speaks of. Or of any of the other empires at all."
The priest nodded and said, "There are forces at work here my son. That I do know. What they foretell is something I will think and pray on."
OOOOO
The Queen was ecstatic at the news of the man's recovery, and asked Kai to bring him to her at the earliest opportunity. But Kai's news was that of the man being a foreigner who didn't speak their language, which troubled Elsa. He did, however, tell her of the conversation that they did have once a common ground had been found, and that they will continue on such ground until the stranger could speak their language. Kai also warned against talking to the Stranger just yet and the reason was, "We know nothing of this man your majesty. Please, let me try to find out more before you see him."
Elsa had agreed, for now.
OOOOO
Zingrahdrog greeted the new day with a fresh set of simple clothes as the high servant led Him towards the castles armory. He wanted to inspect His armor and weapons as soon as possible. He was healing very well, and had asked the old priest to thank the healer who had helped him. The priest had replied he would, though the old man would imagine the healers face would the expression of shock rather than relief on His recovery.
His armor, unfortunately, was in sorry shape when he got to inspect it up close, but all the damage had thankfully been confined to just the chest and back plates. Based on experience, He knew this was an easy enough fix, but to repair and recreate the art and craft on the plates would be very time consuming.
The priest relayed a question from the man known as Kai, "What is this armor made of? We recognize that it is steel, but do not know what sort of bones those are. They have turned aside all attempts at chipping them. We learned of their strength when we removed them in haste to access your wounds."
The hard look they received was followed by a cold reply, "I do not know if you would believe me if I told you."
There was a long pause, and so He continued, "The armor is called Skyforged Dragonplate. It was forged from the blessed mantle of the Skyforge itself, and the bones are made of the first dragon that I slew."
The incredulous stares He got were expected, as was the reply that came after, "This man and I have difficulty believing such a statement."
His reply was at least honest, "I did not expect you to believe me, Priest of the Nine."
The old priest's fingers twitched at this, "You know of the Nine?"
This prompted the Dovahkiin to recite their names in the Tinvaak du haal. Astounded, the pries responded, "Those are old names, Stranger. Older than most. I barely recognize them."
This prompted a bit of discussion on the Divines of His homeland, and where it might be. But it was a question that unfortunately got them nowhere. He decided to ask, "Well, may I have the use of the castle forge to repair my armor? I wish to be in proper attire when I greet your queen. To ask for her permission to stay here while I recover and to thank her for her aid."
After a flurry of discussion with Kai, the priest replied, "This is acceptable. Do you feel well enough that you can make these repair's?"
He relied back, "Yes, only the steel is damaged, and only slightly. I was very lucky the Wyrm was already half dead."
The shocked looks He got after the translation was spoken, in which Zingrahdrog found He was beginning to pick up the language, far more quickly than He normally did, an ability of the Dovahkiin that he had learned of while in his homeland.
He then said, "I did tell you I was in battle with a great beast, correct?"
The priest responded, "Yes. Yes you did."
OOOOO
Today, Elsa would meet the man she had saved. It was now two weeks since He had fallen from the sky, and less than one week since He had woken up. From what Kai had told her, He was a very capable man, and skilled in many disciplines. He was a Smith, a Warrior, and He had also discussed Philosophy with the priest, and father Uriel supported this by saying that His mind was very sharp.
The man they only knew by name as the Dragon-Born (an odd title apparently given to rare members of his homeland) was to present Himself to her in court today. He wanted to formally ask for her permission to stay while He recovered. Anna spoke up behind her to the question of where He was now, "He left for a moment this morning for a ride, and said He needed to prepare himself for His presentation."
Elsa looked nervous at this as she checked herself in the polished silver mirror, curious about why he had to leave to prepare to meet her and asked, "Do you think He left? For good I mean…"
Anna said surely, "Nope. He left one of his twin swords here with Kai. Saying He'll be back for it, and that He only needed an hour or so to prepare I guess, and He said that He needed to do so in the fields of the city for some reason. Father Uriel says He's a devout follower of Kynereth, so it kind of makes sense."
At that very moment, thunder washed out of the sky, prompting Anna to speak again, "Huh. Not a single cloud in the sky. I wonder where that came from?" as she looked out into the clear skies.
OOOOO
He stood in full armor, repaired and polished to its former glory. His helm had a chipped horn now, and some scratches still remained, but He had left them as a reminder of His battle against Alduin. The Herald stepped into the throne room, and brought silence with his announcement of a special guest, then spoke, "Presenting the Thane of Whiterun!"
He had told them of that title after He had first finger spoken with Kai and Father Uriel earlier while retrieving His sword. It was a useful title to finally have, although he had stressed to the man it was only honorary for 'services rendered'.
Killing giant flying beasts and all that.
With a solemn and ceremonial stride, he entered the throne room. Courtiers and minor nobles stood about, dusted with a few richly clad merchants. And a bunch of guards.
He averted His eyes from the throne as he approached in deference to the Queen, though he could see she was dressed in white and blue. Her sister, The Princess Anna, was dressed in a gown of green and blue. Standing slightly to the side with the elder monk Uriel and the castles Housecarl Kai.
OOOOO
Princess Anna watched as the Thane (a very interesting and very odd title) walked, no, marched forward towards them. She knew something was about to happen, and that it was important.
Suddenly, a flash clouded her sight, a vision, something of dread, and despair, and pain, and… something golden and grand and beautiful beyond words. Then it was gone like someone blew out a candle light. Anna was all the more puzzled than ever before due to her visions, but was mindful of this one as she watched on.
Elsa however, was amazed at the man's recovery, from near death to walking with no limp. It was truly astounding and a miracle. She watched as He stood in the prescribed spot, and then He slowly began to do something very dangerous.
OOOOO
He drew His twin swords slowly and found Himself under the gaze of multiple crossbows. Regardless, His honor made sure He did not hesitate or stop. Slowly, He reversed His grip upon His weapons and went to one knee with His arms held outwards and His swords held flat roughly a forearm length to the ground. In this position, He had one knee touching the stone and the other bent with head bowed.
OOOOO
Elsa could not believe the audacity of the man. Drawing a weapon in front of a monarch you were un-affiliated with was a near capital offense. But the immediate display of submission to her authority told of a land that was far more marshal then hers, where this display may be an act of great respect or disobedience, Elsa had no way of knowing, and knew she would have to tread lightly. This was what she prepared for when Kai said he was a foreigner, so she was sure the stranger would greet her in His own way.
After a ten count as this raced through her mind, she spoke, "Arise… Thane of Whiterun."
Elsa watched as the man slowly rose from His kneeling position of respect, and as He put His swords away, she caught a glimpse of the determination in his jaw line. She suspected He would be under the trigger of crossbows, and yet He had still done it. Her respect rose greatly, as did the whispers in the room. He slowly straitened and removed His helm to look at her. It was a strong face, angular and somewhat unfinished looking and short beard. As if a sculptor had been satisfied by strong lines and angles. A multitude of small scars and one long one down the left side of His jaw line, spoke of a life filled with fighting. His hair was a dark brown, almost black in coloration, the same as his short beard.
His eyes though…
A greenish gold, that seemed to shift between the hues like gems in tales of old… of dragons that guard a hoard of gold and emeralds.
Intelligence shown in those eyes, and unbreakable determination. They held a tightness around them.
But the bewildered shock on His face, gave Elsa pause.
OOOOO
Blue eyes of ice, blond hair of snow. A face of perfect, almost sculpted, beauty. A crown of blue crystal upon her brow and a blue and white dress, intricately sewn and embroidered. She was a slim woman, but tall for this land, coming up to His chin when compared to His height.
But most importantly, He looked upon His rescuer, and He was flabbergasted. Deep within Him, what had been a simple request to stay had suddenly turned into something completely different.
He slowly and quietly spoke for the first time since He had arrived here, inclining his head with respect. Speaking slowly in the language of this land that he learned and listened. Albeit with what was probably a horrendous accent, "Your Majesty, I am known as The Dovahkiin. The Dragonborn. Thane of Whiterun of the land of Skyrim. My greetings unto you."
The power behind His voice startled many in the throne room into silence. The several hours He had spent in the Way of the Voice earlier had paid off, but strain from the revelation He had just had, rattled him. The Voro shook the room as he sighed quietly to himself in annoyance.
He remembered that this was the price to pay to learn the Thu'um, but now it was more and more of an annoyance.
The Queen looked as shocked as He felt at the revelation of His voice. And he continued to speak, "I only ask for your hospitality, while I search for the one who saved my life."
Elsa sat tall in her chair as she spoke to Him directly for the first time, "Greetings Dovahkiin, Thane of Whiterun. You will not need to search long, for I was the one who first found you and brought you back here."
He nods at this, honor-bound as She revealed the debt, "It is customary in my homeland to swear a life-debt to the one who saves your life. Repayable only by three acts of great service, or the act of saving one's life in service three times. Or in giving one's life in service."
Everyone could agree that this customarily took the word 'debt' to a more literal sense.
This also prompted one of the men standing near the Queen to speak up at this, the captain of the guards here. And one person who obviously didn't like him, "Your Majesty, I would suggest that you relieve this man of his barbaric duty and send Him from whence he came."
But before Elsa could obviously reprimand him for speaking so rudely out of turn toward someone she saved, the Dovahkiin Zingrahdrog spoke again. This time, He spoke with power, with anger, while His voice shook the very foundations of the room, though He spoke in but a whisper through clenched teeth.
"Do you question my Honor?"
Raw anger shook the room so much it could be felt in the air as the guardsman replied in a sarcastic tone, "Yes I do. Barbarian."
The queen watched as the Dovahkiin removed his right gauntlet as it fell to the floor, dropping his helm to the floor as well, and in one single fluid motion of His left hand, drew one of his twin swords to lay the bare metal across His palm. And when He spoke, His voice shook the castle, its foundations, the buried stone and earth below it, and the water around it.
His anger spiraling upwards, His voice rose as well to that of a dragon's battle cry.
"By my honor questioned! By my blood I Answer!"
A quick slice upon His palm, the blade biting His flesh deep,
"I give unto you, Queen Elsa of Arendelle, my oath!"
He holds the cut hand in a fist in front of Him, squeezing hard,
"I swear unto you, Queen Elsa of Arendelle, a Life-Debt! "
A thu'um occurs to Him, welling up from within, ancient and arcane,
He lets His voice come forth, as guards surround Him with weapons drawn,
"ZIN! GRO! UNAHZAAL!"
A single drop of ruby blood falls from His fist,
The thunder of His Voice blasts the guards away,
Staggers all in the Throne room.
Some fell off their feet. Others fall against the walls or their seats.
The ending thunderclap destroyed all the windows as well.
Then silence.
As the drop of Ruby Blood strikes the ground.
And binds Him to the Oath.
OOOOO
Elsa cannot believe what has just happened.
This man displaying a strange power like no other. Swearing to her in a language she did not understand, and causing the very castle to shake with His voice. After the noble sand guards have recovered, Elsa shakily clears her throat, as she looks to the Dovahkiin, and asks a question, "What was that? What did you just do?"
The man looks her square in the eyes as He replies, green-gold verses ice-blue, His voice a quiet whisper, shaking the room about them as His clenched and blooded fist lowered, "Upon my honor, sworn by blood and bound by my Thu'um. I am sworn to you in a life debt.."
He bows his head, "The oath was given under a Shout, a Thu'um, translated thusly, it means, Honor-Bound-Eternal."