The fall of the Blades - 30th of Frostfall - 4 E 201 - The Throat of the World

Eliana had never run so fast in her whole life! Not even with Thalmor justiciars on her tracks! Maybe because there was more than her life at stake, today! She had to reach to top of the Monhaven before it was too late.

The cold mist enveloping the peak made it hard to see more than two feet ahead, but she couldn't afford to lose any time or any strength dissipating the fog. She knew the path to the summit like the back of her hand, for she had walked it every morning and every night for a month! She just had to trust her instincts.

"WULD!"

The cold wind soon came to blow as a calm breeze; the snow storm was no more, white flakes quietly fell from the sky in a white wind whirl; she had soon reached the top.

"Did you think the Blades had been destroyed?", she heard a voice taunt in the distance. "We never forget. We never forgive."

"DELPHINE!"

The Breton woman turned on spot and aimed her bow towards the Dragonborn.

"Make your choice, Dragonborn! You're either with us or against us."

"I believe I made myself clear.", the young woman responded, skirting around her foe so she could stand between her and the dragon perched over the Word Wall. "I don't want to kill you, Delphine.", she added as she summoned an ice spike in her hand, and readied to throw it to the Blade. "But I will if you don't renounce this folly!"

Delphine seemed to hesitate and aimed her bow at Paarthurnax once more as the white-scaled dragon got down of his perch with a muffled sound before aiming it back at Eliana.

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't put you down right now as a traitor to the cause!"

"Because the only traitor here is you!", the young woman cried. "You are dishonoring your oath as a Blade! 'To serve and protect the Dragonborn!' And look at you, threatening the very person you were sworn to obey and defend!

"This dragon deserves to die for his crimes!", the Blade spat.

"Mey joor… (Foolish mortal…)", Eliana whispered. "Do you even realize where you are standing? Do you realize who you are planning to kill for the sake of revenge?"

"It's not about revenge! It's about justice! About doing my duty for the Emperor and the country. About doing what's right!"

"Who are you to claim what's right?", Eliana pointed. "Remnan Cyrodiil, Talos of Atmora, every bearer of the Amulet of the Kings, and every Dragonborn before me, who are you to question their authority? They all chose to protect him… and so will I! If you try to kill him, you'll have to get past me first!"

"So be it.", the Blade hissed. "Sending you to Sovngarde so you can fulfill your destiny will be merely a formality!"

It all happened in the blink of an eye!

Delphine loosening the rope, the arrow flying towards her heart, two Voices shouting for their lives!

"FUS RO DAH!"

Eliana felt the world fade around her. Her anger had died with this single shout… So had Delphine.

The Dovahkiin fell to her knees and prayed for the Gods' mercy as the last of the Blades fell down the Throat of the World.

She had been warned!

Can we call it a "challenge in the traditional way"? ... No, let's just call that "legitimate defense"!

I had the most unimaginable trouble writting this chapter... I just couldn't bring myself to kill Delphine... But... eh... Looks like I did in the end... Please don't hate me! *hides behind Tullius* Here! Hate him first! T_T

Again a short chapter, still, I hope you enjoyed! Don't forget to review ;)