Chapter 25: The Dov
Serana
Alessia's chambers were nothing more than a decently large closet with a bed, table, and chest of drawers shoved inside. Serana even thought her mate's feet would hang off the end of the small bed. Fitting them both would be a challenge. Getting the armor off was like trying to wrestle it off of a limp, wet noodle. But eventually Alessia was free of it and struggling to put on a sleeping shirt found in the chest of drawers. That done, a knock sounded at the door.
"Enter." Her mate groaned, and in walked a young woman in brown robes holding a small tray with two large mugs of something steaming hot. From the smell, it was some sort of broth. The girl kept her head low and her eyes averted as she sat the meal down and turned to the door. But she didn't leave. Alessia lifted her head and looked at the girl, seeming to notice that perhaps she had something on her mind. "Is there something you'd like to say, miss?"
The girl nodded, but seemed hesitant to speak. Serana noted the girl's features. Pretty. Young. About Lucia's age, if not a few years older. Her long blond hair was braided in a messy sort of way with little strands hanging down about her face. While she and Alessia watched and waited, the girl peeked up through the straggling locks of hair. Seeing them staring, she immediately dropped her gaze. Bluish-green eyes. Quite beautiful.
Serana felt her mate sit up straighter and place her full attention on the girl. "You are Lunnir's twin, aren't you?"
Twin? Serana looked at the girl a bit harder. Yes, she did bear a striking resemblance to the young man.
"Yes, Dovahkiin." The girl flinched back a bit, but stood her ground. "The eldest by only a few minutes."
"Please, call me Alessia. This is my betrothed, Serana." She recognized the gentle, nonthreatening tone Alessia reserved for children. Her mate just had a way about her when it came to the young. A tenderness that was unbelievably attractive. "What is your name?"
"Brasana." Seeming a bit more comfortable, the girl lifted her head a fraction. Though she did look much like her brother, Lunnir lacked the freckles his sister possessed. Fidgeting, Brasana finally made eye contact with Alessia. "I wanted to thank you for… sparing my brother's life. He gets himself into trouble far too often. I thought for sure this time would be his last."
"This is his last offense, Brasana. The next time he steps out of line, it won't be a lecture. Or even a good thrashing. He will be cast out and not allowed to return. Paarthurnax will demand it. And that is only if the Dovah doesn't kill him outright." Alessia said, making the girl flinch again.
Would Paarthurnax really go so far as to kill the boy? From what Alessia had told her of the old dragon, he didn't seem to sort to kill a child. Though Lunnir was far from innocent, surely things wouldn't go that far.
"Even so, my fool of a twin yet lives. I thank you for even that much. He's all I the family I have left." Brasana bowed. "I believe what he saw in the council chambers will have an affect on him. Still, I will speak with him. Convince him to change his ways."
Alessia nodded. "I wish you luck then. The boy seems… stubborn."
"You two would get along swell then." Serana joked, earning a small giggle from the girl and an irritated glare from her mate. She rolled her eyes. "Don't look at me like that, Love. You know it's true."
The mood lightened, Brasana made her farewell and left the room. The mugs proved to contain a herbal soup with bits of vegetables and chicken. Simple but tasty enough. Alessia downed the meal, ignoring the steam, and flopped onto the bed. Her feet did indeed hang off the end. As Serana made to sit on the floor, her mate growled.
"Oh, no you don't. Up here." Her wolf scooted as close to the wall as possible to make enough room. It wasn't much. Serana didn't even think Lucia's lanky body would fit comfortably.
She stared dubiously. "We both won't fit up there, Alessia. I'm fine on the-"
"Then I will sleep on the floor." As Alessia made to get up, Serana sighed heavily and forced her back down onto the bed. With some creative maneuvering, she managed to lie herself next to her mate. Well, mostly next to. Actually a large portion of her body was lying on Alessia, but her wolf didn't seem to mind. When Serana really thought about it, she'd slept atop Alessia's naked body many times before. Her beloved holding her close while they both dozed. This was no different. Save the amount of clothing and the amount of bed they were not using.
Finally comfortable, Serana settled her head on Alessia's shoulder and listened as her breathing slowed into the rhythm of sleep. She listened for a time, savoring the sounds her mate made while she dreamed. It was a comfort she indulged in as often as possible. When sleep finally claimed her, Serana's last sensation was of Alessia's arms tightening around her as she slept on.
The next morning was interesting. The students, in honor of the Dovahkiin, rose early and prepared a breakfast feast. As the two females exited their room, Brasana and a sullen Lunnir greeted them. Serana felt Alessia stiffen, and wondered if her mate was preparing to rehash their quarrel from the night before. She felt no hostility from the boy, just an intense sense of shame. Lunnir's hair apparently had been deemed hopeless. It was shaved near down to the scalp. It didn't help hide the bald, burnt patches much. And… he had a black eye. Serana didn't remember Alessia hitting him anywhere in the face. When the boy said nothing, his older sister shoved at his shoulder. The strike earned Brasana a glare, but the girl returned the look.
Ah… Perhaps Basana was behind the black eye.
Sighing, Lunnir bowed low to Alessia and muttered something unintelligible. That earned him a smack on the back of the head from his sibling. Sighing again, the boy repeated himself a bit louder. "I'm sorry for my actions yesterday, Dovahkiin. By my honor, I will heed your words and obey them."
"No more foolish or reckless behavior?" Alessia growled. Serana noted the distrust in her mate's tone. "You will obey not only my word, but the Greybeards as well? And you will apologize profusely to Master Wulfgar?"
"I swear it." As if Lunnir's words were some sort of key to a lock, Alessia smiled at the boy and held out a hand for him to shake. He did.
What happened next surprised Serana, though in retrospect it shouldn't have. Alessia was kind to children, but this boy had gone too far with his antics. The boy winced when her mate held on to and squeezed his hand slightly. She pulled the boy in close and bared her teeth. "Good. Because I'd hate to have to break you in half."
Serana sighed and tried to hide her grin. Last thing she wanted to do was ruin Alessia's threat with a giggle. Her mate, though sexy as Hell, truly intended to terrify the boy into behaving himself. So long as it worked, why not?
The feast consisted of mounds of fried pork, eggs, potatoes, bread, cheeses, fruits, sweet rolls, honey cakes… just about everything one could imagine. How they had done all this in such little time, Serana would never know. All she knew was that Alessia ate enough for five people. The sleep had helped in her recovery, but Wolf needed the energy only vast quantities of food could provide. The students watched in fascination as Alessia filled plate after plate. Serana chuckled and smiled at her mate.
Breakfast done, the two females watched in surprise as the three uninjured Greybeards escorted out Master Wulfgar. The man was slow, but on his feet. Instantly, Alessia went to him and Serana followed. "Master Wulfgar, how are you feeling?"
The old man grunted in response as he sat heavily down in a nearby chair. It was then Serana remembered that three of the Greybeards couldn't speak as normal people did. Their Voice's were simply too powerful for anyone but another Greybeard or Alessia. Her mate knelt by the chair and looked the old man over, checking for herself his condition. The old man smiled and placed a comforting hand on Alessia's shoulder as if to say, "Truly, my friend. I am well enough."
Without warning, the whole monastery shook gently. At was a rumble she could feel in her feet. Apparently Alessia and the Greybeards felt it too. All five of them looked up towards the summit at once. Master Arngeir returned his attention to Alessia. "You had best be on your way, Dovahkiin. They are waiting for you."
"Thank you for the hospitality, Master." Alessia bowed.
The four Greybeards returned the gesture. "No, Dovahkiin. Thank you."
The two females left High Hrothgar, finding the weather outside far less fierce than the night before. The wind was still cold, but calmer. Before they attempted to descend the icy stairs, Alessia grinned at her.
"What?" Serana's hand went to her face, thinking she had something from breakfast stuck somewhere.
"Still no chance you'll stay here?" Serana's eyebrow rose in answer to the question Alessia knew better than to ask. Still, her mate shrugged and sighed. "I had to try."
"Are you still worried?" She tried to comfort her mate, but Serana doubted anything she said or did would ease Alessia's worry.
"This close I can feel more than just Paarthurnax and Odahviing. Quite a few more than I'd like…" Alessia did that agitated, nervous hand through the hair thing with a heavy sigh. "Just promise you won't leave my side. But if anything happens, jump on Odahviing and fly out of there. He'll keep you safe. That dragon is one of the best fliers I've ever-"
"Not a chance in Hell, Alessia." She growled. "I'm not going anywhere without you."
Alessia growled, muttering something under her breath about stubborn females. But, in the end she sighed again and nodded. "Fine. But keep your distance from the one called Dinokhokzii. He's a very dark scaled dragon with a large scar across his left brow. I'm hoping he's not up there, but the bastard loves to attend these things just to torment me and Paarthurnax."
"Alright." Serana filed that information away. "Anything else?"
"If Dinokhokzii is there, then Oniklukluv will be there. She's a large blue-green female that loves to pick at just about everyone. She and I get along well, since females are actually quite rare among the Dov." The two started down the stairs once Alessia caught sight of Odahviing flying overhead. "As I said, don't leave my side. The Dov will hopefully ignore you after their initial curiosity is sated. Speak only when you must and as little as possible. Paarthurnax will probably…"
Her mate went on and on about what may or may not happen. Serana knew Alessia was babbling because she was worried. It occurred to her that she was taking on quite a bit of extra baggage by becoming Alessia's mate, and eventual wife. The werewolf thing was more or less settled, and that had been a real pain in the ass, but this issue with the Dov seemed far more dangerous. So much for her to take on. So, so much…
Serana felt it when Alessia stopped talking. Just simply trailed off into silence and staring out into nothing. It was a wave of… guilt? Fear? Something she'd felt in herself so many times before. Alessia sighed, glaring down at the ice covered stones. "I'm sorry. I'm dragging you into my mess of a life and it's not… It's not right."
That guilt rose up in Serana. Her mess of a life? Serana had pulled Alessia into a four thousand year old family feud and she was worried about imposing herself on Serana? It was a lot, sure, but they both had a messed up past full of baggage neither one could do anything without.
Serana cupped her mate's cheek and pressed their foreheads together. "I fell in love with you. The werewolf. The Dragonborn. The Harbinger. The soldier. The thief. The mother. And everything else. I love all of you, and I wouldn't change you for anything in the world."
The two stood there in the cold kissing for a very long time. So long in fact that Odahviing's landing had gone completely unnoticed by either. The dragon eventually grew impatient and huffed at them. Serana started at the sudden gust of warm air, but her mate either didn't notice or didn't care. When Serana tried to pull away, Alessia growled and pulled her back. Tighter and with a bit more fire in the kiss. Serana giggled and obliged despite the dragon's irritated disapproving growls.
"Fah fin lokal se… Do you two mind?" Odahviin finally stomped his way up the stairs and shoved his massive head between the two females. "There will be time for liin once the summons is over and done. Miin bex, Briinah!"
"Alright, alright, Zeymah. We'll behave." Alessia laughed, patting the big brute on the head before guiding Serana to his back and helping her up.
The dragon lowered himself, growling lowly, "Vik gardiir punah…"
Alessia thwacked him on the side. "Oh, don't be such a piinzoliik."
Serana held on tightly as the miffed dragon rose into the air and sailed out over the mountain slopes. The wind tore at them again, but Odahviing had no trouble with the current. His massive wings beat soundly and carried them higher and higher towards the summit. Though Serana had not an ounce of the senses Alessia had when it pertained to the Dov, even she could feel the sheer power from the Throat of the World. As the three cleared the clouds, another scaled lizard passed by not ten feet from them and disappeared into the puffs of white. Just a flash of reddish-brown scales and a swish of wings on the wind.
The next dragon Serana saw was a lithe bluish-gray beast soaring right along side them. Then she noticed the bronze dragon on their opposite side. As she looked at their rear, there was another red tailing them. A green flew below and above, and a gray led the way before them. By the Gods… the beasts were huge. Rivaling even the undead Durnehviir's size.
Alessia reached up and gently touched Serana's thigh. "Don't be alarmed. They are just escorting us the rest of the way."
"Do you know them?" She asked, though she doubted Alessia didn't know every dragon within Skyrim.
"Yes, I know these Dovah. Know and trust them. Well… enough to know they wouldn't risk Paarthurnax's wrath by striking us down without reason."
"That's comforting." Actually, the more appropriate word was "horrifying", but Serana feared the surrounding dragons might take offense. She felt the chest pressed to her back vertebrate with a laugh.
"You wanted to come, Love." Alessia's words were nearly lost in a gale wind as Odahviing suddenly dove. Serana's stomach lurched as the dragons banked hard to the right so close to a rock wall she was sure their wings nearly touched it. Then suddenly, there was an open sky… absolutely teaming with other Dovah. She felt Alessia behind her stiffen and mutter. "Shit…"
Alessia
Odahviing landed gently in an open rocky area on the summit. The mountain came to such a point that, aside from a few rocky spires, there was no where else to go. Alessia dismounted, ignoring the many glaring Dovah eyes watching as she did so, then helped Serana down. Her mate was trembling, but hid it well enough. Even Alessia was suddenly very nervous. More nervous that before. There had not been such a gathering of the Dov since Paarthurnax's rise to power. She'd expected three, maybe four not including the Elder Brother and Odahviing. But she'd counted… nearly two dozen. A score of large, scaly, mountains of muscle and bone.
As she'd always done while dealing with her dragon kin, Alessia slid into the role of Dovahkiin. Bane of Alduin. Dragon Slayer. Her spine straightened as she led, using more of a strut than a walk, Serana towards the Word Wall that served as Paarthurnax's throne. As she passed Odahviing's head, Alessia mutter so only he and maybe Serana could hear, "Jaaril Zinaalkiimah."
"Mindoraan, Briinah." The dragon hissed as he set his pace to match hers.
As the three walked, the Dov converged on the surrounding rock spires. Her eyes didn't waver. Not once. Instead they remained on the throne and the very large white dragon resting upon it. Paarthurnax was the first dragon Alessia had ever actually held a conversation with that hadn't involved Shouting. At least not right away. The elder dragon had startled her on their first meeting. The Greybeards had neglected to mention their Master was of the Dov. Once he'd landed and not immediately attack, but instead asked politely for her to stay her weapon, Alessia grew to respect the old lizard.
Despite his rough and batter appearance, as well as being the oldest known dragon alive, Paarthurnax was an amazing warrior. He bowed to Alessia as she approached, acknowledging her status as his second. "Valokein, Dovahkiin."
"Valokein, Paarthurnax. Aal zu'u grist Zinaalkiimah." Alessia motioned to Serana, who, seeming to now recognize her new title among the Dov, bowed in turn.
The white dragon sniffed at Serana, then grinned before nearly lowering his head all the way to the ground in a returning bow. "An honor, Zinaalkiimah. Few have ever caught my little sister's eye for long."
"Oh?" Serana looked to Alessia with a curious eye.
"I like this one, Mal Briinah." Paarthurnax chuffed. "I shall regale you with many an embarrassing tale. But for now, we must continue to the business at hand."
Ignoring the threat of future embarrassment, Alessia glanced behind her. Most, if not all, of the dragons were settled and awaiting the Elder Brother to start the meeting. On that note, Alessia turned to Paarthurnax. "Why did you summon so many?"
"I did not. Once word spread that I wished to speak with you on the matter, they came of their own accord. It appears the vampires have become a problem in many places throughout Skyrim." Elder Brother looked to the assembled horde of his kin, stretching up to his full considerable height, and bellowed so that all could hear. "Drem yol lok, Dovah. Enlahvraan…"
As Paarthurnax addressed the gathering, Alessia led Serana to the side of the Word Wall. There was a small stone bench she'd claimed for herself during such proceedings. It was large enough to accommodate both she and Serana comfortably, as well as have enough room behind it for Odahviing to stand guard as she'd asked. The big lizard curled his bulk around the two females, his tail on Alessia's side, and his head mere inches from Serana's right. That was good. If any dragon attempted to attack her mate, Odahviing's fangs and flame would be waiting.
The speech went on in the dragon tongue for a short while. A simple greeting and a quick update to what the summoning was about. A few of the Dovah nodded while others huffed great plumes of smoke or frosted breath. Alright, so there was some agitation amongst her kin. Alessia suspected the unusually and completely unnecessarily long greeting Paarthurnax was giving was also meant as an opportunity for her to see the dragons reactions. Always the clever white serpent.
"Lastly," Paarthurnax concluded in the common tongue, "out of respect for our honored guest, Zinaalkiimah, we gathered will speak in a language the Dovahkiin's betrothed might understand."
Most did not object to the command, but a few glared angrily towards the two females. Alessia bared her teeth at them, allowing a very audible growl to emphasis her displeasure at their disrespect. The guilty party quickly averted their eyes. One in particular, did not. Gosisstrunmah. A massive bronze dragon who was constantly at odds with anything Paarthurnax had to say. The dragon had never been outright defiant, but was not silent when he disagreed with something. Alessia stared him down, and eventually the brute broke eye contact.
Alessia often saw the similarities of dragon dominance and werewolf dominance. Often times she'd caught herself confusing one for the other. In this instance, the two practices were one and the same. Gosisstrunmah had issued a slight challenge, and she had answered. Battle won, for the time being.
"Dovahkiin, please tell us what you have learned about these vampire attacks." Paarthurnax looked to her, as did every other dragon.
Alessia stood from the bench and stepped forward, having to take a slight step up and over Odahviing's tail. The dragon, now responsible of only the one charge, tightening his circle of scaly flesh around Serana. She nodded to her old friend in approval. Alessia imagined that starting from the beginning again wouldn't be best. The dragons would lose interest quickly. It was best to be short and to the point. And so she was. Unlike the long and drawn out conversation with Jarl Balgruuf, the relay of information took only the good part of an hour. For Serana's safety, Alessia didn't choose to divulge the information they'd learned from Valerica. That she would share only with Paarthurnax, and Paarthurnax alone.
"So, your solution to this infestation is to chase down a weapon, one that may or may not even exist, and use it to slay their leader?" Gosisstrunmah huffed. "That seems quite the common tactic with you, Dovahkiin."
"Have you a better idea?" Alessia growled, noting that the dragons anywhere near Gosisstrunmah inch away from him.
The dragon huffed again and swished his tail. "Why not simply burn their castle to the ground? This… Vampire Lord Harkon need not fall by the means of a magical weapon only. Fire will take care of him and his ilk."
"And what of those innocent trapped inside? Blood slaves? Thralls? Mortals forced into servitude or awaiting to be unwillingly turned?" Alessia motioned back towards Serana. "Not to mention the portal my betrothed requires to retrieve her mother?"
Another dragon piped up. The blue-green female Oniklukluv bowed lowly, her way of asking permission to speak. "This portal you spoke of, Dovahkiin. Might you go into further detail about it?"
"I cannot. Serana would do the explanation far greater justice." Though she really didn't want Serana involved any further, Alessia believed the unique nature of the portal might be what saved it. Serana would undoubtedly have to explain how rare and nearly impossible to duplicable the magic was. "Serana, would you please explain what your mother did and why it mustn't be undone?"
Serana stood, but didn't step out of Odahviing's easy reach. Her explanation was quick, but detailed enough to satisfy the dragons. Most nodded in agreement when Oniklukluv said, "So, it is safe to say there is none like it anywhere on our plane of existence. Laying siege to the castle would undoubtedly destroy the portal, and any chance of your mother returning home again."
Both Alessia and Serana nodded gravely. "It would."
The female dragon turned to Gosisstrunmah. "Attack would be unwise. Even if such an act wouldn't separate a mother from her young, if such magic actually exists-"
"Any Dovah who dabbles in such magics will share the same fate as that fool Durnehviir." As expected, Dinokhokzii muscled his way forward and stood at Oniklukluv's side. The two big bull dragons hissed at each other, a purely dominant display. Oniklukluv simply rolled her eyes and distanced herself from the rivaling males.
Alessia, reading the body language, stepped backwards to put herself in a position to shield Serana. The males had done this little song and dance before. When one came too near to the females, the other would puff up and go on the offensive. She knew for a fact that Oniklukluv, as well as the few other females, found it annoying. But it was embedded into the male's very nature. Neither Gosisstrunmah or Dinokhokzii seemed to know, or care, Oniklukluv had already found a mate. From Paarthurnax's own mouth had she learned that the first clutch of young dragons born in this age would be sired by the big white male himself.
"Calm yourselves, Dovah!" Paarthurnax bellowed. His dominance trumped the two squabbling males and the two quieted. Alessia sought out Oniklukluv and saw the female had placed herself as close to Elder Brother as possible without making it obvious. "Please continue, Dovahkiin."
"It is our plan to find this weapon and keep it out of Lord Harkon's hands. Once it is secured, we will then focus on permanently bringing him down. The Dawnguard, as well as the other Holds of Skyrim, have already begun this process." Alessia finished. "When you called, Elder Brother, Serana and I were on our way to the Pine Forests."
"To search for this Ancestor Glade, yes." Paarthurnax turned to his kin, looking each and every one in the eye before he continued. "The Dov will provide what aid we can. Zinaalkiimah, you claim to have the locations of vampire strongholds? Might I request any information on those that might be difficult for morals to reach? Those high in the mountains perhaps. Or on islands around the coast."
"Yes, of course." Serana nodded.
"That is good. I will send my own messengers to the jarls of Skyrim offering Dov assistance in this matter. With the mortals cooperation we will exterminate this-"
"Once again, Paarthurnax, you show your cowardice!" Alessia's blood ran cold at the voice. The dragon was one she had never thought to fear because he never left his mountain. Not for any reason since Alessia and Paarthurnax had defeated him during the war.
The Dovah scattered, attempting to get out of the big male's way as he stalked forward. Beynodol… A very, very old golden dragon that rivaled Paarthurnax in every way. His scales were thick and hard as stone. His horns curled into sharp points much like that of a ram. The brow was solid bone, making any skull bash he performed deadly. Muscle upon muscle upon scaly hide and sharp horns.
Paarthurnax leapt down from his Word Wall perch and placed his bulk between Alessia, Serana and the new threat. Even Odahviing rose to his feet and readied himself for an attack. Elder Brother snarled. "You are not welcome here, Beynodol."
"Only because I would not bow to your will. Or to that… thing you claim as your second." The golden dragon hissed, the heat from his maw growing with each word. "She is no kin of mine. Nor is that immortal tick at her side."
Alessia continued backwards until she pressed herself bodily against Serana. This was bad. This was very, very bad. If a fight broke out here and now, it would be absolute mayhem. It was possible some of the other dragons would take the opportunity to seize power for themselves. Kill any rivals. Even aid Beynodol in killing Paarthurnax. Some would aid the Elder Brother, but as to how many… she couldn't tell.
"Serana, get on Odahviing." Alessia said, real fear in her voice. Though she knew Serana would protest, she tried again. "Just in case this goes badly. I'm hoping Paarthurnax can keep this from devolving into an all out fight."
"What are you going to do?" Serana asked, evading Odahviing's attempts to pull her onto his back. He was growing instant as his eyes kept darting to bristling males.
Alessia coaxed her mate up onto the red dragon's back, kissing her once as Odahviing stood. "I'm going to go be the Dragonborn."
Serana
"Stubborn, mulish…" The insults simply rolled off her tongue as Alessia strode away. But then again, Serana had refused to remain at High Hrothgar. She shared in her mate's stubbornness.
The dragon beneath her rumbled. "Do not fear for Briinah. She and Elder Brother can handle themselves against an oaf like Beynodol."
"Who is he?"
Odahviing huffed. "A belly-dragging liar and traitor. He attempted to steal the crown from Paarthurnax when Alduin fell. Had Briinah not discovered his treachery, your world might have fallen into chaos once again."
"And they beat him once before?" Serana looked at the golden brute, who's attention turned from the white dragon to Alessia. Her wolf simply… took over the space at Paarthurnax's side. What dragons were there got out of her way. It was a remarkable sight. If that many of the Dov respected Alessia's status among them, perhaps Beynodol would be cowed into submission.
"Soundly." The dragon answered. "A great battle, but one Beynodol eventually lost. But he is not the only threat as of this moment."
Serana focused back down on the scaly hide beneath her. "What do you mean?"
"Beynodol may not be able to take Elder Brother in a fair fight, but there are other ways he might do so. Which is why Briinah is so afraid." Odahviing shifted his wing slightly. "He might call for a revolt. There are those who would follow him. If that happens, it would be an all out brawl here and now. And we would not be able to tell friend from foe until they attacked."
"Will it come to that?"
The dragon huffed gently, seeming to consider the question. "I do not know. Beynodol is even more stubborn than Briinah. He obeys the laws, if barely. For now, we may only hope Paarthurnax and the Dovahkiin can keep the peace on this day."
Serana tried not to worry, or at least show her worry. She watched as the argument continued to grow, the dragons grunting at each other in their guttural tongue. It seemed Alessia was content enough to sit back and allow the two males to settle things. That wasn't to say her wolf appeared calm. Serana could see the tension in her back, her legs, her arms. Alessia's hand even rested on the hilt of her sword. Nervous.
"Jur!" The golden dragon's cry echoed over the mountaintop. Serana felt Odahviing flinch. Saw Alessia do the same, but Paarthurnax bellowed at the word.
Once the roar faded and silence rose, something snapped. The two males dove at each other, teeth and claws snapping and tearing. Serana cried out in alarm, but her fear faded when she saw Alessia had avoided danger. Or at least, she thought her mate had. The ashen colored Dinokhokzii tensed to dive into the brawl. Alessia apparently saw the dragon prepare to strike and lashed out with her sword. It caught the tip of the dragon's snout, spewing a small amount of blood on the snow.
"Kriist tum, Dovah! Pah do hei!" Her wolf shouted, pointing her sword directly at Donokhokzii and snarling at the other dragons who attempted to aid him.
"Odahviing! We have to help her!" Serana cried, trying to kick the dragon into motion.
"No. She's handled it." Odahviing growled at the kicking. Serana stopped. "Look."
Serana did. Though the dragons all gathered around the snarling and hissing Paarthurnax and Beynodol, that was as far as they got. Even Dinokhokzii back down from Alessia's ferocity. At her mate's back, the white dragon snapped his jaws down on Beynodol's wing. The gold dragon screeched loudly and fought violently to free himself. If the limb was damaged beyond repair, the beast would be grounded permanently. Bone cracked and Beynodol shrieked all the louder. Paarthurnax released the wing and snapped down on the gold dragon's neck. The sounds of the dying lizard were horrible to hear, but they didn't last long. Their was another loud crack and the gold dragon stopped struggling.
There was silence for a short time while the death of the Dovah seemed to vibrate through those gathered. First, Paarthurnax began to… Well, to sing wasn't quite the right word. It was a long bellow that echoed throughout the mountains. Odahviing took up the call. Then Oniklukluv. One by one the dragons began to sing along. Serana watched as Alessia knelt by the fallen dragon. Her breath caught as Beynodol's body began to glow with a bright white, gold, and violet light. His body seemed to… disintegrate right before her eyes as the light absorbed into Alessia.
Her mate stood slowly, swaying slightly. Paarthurnax was there in an instant, using his big head to steady her. Serana was down from Odahviing's back and sprinting to Alessia before the dragon had bent down enough to lower her safely. What dragons were in her path quickly scurried away. She skid to a halt, thankfully Paarthurnax was able to stop her slide with his big skull.
"I'm alright. I'm alright." Alessia said before Serana could ask. Regardless, she eyed her wolf carefully. Not a scratch on her. Alessia was patient, eventually grinning widely. "Done ogling?"
"What was that?" Serana asked, not giving a damn about all the eyes watching them.
"It's what I do. As the Dovahkiin, I absorb a dragon's soul when they die."
"Does any other Dovah challenge my will?" The white dragon beside them huffed as he glared up at his kin. After no one answered, Paarthurnax nodded. "Then it is settled. We aid the mortals in this struggle against the vampires."
Night fell as Odahviing left them in the snow covered forest just a short distance north of Ivarstead. The world was quiet in the hour before nightfall as the two made their way towards the town. The trip down the mountain had been far less frightening than the flight up. Aside from a few rogue wind currents, the the dragon mostly glided his way down gently. Alessia hadn't said much, and even now seemed at a loss for words. The business with the Dov had been deadly, though they had accomplished their goal. Serana knew her mate was deep in thought about what occurred on the mountain, but wouldn't press until she was ready to talk. Instead, she simply took her wolf's hand and trudged on through the snow.
"You know, for the first time in a very long time, I have true hope for the Dov." Alessia said finally, a small smile curling the edges of her lips.
Serana looked to her wolf. "Hope?"
"Yes. Hope that they might actually be able to overcome their malicious natures." The dubious look on Serana face must have given away her doubt. Alessia grinned at her. "I know all that up there looked brutish, but that was the Dov behaving themselves quite admirably. Beynodol could have started a massive bloody battle, but instead chose to call for a challenge. Dinokhokzii and the others could have overpowered me and joined in on the fight. But they didn't. Instead, the respected my authority and backed down when ordered to do so. Thus allowing the challenge to play out, as well they should."
"Yes, but why did he do it? It didn't seem he was any match for Paarthurnax." Serana shook her head, trying to understand the Dov way of thinking.
"He stood up for what he thought was right, I guess. But… I'm beginning to suspect that was not the only reason he chose to fight one on one with Elder Brother." Alessia sighed, the joviality gone suddenly and replaced by a somewhat melancholy smile. "Honestly, Beynodol was a great warrior. During our first encounter, it took both Paarthurnax and I to fend him off. That was during a massive battle and there were other dragons flying about. This though… Beynodol had next to no chance of winning that challenge."
Serana knew of an unusual tradition of the orcish people. When a warrior grew too old to be of much use to the tribe, he would set out into the world and look for a "good death". He'd issue challenges to every warrior he thought capable of matching his skills and fought until he died. It was odd, but she could understand the idea behind it. To die in battle instead of allowing feeble old age to claim the proud warrior.
"You think Beynodol wanted to die?" Serana asked when Alessia did not continue further. Her mate nodded with sad little grunt. "Is that… common for the Dov?"
"Not especially, no." The two were coming into the small village, just crossing the stone bridge at its southern edge. Within a matter of minutes they would be able to see the tavern. "I never learned exactly how old the dragon was. At least as old as Paarthurnax. Maybe, he was just… tired of living. I couldn't imagine living for so long."
Serana suddenly understood what might have driven the dragon to wish for an end. And, going by the orcish tradition, she could even see the merit in dying a "good death". If she had actually lived through four thousand years of her father's antics instead of sleeping through it… Part of her pitied Beynodol. Such a long life lived in constant war under the command of a tyrant. Pity… if not empathy. A lot of it.
After a long moment of silence, Alessia pulled on their joined hands towards the promise of warmth, food, and a soft bed. "Come. Let's talk no more of it. With hard work, we now have the jarls, the Dawnguard, and the Dov on our side. I think we deserve a good night's rest before we head into the Pine Forests."