Ria POV:
"Kodlak didn't outright say we were going to be attacked, but he had us get ready for it. We opened our secret entrance for citizens to use to escape, we had trebuchets lined up along the walls around us, and each of us had to learn how to be vaguely okay with a bow or crossbow. He even gave us a speech about meeting our deaths with courage the morning before you attacked. I also noticed he started heaping extra food onto our plates, letting us sleep in, and not giving us chores or errands to run. I think he was trying to build morale for the battle. Or maybe he just wanted us to live our last days in peace.". The Khajiit nods her head and seems to understand Kodlak's motives. I can honestly see the two thinking alike. Old, tried warriors tend to have similar thoughts. I continue with my story.
"When you attacked I was actually bathing.". A smile crosses the woman's lips and I roll my eyes.
"You might think it's funny, but I don't. I had to put on my hide armor while I was soaking wet, grab my weapons, and hobble outside. When I reached there everyone else was fighting. The sky-". I take a moment to inhale deeply in order to gather myself. The memories no longer haunt my dreams, but they still cause me to lose my breath.
"Looking up and seeing the sky both had me in awe and terror at the same time.". The Khajiit scoots closer to me.
"I've only ever seen the attack from the top. Was it worse on the ground?". I nod.
"The sky was on fire. There's no other way to describe it. I know there were dragons using frost and magic as their main attacks, but the fire was what blanketed the sky completely. And the writhing bodies of the dragons in air. It looked like a carpet of living scales. All I remember is looking up there and thinking about how quickly you were going to destroy us. Then, the trebuchets and ballistas started firing.". I see the Dovahkiin visibly shudder. I can't say I blame her.
"That's when it started to rain. Blood, scales, and fire all engulfed us like an ocean. The fire was barely alive by the time it reached the ground, but I still remember Kodlak having all of us hold our shields above our heads. All of us stood there and cowered. That's when the first dragon fell.". Suddenly, the Khajiit talks.
"Vuljotnaak. His name was Vuljotnaak. He first died during the Dragon War, or at least soon after. Alduin revived him, but he followed me when Alduin fell. He was one of my main supporters.". I realize what the Khajiit's saying entails. He was an ancient dragon who possibly survived the Dragon War. For his fellows to see him fall first only a few months after the battle begun... I feel sympathy for them involuntarily. The morale of the dragons must have plummeted. I look at the Khajit and nod.
"Vuljotnaak. When Vuljotnaak fell is when we started attacking. I'm not sure if our arrows helped at all, but that wasn't our main job. Half of us went down to the Plains District to put our fires, evacuate civilians, and kill any surviving dragon that landed or was shot down. Kodlak went up to Dragonsreach to protect the Jarl. I was assigned with the other half of the Companions who stayed in the Wind District. We were suppose to fire on the dragons, protect the Gildergreen and its temple, and kill any dragons that landed or were shot down.". The Khajiit lets out a small chuckle and shakes her head.
"You were the ones standing beside the Gildergreen?". I nod and continue.
"When you set fire to it we tried to put the flames out, but when you ripped it out of the ground and threw it at Dragonsreach... Well, we sort of gave up on the 'protect the Gildergreen' part.". The Dovahkiin laughs and I strangely find myself laughing along with her. It's odd to think about us laughing at one of the bloodiest battles in Skyrim's recent history, but we are. And, it is sort of funny looking back. The sight of that damned tree flying into the Jarl's home has a certain sweet irony to it now that I know what he did. When the Dovahkiin and I calm down she motions for me to keep telling my story.
"We kept shooting at the dragons, but I doubt we hurt them too badly. The trebuchets and ballistas did most of the work. We were mostly just finishing off the dragons that fell and were wounded.". Her face turns understandably somber as she listens to me.
"By then the sky was red, but not as fiery. Most of the dragons were focusing on Dragonsreach. We could tell from where we were that you were losing. The Jarl's home was on fire, but dragons were dropping out of the sky like flies. Farkas even swore that we kept seeing you have to jump from one dying dragon to the next.". She shrugs.
"Somewhat. I was attempting to heal them, but most of my efforts were for nothing. We it was clear they were dying and were beginning their final descent, then I gave them a quick death before returning to my 'main' dragon. He was the one I trusted with my life.". She falls silent and I pick up where I left off.
"I was assigned to tear the left wing of each dragon, so they couldn't take flight. I was terrible at it. Hearing their screams and shrieks in their language was too much. All I did was pierce their wing and pray that someone else finished them. However, eventually Vilkas noticed and pointed it out. My Companions quickly decided it was time for me to prove my honor. They have me a war hammer and told me to kill the next dragon.". The Khajiit remains entranced.
"When we found it the dragon was halfway in the pools near the steps leading to Dragonsreach. Its legs were shattered and its wings shredded. The dragon wasn't even attempting to fly. It was just trying to get out of the water and die on dry land. Farkas and Vilkas held its head steady and told me to hit it between the eyes. I tried to, but I didn't have the strength. That's when the dragon started talking in a tongue I could understand.". The Dovahkiin once again fills in a name.
"Nahagliiv. He was one of the few who tried to learn my tongue.". I keep going.
"Nahagliiv. He started begging me to spare him. To let him mend his wings and take to the sky, so that he would die a true Dovah. I hesitated and Farkas went in for the kill. Nahagliiv had one last blast in his tank. He bathed us all in fire and made sure to hit me the worst. I was out for the fight and Nahagliiv died after his last breath, but all of the other Companions were only mildly burned. They tossed me into the water to put me out and went to continue their mission. I spent the rest of the battle floating on my back, looking at the burning sky where an occasional fireball or rock would fly by, and vaguely aware of the dragon skeleton beside me. Gradually, the rocks and fire stopped. The roars of dragons and weapons died down. Finally, a tremendous red beast flew overhead as the city cheered.". The Dovahkiin has somehow grown even more somber.
"Arrows and rocks flew at him, but he was graceful enough to dodge most of them. I saw Odahviing's scales fall to the ground as a rock crushed his stomach. My friends didn't even come and get me. They just assumed I'd died. I was found when they began pulling out the dragon skeletons to use. Eventually, I was patched up and returned to the Companions in disgrace. For the last year it's been my mission to kill something impressive enough to make up for my folly with the dragon and prove myself.". The Khajiit looks thoughtful, takes a deep breath, and sighs.
"I'm going to regret this.". I cock my head.
"If you bring back my hand or one of Odahviing's scales, then will they accept you?". My heart clamps down in my chest. She would do that. She would cut off her own hand or convince Odahviing to give me one of his scales. I shake my head.
"No. It would do it, but it's too much.". She begins trying to argue and even pulls a dagger from her boot and places it on her dead wrist. I stop her with a single sentence.
"Besides, I don't think I want to leave.". The Khajiit freezes and slowly puts her dagger back.
"You don't want to leave?". I nod. I've come to think of Oahviing and the Khajiit as my friends. Sure, they both tried to eat me when I first met them, but now I think of them as closer friends than any of the Companions. A wide smile appears on the Khajiit's face as her ears slowly come down to the side of her head.
"Really?". I nod.
"The Companions are still my family and you're only a friend, but I believe an old saying fits in perfectly here. 'The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb'. The Companions left me for dead, made me keep doing impossible task to prove myself, and haven't even tried to send a courier to check on me.". The Khajiit looks confused.
"How would a courier find you?". I shrug.
"They always find people.". The Dovahkiin looks concerned.
"Why hasn't anyone sent one to find me, then?". I stand and offer a hand to help her up.
"Everyone thinks you're dead, and nobody wants to write a letter to Odahviing. He'll write back in the dragon language.". The Khajiit chuckles and lets me help heave her up. For a few seconds we both just sit there. Then, I awkwardly open my arms. The woman rolls her eyes.
"Hug you? Gross.". She kneels down and scoops me up into her arms. Oddly, I'm reminded when she gave me a 'tour' of her original camp. My feet dangle and I'm hugged far too tightly for my liking. I allow it for the moment. This will be a good bonding experience for both of us. I close my eyes and take in the feel and smell of the Khajiit that has me wrapped in her arms.
She stinks. Really, really badly. Like she's rubbed her food all over her again. I breathe through my mouth and reminder myself to remind the Khajiit to bathe. Again. If I ignore the stink, though, I rather enjoy the hug. Her fur's long enough that it's soft, her muscles are comforting around me, and she's warm enough to be welcoming. I even get to feel her stomach for the first time.
Well, briefly. I've barely brushed against her flab before she jerks away. I'd like to say something to assure her I don't mind her softness, but I don't think those words would be welcome at the moment. I'm still enjoying the hug when Odahviing begins crashing through the forest to us. The dragon is a sight to see. Ten horses tied to him, stacks of supplies on his back, and an angry Khajiit steering him. The Dovahkiin's daughter crashes Odahviing's head near us and begins motioning for us to get on.
"We have to go! Now! Irileth!". Neither of us need any more explanation before we start climbing on. I'm the first seated and I'm helping the Khajiit on when a voice rings out.
"Dovahkiin!". The larger Khajiit flips around and everyone looks. Irileth is standing ten feet away in the thick of the woods. She raises her arms in a challenge. The Dovahkiin barely whispers.
"Go.". I shake my head.
"I-". She hits Odahviing.
"GO!". Odahviing leaps, and we're off.
Note: My dog got ahold of my computer a few days ago, so no updates for a while. Thankfully, this chapter was done and I have a phone to upload it. However, there's no way I can write an entire chapter on my phone. Sorry. Just be patient because it'll be less than a week.