Epilogue
Govegein sat atop the Throat of the World alone. The Greybeards had given him a spare set of their robes and what was left of his armor. Paarthunax had left on a journey to meet with the remaining dragons and attempt to convince them to live in peace. Raddin was in High Hrothgar celebrating the end of the end of the world. Govegein suspected some other people may attend the celebration, but for now he wanted to contemplate alone.
What had happened to him in Sovngarde? What did Akatosh do to his new body? And what was that voice? Govegein guessed that he could answer one of those questions right away as he looked at the mask in his hands. It was a simple mask, made of pure ebony and enchanted with amazing power, but on the surface still just a mask. Govegein held it up before him, looking into its eyes. They seemed to look straight back at him examining him as he examined the mask.
Govegein sighed and turned the mask around, bringing it up to his face. As the ebony toughed skin, he heard Hello father. Govegein jumped and dropped the mask, but he was no longer on the Monahven. It is so good to actually meet you in person. They stood on a black plane fire lighting up the sky. Govegein stood across from a figure wearing Nahkriin. No, not wearing, the mask was its face. Last time we were together, my wearer tried to kill you. I guess you saw what happened to him as a result.
"What do you mean? Did you make Odaanen cast that spell?" Govegein thought back to Skuldafm and how Nahkriin attempted to kill Govegein and Raddin.
Oh, please father, even I am not that powerful. I simply . . . withheld my power from him. The figure stood straighter, as if it was proud of what it had done. An effigy rode from the black ground, almost melting out of it. It was Odaanen, Nahkriin, and the figure picked it up, examining it. I suppose he was as much my father as you, I seem to get my temper from him.
"What are you?" Govegein asked. He could not believe what he was seeing.
You've already figured it out, haven't you? I am Vengeance, the culmination of all of the souls used in creating the mask. But that was impossible, the souls were used as fuel for the enchantment. It was unlikely that the mask could choose the wearer as it was, but that should be all that it could do. Now it grew its own consciousness? I do hope that we can do this again sometime, oh and find my brothers, your other half calls us.
The mask fell in the snow at Govegein's feet. The entire vision had happened in the instant that the mask was on his face. His other half? Its brothers? Was this why Akatosh wanted him back in the world of the living? To find the other priests and take their masks before they fell into the wrong hands, or worse before the priests regain enough power.
Govegein picked Nahkriin up again, but there was nothing. Vengeance was asleep, saving its power for when it needed it. "Still not an actual life I guess," Govegein muttered. He descended the Monahven to join Raddin in his celebration.
Thanks to all those that read this, hope you had fun. To those that read the first iteration of this, I hope you liked the changes. To those that did not, you did not read that last sentence, there was no first iteration, and this story has always been like this.
Hope to see you all again in the future.