In this chapter, there was originally a conversation between Ulfric and Ryuzaki where Ulfric claimed to have deduced L's identity. This contradicts the scene in chapter 1 where Ryuzaki originally gives his name as L, so I removed the conversation.

X

Pain. It enveloped his entire body. Pain and stiffness, as though his body had aged a hundred years.

Ryuzaki knew it would pass, which comforted him as he hobbled down the streets of Solitude. Already, he was recovering. When he had first awoken at High Hrothgar, it had been like a thousand swords slicing him from all angles, but now, it was a never-ending atmosphere of pain. Every movement stung, but less so every day. The scars that had covered his body were gone, the wounds were now only internal, cuts and tears in all his muscles. The pain flared upward into agony when he moved too freely.

"Good gods… L, is that you?"

Ryuzaki cringed. "Malborn, please call me Ryuzaki."

The Wood Elf caught up with him, and walked alongside him. "What happened to you?"

"Alduin," he replied. His armour had been replaced by a loose blue robe. Outwardly, his appearance was unchanged beyond that, but the weakness and pain was made very visible by the hollow look in his eyes. He seemed drained, and in fact, he was. "He defeated me… but he failed to kill me. That's enough for me."

"So you're gonna fight him again?"

"I have no choice." Ryuzaki turned to Malborn, and added, "I'm going to Castle Dour… there will likely be Thalmor there. You'd best lay low."

Malborn nodded, and disappeared into the crowd. Ryuzaki moved on, and weakly climbed the stairs to the Imperial barracks of Solitude. Light met him at the top, dressed now in robes as Ryuzaki was, but unlike the Dragonborn, he was carrying a steel sword that hung on his belt. "You ready?"

Ryuzaki nodded grimly. "My Voice is as strong as ever. I can defend myself with that."

"It's me they want, remember?" Light adjusted his sword on his hip, and headed toward Castle Dour. "Let's get this over with."

He led Ryuzaki to the doors of Castle Dour, and shoved them open. Almost immediately, they were spotted by a Thalmor agent in black and gold robes. He glared at them as he summoned a Bound Sword in each hand.

"Orland, lower your weapon."

Light hesitated to draw his blade, and Ryuzaki sighed, releasing the breath he had intended for a Shout. General Tullius approached, as the elf named Orland dispelled his weapon. "I've heard about you, Ryuzaki. I'd like you to know that the only reason you're still alive, is that killing a Jarl such as yourself is unforgivable, even if the killer is the Thalmor Ambassador."

"So you heard about that incident in Riften."

"What in Oblivion do you want?"

"Peace," Ryuzaki replied simply. "Alduin has returned, and the only way we can defeat him is if the Empire stands together. The war has to end."

"That much is obvious enough," Tullius replied sharply. "I'll ask again. What do you want?"

"The Greybeards are hosting a peace council at High Hrothgar. You need to attend."

"Excuse me?" Tullius demanded, his temper flaring. "I have no obligation at all, to trek myself and my men into the mountains, only to endure Ulfric's self-righteous rants, and leave freezing cold, with nothing accomplished!"

"No… but you have an obligation to save tens of thousands of lives, resolve this conflict peacefully, and help me save the world from Alduin."

Tullius blinked. "Has Ulfric agreed to this yet?"

"I haven't yet visited Windhelm to ask."

"I see… well… tell him I'll be there…" he sighed, and slumped into a chair. "Ryuzaki, these people need a leader… Orland, leave us."

The High Elf grudgingly obeyed, and Tullius immediately stood, with fire in his eyes. "If I do this, if I go your damned peace talk, and it works… Skyrim is going to have a Moot, and that means a High King. Jarl Elisif can't handle that throne, she can barely handle Solitude, with my help! But neither can Ulfric. That's apparent to me, what with the problems in his own city."

"Why did you send Orland away?"

"Because I don't trust them, anymore than Ulfric does. When this war ends, a new one will replace it. That's a guarantee… but I digress. Ryuzaki, you're the Jarl of Riften. When the Moot comes around, and one day it will, promise me… promise me neither Ulfric nor Elisif take the throne. I don't care who does. Let it be Balgruuf for all I care! At least he's neutral!"

"So be it," Ryuzaki responded, "But our time is shorter than you know. I have to make haste to Windhelm. I'll send a bird from High Hrothgar when Ulfric agrees to this. When you get my message, come to Ivarstead right away." a thought occurred to Ryuzaki. "And as for Orland… this is Skyrim, he's your dog, so put him on a better leash."

"Be grateful I can control him at all… he would have had your head if I hadn't stopped him." Tullius gave him a hard glare. "Don't think I haven't noticed. The man I see before me isn't the one who slew Maven Black-Briar. Even if the civil war ends tomorrow, you need to prepare yourself to face Alduin."

X

Ryuzaki was alone, in a suite of Candlehearth Hall. It was, in fact, the same one which Astrid had died in, though so much had happened in the short time since that it felt like years.

When the pain had lessened to the point where he could sleep comfortably, and crouch in chairs as he always had, Ryuzaki knew the time had come to facilitate his own recovery.

The furniture of the room had been pushed to one side, leaving as much open space as possible. Ryuzaki hefted the dull iron sword he had bought, and whipped it through the air, sparring with an invisible opponent. His muscles were still painfully recovering, but he knew he would have to use them if they were to be rebuilt properly. So, despite the pain, he continued.

When the pain in his arms transitioned from the sting of a wound to the ache of exhaustion, he laid the sword on his unused bed, and brought out a wooden dummy, which he set in the middle of the room. He proceeded to unleash countless different styles of kicks on it, until his legs too were exhausted, and the dummy was cracked and beaten. He then ate a chocolate bar and went to sleep.

The next morning, rinse and repeat, but this time with an old hunting bow and an archery target.

As he released his eighty-third arrow, Light threw the door open. Ryuzaki lowered the bow, and acted as if nothing was going on. "You know the whole inn can hear you, right?"

"I guessed as much. At least I'm not using a warhammer." Ryuzaki gestured to the curved, serrated Daedric swords, one on each of Light's hips. "You must have melted down your armour."

Light nodded. "I'm about to start working on new armour, but from the way I've heard you training, it sounds like you could use this." Light tossed him a bundle of black cloth. "Don't get too sappy about it," he growled before Ryuzaki could unwrap it.

It was a Daedric bow, along with a quiver full of arrows, already strung. The black ebony, warped and altered by Daedric magic, had taken on a demonic red glow on places, and the front of the weapon was spiked and sharp, as though it were intended to be swung, not fired. "I'll make good use of it. Thank you, shield-brother."

"Ha. If we survive till Christmas, don't expect anything," Light joked, then his expression became grim. "I miss it, you know. Being Kira. I can still see names, still remember it all, but I can't do anything. I can't change the world like I wanted."

"Don't look at it like that." Ryuzaki turned back to the target, and pulled back on the bowstring, grateful for the much greater resistance, that was sure to strengthen him. "You've done enough, in both worlds. Crime rates have dropped, more so in our world, and they'll likely never be as bad as they were. You have changed the world, Light. You simply haven't conquered it."

"What about you? How're you doing, without your power? You can't deny you miss it."

"Yes, I do miss it." Ryuzaki released another arrow. "Just the same… would you like to hear why I don't mourn it?"

Light sat on the edge of the bed. "Sure. Why not?"

"When I cast a spell, I was creating it from a reservoir of magicka stored somewhere within my body. As to where exactly, I'm not sure, but as far as I can tell, the magicka in a spell always returns to the caster. The exception is what Alduin did to me. It's a relatively slow process, as if one were simply catching breath, but I realized something a while ago. There is, in fact, a very small amount of magicka in the air around us. It's easy to tap into, but completely useless in its infinitesimally small quantity. At best, I can generate a bit of fire with it."

"So?" Light asked in confusion. "What's your point?"

"My point is, there is no organ in a human being that stores magicka, therefore, the amount that was in my body was also tiny. Furthermore, I believe magicka can be classified in a manner similar to light, as both a particle and ray. In other words, both matter and energy, so the amount in my body was likely no more than the size of a pea."

"I still don't get it."

"It's about Aetherius, Light." Ryuzaki grinned with excitement, which startled Light. "Aetherius is a dimension composed entirely of magicka, and Alduin is there! He's in Sovngarde, surrounded by magicka! So if I had no more than a pea-sized amount of magicka here… still, it's only a theory for now."

"Is that what you did in Blackreach?" Light asked in sudden realization. "You coated an arrowhead with a layer of pure magicka, and just let it do its work, right?"

"I believe so. I hadn't intended to do it, my plan was more to fire a thunderbolt as I shot the arrow, but I suppose the arrow in my hand leeched the power of my spell. In fact, it used up my entire magicka reserve."

"Huh. Try doing it now, with just the magic in the air."

"I was considering that…" Ryuzaki concentrated, and the ebony arrowhead began to glow white. "So that's what pure magicka looks like… at least, in this plane of existence. It won't do anything like this… perhaps I can…" the arrow's glow turned a pale, frigid blue, and he released it. On contact with the arrowhead, the target froze solid, and cracked.

"That looks effective."

"But I can only do it once. There's no more magicka in the air this side of Windhelm," Ryuzaki reported grimly. "Back to normal arrows, I suppose." he fired one to accentuate his point, and the target shattered completely. "Ah. I'll need a new target."

"Get it yourself. I already made you a bow." Light stood, smirking, and stretched. "I still have to forge my armour, and after you meet Ulfric next week, we'll have to leave for Ivarstead as soon as we can."

Ryuzaki murmured something indistinct, and nodded, lowering his bow. "Wait for me, I'm coming too."

"Huh?" Light watched Ryuzaki reach into the end table, and pull out a large bundle of old, tattered beige cloth. "What the hell is that?"

X

Ulfric Stormcloak had heard stories regarding the battle atop the Throat of the World. None sounded cheerful. In almost every rumour, the Dragonborn had lost the fight, and most claimed that he was crippled. "So, I'll finally get to meet this Dragonborn," Galmar Stone-Fist mumbled in a gravely voice. "I hope he lives up to the legend."

"Indeed," Ulfric replied absently, slumped in his throne and scratching his chin. "The reports as of late haven't been cheerful, and I myself…-"

Ulfric fell silent as the doors of the palace were forcefully thrown open, and the legendary Dragonborn marched in. Ulfric's eyes widened as he realized what the man was wearing. "By Talos… are those… dragon scales?"

Galmar's jaw hung open as Ryuzaki approached, wearing dragon-scale armour and the crown of Riften, and it snapped shut as he began, "Jarl Stormcloak," and bowed politely. "I am Jarl Ryuzaki of Riften."

"So I guessed," Ulfric replied. "I recall we met in Helgen."

"Yes… much has happened since then… how fares Ralof?"

"Well enough."

"I see." Ryuzaki nodded. "I would like to speak to you about a rather tender subject, and I'll apologize in advance if it frustrates you…"

"My temper isn't as bad as the Empire would have you believe."

"Hm. Well then, I'll come right out and say it. The Greybeards are hosting a peace council, at my request. General Tullius will be there. We have to reunite the people of Tamriel, if we are to stand a chance against the dragons, and the Thalmor into the bargain."

"Alright. I'll go."

Ryuzaki blinked. "Frankly, I expected more resistance from you."

"Your points were reasonable. I'll make one of my own, though: Skyrim and her people will never abandon Talos."

"good," Ryuzaki said cheerfully. "I expect the Empire won't, either, when the time comes for Cyrodiil's second chance. After all, Talos was their god too, once, they'd be mad to denounce him again. I won't waste any more of your valuable time, then…"

Ryuzaki turned to leave, but stopped as Ulfric loudly intoned, "Wait." he turned to Galmar. "Leave us for a moment. It's not for lack of trust that I ask you."

Galmar nodded. "I understand," he answered, and left.

Ulfric stood. "you are the Jarl of Riften. You may resent the description, but your Hold is under Stormcloak rule, for lack of a better term. I can confide in you."

"What is it?"

"Sit down," Ulfric replied, and did so himself, at the long wooden table that spanned the length of the room. He picked up a tankard of mead, and gulped it down, then wiped his chin on his sleeve. "I want to be High King, Ryuzaki, truly I do, but I don't believe I can earn it."

"Explain."

"Windhelm is falling to pieces. The Gray Quarter, the Argonians, the Butcher a few months back… I can barely maintain one Hold these days. Aside from that, a great portion of this land still supports the Empire. Whether I conquer them or not, they'll never accept me as King… and then there's Elisif." Ulfric drank again.

"I don't understand. You'd rather see Elisif as Queen?"

"Gods, no! what kind of fool do you take me for? She's a child, and an Empire-brainwashed one at that!"

"Then who? Who do you believe is to be King?"

"That should be obvious." when Ryuzaki made no reply, Ulfric laughed. "For a genius, you sure are an idiot… L."

"I'd prefer you not connect that alias to me. I've used it too freely as it is."

"Never mind that. You missed my point. The only one who can unite and lead Skyrim now, is you."

"You're joking."

Ulfric blinked in surprise. "Would I joke about the fate of Skyrim? No. I mean it, Ryuzaki. When the Moot comes, and we vote, my support goes to you, not me."

"This is madness."

"This is the best I can come up with," Ulfric replied. "you're the Dragonborn! Who wouldn't obey your voice?" Ulfric slammed his tankard down, and leaned forward. "speak truthfully with me now… is it true you have a dragon under your command?"

"Not command, no. Kahliivnin is…"

"By the gods, it is true!" Ulfric laughed heartily. "Kahliivnin… Stinging Withered Pride? That's a humble name for a dragon…"

"I keep forgetting, you studied under the Greybeards."

"Aye. It'll be nice to return to High Hrothgar. I heard, though, that a dragon was watching in Riften as you killed Maven. That'll be a fine song… one for the ages! Was that Kahliivnin?"

"Yes."

"So how did you manage it?"

"I defeated one of Alduin's direct servants, a dragon named Sahloknir, who acted as Kahliivnin's master. A tradition among the Dov is that the weaker serve until they are strong enough to lead. Kahliivnin chose my rule over Alduin's."

"I see... Ah, I almost forgot. You'll be happy to know that the mess with Aretino has been effectively cleaned up."

"Good… the poor boy has been through enough."

"So… dragon scales… what in Talos' name possessed you to wear dragon scales?"

"I've fought the things. I know how tough their hide is. Much stronger than glass armour. Plus, I suppose it'll make a good song, the Dragonborn wearing the skin of dragons he's slain, hunting another through the snow and ice."

"Ha. Fair enough. Well…" Ulfric stood, and Ryuzaki followed suit. Ulfric clasped Ryuzaki's hand with both of his own. "I'll see you at High Hrothgar, King Ryuzaki."

"I almost like the sound of that."

X

Ryuzaki stood still outside the Palace of the Kings, as the wind whipped around him and the doors closed of their own accord. The moment he heard the booming impact of the doors against each other, he collapsed to his hands and knees, exhausted. "This can't go on," he growled to himself through gritted teeth. "There must be… something I can do…"

His limbs felt as though they were on fire. Earlier, when he had been training, the pain hadn't been as bad, but now it was apparent. Despite his best efforts, his wounds had healed improperly, and there was nothing he could do without his magic. He resisted the urge to throw up into the snow, and forced himself to his feet. "KAH… LIIV NIN!" In the distance, a dragon's roar sounded. Ryuzaki breathed deeply, and Shouted again. "ZUL MEY GUT! Do not attack the dragon!"

Unheeded by archers, Kahliivnin landed in the courtyard in front of the Palace of the Kings. "How quickly can we get to Winterhold and back?"

"In a matter of hours," the dragon replied proudly. "My Thu'um may be no match for most Dov, but I am among the fastest in Keizaal."

"Good. I need you to fly me there, right now. This can't wait."

"I understand, Dovahkiin." Kahliivnin lowered his neck to the ground, and Ryuzaki climbed up into the saddle on his shoulders. "Zu'u hin viingge."

They took off, giving Ryuzaki an impressive bird's-eye view of Windhelm, normally impossible for humans to witness, then cleared the walls, displaying the breathtaking white panorama of Eastmarch. "What is that?" Ryuzaki asked himself quietly, squinting down at the cluster of shining gold specks far below.

"What is that?" Light asked at the same time, peering down from the walls of Windhelm on a much larger-looking golden mass. He had seen Kahliivnin arrive and leave headed north. From this alone, he deduced that Ryuzaki was headed for Winterhold to heal himself.

"Oh, shit," he swore, as he realized what he was looking at: several hundred Thalmor soldiers.

X

Ryuzaki coughed, and his body shook from the pain of moving so suddenly. He wasn't sick, and he was grateful for that, but even one cough was enough to cause him agony. "My condition is worsening," he said to no one in particular. He was scared to think what a sneeze might do to him.

Out of the fog and snow, a figure began to form. He was no longer alone in the courtyard of the Mage's College. "Colette?" he called out, and winced.

"Well, aren't you a pitiful sight?" she replied, and stepped forward, revealing her face. "When Phinis told me you were out here, barely able to stand, I didn't believe him… but here you are."

"I need your help," Ryuzaki replied hoarsely. "It's gotten to the point where I can barely move. I fear I may even be dying."

"Well, you've come to the right place," Colette announced proudly. "I'm the best Restoration mage alive in Skyrim. Let's get you inside."

Weakly, Ryuzaki shuffled after her, into the Hall of Attainment, and she led him to a bed where he lay down, wincing and gritting his teeth at every motion. "I can't begin to treat you until I know what I'm dealing with, so stay still…" she laid a hand on his armoured chest, and lit up her hand with golden light. Her eyes widened in horror at what she saw under his skin. Searching in other areas of his body gave the same result, and she sighed in exasperation, which bordered on panic.

"What is it?" Ryuzaki asked, calmly now that he wasn't standing or moving.

"It's your bones. All of them have cuts in them. Not deep enough to reach the marrow, but there are pieces of shattered bone, thousands of them, floating around in your muscles. I can't do anything about this. We'll have to go to…" she trailed off, and gazed thoughtfully out into the main chamber of the Hall, at the shining blue pillar of light that shot upward like an inverted waterfall.

"Go to? I thought you said you were the best."

"That's true. I'm the best living Restoration mage in Skyrim. The only one who can help you, isn't exactly alive."

"I see… at this point, nothing surprises me. Where are we going?"

"Down," she replied simply.

X

"Hah!" Light shouted defiantly, and launched a black fireball from each palm. The resulting explosions felled several Thalmor and shattered stone from the walls of the courtyard outside the Palace of the Kings. "Say hello to Elenwen for me!" he added, laughing evilly, and fired another spell.

An elf with a warhammer charged through the flame, and Light frantically dropped his hands to the swords at his waist. He drew both, and blocked the warhammer's downward arc with only one. He slashed with the other, and the elf jumped back to save his own hide. "I'll see you in Oblivion, Stormcloak bastard!" he cried, and swung again with all his might.

"No you won't, but…" as Light sidestepped, and sliced through his foe's neck almost lazily, he finished, "you can send me a postcard from the Void."

X

Colette threw her right hand downward, slamming it into the ground and watching with relief as a Circle of Protection formed around her and Ryuzaki. Close to a dozen skeletons armed with swords and axes clustered around the circle.

"What now?" Ryuzaki asked. "I can Shout at some of them, but…"

"But not all."

"I didn't say that. I was going to say that if I try to hit all of them, I won't kill any of them."

"Huh? I don't understand…"

"Most of my Shouts only travel in one direction, but others radiate out from me. Those'll hit all the skeletons, but won't be enough to kill them… never mind. Can't you just turn dispel them or turn them?"

"Obviously." Colette stepped forward, and fired a ball of white light at a skeleton. It shattered and collapsed. "You can't kill them all, but I never said I couldn't."

After five of their fellows were obliterated, the skeletons got the bright idea to charge the circle at once, only to have its magic seep into their skulls and force them to flee. "I told you I was the best."

"And I believed you," Ryuzaki replied calmly. He followed her deeper into the Midden, until they came to a locked wooden door.

"WHY HAVE YOU COME HERE?" a voice boomed with all the authority of a Thu'um.

"I have come here because I am dying," Ryuzaki answered without hesitation. "I am the Dragonborn. If I die, Alduin will destroy the world."

"Enter," the voice replied, much quieter, and the door swung inward, revealing a pool of glowing blue liquid, above which a sphere of transparent teal light floated. "Your skeleton has shattered, and although it has reformed, the original pieces are tearing your muscles apart from within. You have only days to live, or you would have, if you had not come to me for help. I will save you, Dragonborn."

Ryuzaki involuntarily yelped as tentacles of purple Conjuration magic entwined themselves around his limbs, and pulled him against the wall of the chamber. "What are you doing?" he asked, confused and shocked.

"The process is more painful than I can describe. You will need to be held in place during the operation. Likewise, your mouth will be bound." Without further ado, a tendril wound itself between Ryuzaki's jaws. He gave a muffled grunt of acceptance.

"Are you ready?"

He nodded.

"You shouldn't be able to nod. I will have to tighten that," the Augur of Dunlain replied, and Ryuzaki's head was slammed against the wall by the glowing tentacle, hard.

It was then that he was set on fire.

X

Blood had, by this point, been spilled throughout Ulfric's courtyard so much that the stone was no longer visible through the red. Light panted, and lowered his blood-soaked Daedric swords. He was covered head to toe in similarly designed armour, and he looked like a demon, surrounded by so much gore. He sheathed his weapons, and looked around. "Well, that was entertaining."

"Did you enjoy yourself?" Ulfric called out from behind him.

"More than I'd like to admit," Light answered, his voice distorted by the Daedric helmet. "where the hell is Ryuzaki?"

"That's what I wanted to ask you. He should've been fighting with us."

"Us?" Light laughed. "no offense, but I did the fighting."

"You single-handedly slaughtered an army in defense of my palace, yes, but I was elsewhere. I fought. That said, I didn't save Windhelm, you did, so thank you."

"Yeah, sure, great, whatever." Light shrugged. "I saw Ryuzaki leave with Kahliivnin… his pet dragon," he explained. "He didn't know about this."

"I see." Ulfric nodded. "He explained Kahliivnin to me, but he never gave any indication he would be leaving so soon."

"He was headed for Winterhold. I guess that means he's still suffering from his last fight with Alduin."

"Suffering?"

"His magic was torn out of his body. Also, he hid it well, but he's injured pretty bad."

"I've never heard of a Shout that could do that."

"Neither had Ryuzaki."

X

Ryuzaki screamed into the ragged white cloth that had replaced the Augur's Conjuration magic. The pain was all-consuming, obliterating any semblance of coherent thought. All he could do was writhe and scream.

The pain stopped suddenly, and Ryuzaki fell as limp as he could when bound so tightly. "Ryuzaki, I'm going to loosen the cloth around your mouth so you can talk," Colette said quietly, and pulled the cloth free. "the Augur decided you needed a break. Just tell us when you're ready to…"

She fell silent at the sound of a skeleton shattering outside the Augur's chamber. A High Elf in ebony armour kicked in the door, armed with a bow, which he pointed at Ryuzaki.

"FUS RO DAH!" he bellowed, reveling in how the Shout caused him almost no pain. The arrow was caught in the blast of Unrelenting Force, swept backward into the face of the shooter. His helm protected him, but he was promptly shot with a thunderbolt by the Augur of Dunlain, and disintegrated into dust on the floor.

"Colette, keep a Destruction spell ready," Ryuzaki panted, then turned to the Augur. "We're running out of time. Put the cloth back in my mouth, I'm ready."

"Twenty seconds more, I estimate," the Augur intoned deeply, and Colette gagged Ryuzaki again. The agony resumed, and he bit down on the cloth, whimpering.

In his pain, he didn't register the entrance of two more Thalmor assassins, nor did he see Colette and the Augur each killing one. He only realized the approach of several more voices and footsteps, after the pain had been pulled out of his body, and he collapsed. The purple light keeping him bound slowly loosened, lowering him gently to the stone floor.

"Augur?" he called out weakly.

"Yes?"

"How long do I have to wait to move?"

"You do not."

"Huh." Ryuzaki stood, shaky and numb, but not in any pain. He pulled his bow off his back, and nocked an arrow. "thank you all the more, then." He headed for the door, to confront the Thalmor.

"Wait."

Ryuzaki turned to face the Augur. "Yes?"

"You have no magicka pool at all. This should be impossible, every human being on Nirn is born with magicka, no matter how little. Please explain this to me."

"Alduin destroyed my magicka when he destroyed my bones, which you repaired. Unfortunately, I doubt you can heal my magic."

"No, that I cannot do."

Ryuzaki shrugged, and turned back to the door. "The Thalmor are attacking the College. Why, I can't even fathom, but rest assured I'll stop them." He stretched, and added, "I haven't felt so healthy in my entire life."

X

A/N: I set up a poll on my profile, focused on the sequel to this fic, L am Dawnguard. Please respond to it.