And when Sovngarde beckons - 3rd of Sunsdusk - 4 E 201 - Skuldafn
Eliana watched the red dragon fly away and disappear behind the crest only moments before a loud roar filled the air. She raised her shield just in time to block a murderous fire breath. Her ward shattered from the wrath of the bronze scaled dovah who had just landed on top of the stone arch marking the entrance to Alduin's domain. He was not greeting the Dovahkiin, nor was he challenging. This Shout was intended only to kill.
Eliana found herself pushed to the ground by the force of Alduin's lieutenant's Voice and responded with all the strength and desperation she could muster.
"YOL TOOR SHUL!"
The dragon fell from his perch, crushing two incoming draugr in the process. Eliana summoned an ice spike in her left hand, a fire blot in her right and aimed both at the third walking corpse aiming a black bow at her.
The undead fell back on the floor, convulsing in the raging flames until he did not move anymore.
The Dragonborn let out a heavy sigh and fought hard to catch her breath. From what she saw when Odahviing was flying above, Skuldafn was such a maze! It would take all her wit and all her focus not to get lost in the Ancient Nord ruins. Luckily enough, the light whirl marking the location of the portal was more likely to be seen from everywhere. Of one thing she was sure, she had to climb!
She headed towards the stairs and followed the path to a wide courtyard where another dragon awaited.
The silver scaled dovah starred at the mortal with spiteful eyes and let out a deep chuckle when the girl unsheathed her sword. "Skuldafn fen kos dinok.(Skuldafn will be your death.)", he said. "Alduin du hin sil ko Sovngarde. (Alduin will devour your soul in Sovngarde.)" He then turned to the tower standing at the edge of the cloister and Shout: "Alok dilon!"
Eliana's grip on Dragonsbane tightened as the metal doors of the building opened and three heavily armored draugr went out and aimed their wrath to the Dragonborn.
"Fus Ro Dah!"
The young woman was sent to the ground. She watched in horror the three draugr overlords approach and Shout her to the ground again and again, keeping her from possibly defend herself.
"YOL TOOR SHUL!" The corpses burst into flames but the fire did not stop them from attacking. The ground trembled and the wind caused by the dragon taking its flight knocked her off balance once more.
Thrown to the floor, Eliana blocked the first blow and kicked hard into the undead's chest to push him away just the time she needed to get to her feet. She swung her sword, slashing the mummified body in pieces before she turned to the two others, convulsing in flames and ended their agony.
"FO KRAH DIIN!"
A freezing cold enveloped her. The blade covered itself in ice shards, forcing the Dragonborn to drop her weapon as the white dragon from earlier came back to fight, only bringing more draugr with him.
"YOL TOOR SHUL!"
She did not take time to catch her breath.
"Krif voth ahkrin ahrk hin siiv Sovngarde.", she whispered and summoned flames in both her hands to fight the incoming wave of undead.
3rd of Sunsdusk - 4 E 201 - Skuldafn Temple
More undead, more fights, more blood, more pain.
Eliana rested against a pillar she did not have the strength to turn as the coffins standing against the wall cracked open, revealing two more draugr. The young woman fought hard to regain focus and burned them to ashes before she fainted from exhaustion.
She struggled to crack her eyes open. Her torch was still burning bright at her side. She must not have passed out for very long… She gathered her remaining strength and got up, her hand on the carved column for support. The pillar turned, throwing her to the ground again.
"You have to be kidding me!", she growled, as the three symbols of the puzzle door finally came to place. A quiet anger burning in her veins, she shot a dark glance to the pillar, stood up and armed herself, ready to proceed.
She climbed a dozen of steps and found herself perched over a square room in the middle of which stood an embalming table guarded by a draugr.
Eliana thanked the Gods for the undead not having patrolled the corridors nearby and summoned a fireball in her hand. If she could put it down without getting noticed, all the better.
The spell exploded on the impact engulfing the corpse in a fire storm but none the less ending his life. The long dead Ancient Nord turned on spot.
"Fus Ro Dah!"
Eliana crashed in a wall, the dark stone cracking on the impact. It was not long before the girl realized she was in a sarcophagus. She jerked free of the grip of the coffin's inhabitant and pinned the awakening draugr in place with Ice Spikes before turning to the one climbing the stairs and aiming his sword at her.
"FUS RO DAH!"
The corpse flew backwards and crashed downstairs, broken and unmoving. The Dragonborn took a few seconds to catch her breath after this battle. Much to her surprise, the exhaustion she had felt only moments ago was leaving her. Newfound - and until now unsuspected- strength overwhelmed her. Her will and courage had not yet failed her.
Skyrim needed her! She just had to be brave!
3rd of Sunsdusk - 4 E 201 - Skuldafn
"FUS RO DAH!"
The two draugr flew backwards and crashed in the courtyard down below, the Ice Atronach they had summoned driven back to Oblivion as its master's curse to undeath was finally lifted.
Eliana struggled to catch her breath. The freezing cold air of the night made it hard to breath, and her wounds -though unbleeding - would soon get the better of her. She let out a heavy sigh as her last ray of hope came in sight in the shape of a tall whirl of blinding light.
She climbed the last steps and frowned as a hooded, masked figure turned to face her.
"A Dragon Priest…"
She had never had such an encounter but the place where she was standing and what she had went through to reach the portal left little doubt on the nature of the cloaked skeletal figure guarding the door to Sovngarde.
"Zu'u uth nall thurri dein daar miiraak. (I am the guardian of my master's portal.)", he said, taking his staff off the seal carved in the ground and closing the portal to Sovngarde before he aimed the weapon to the Dragonborn. "Skuldafn fen kos dinok! (Skuldafn will be your death!)"
3rd of Sunsdusk - 4 E 201 - Windhelm - The Palace of the Kings
Ulfric let out a heavy sigh, reading the latest report from their outpost near the White River. Yrsarald Thrice-Pierced mentioned a mounted dragon flying above the encampment earlier this morning and heading to the East, before they lost it when he passed behind Bonestrewn Crest. The jarl slowly rubbed his temples. Only four days since the truce had been agreed, and his men were already out of their mind.
The jarl straightened upon his housecarl's entrance.
"Yes Galmar?"
"We've just received a courier from Whiterun."
"Balgruuf?", Ulfric risked, hoping for the jarl of Whiterun to finally come to his senses after the Dragonborn sided with him at the negotiation.
Galmar shook his head 'no'. "Vignar Greymane."
Ulfric frowned and took the letter his friend handed him. "So they've trapped this dragon in the palace, then…"
"Read the rest."
The jarl chocked on his breath "The Dragonborn released it and flew East on its back…", he read out-loud. "Well, it seems Yrsarald hasn't completely lost his mind, after all…" he added with a smile.
"Do you have any idea where she can be heading?"
Ulfric let out a heavy sigh as his friend's question suddenly reminded him of what the Dragonborn said at the peace council.
"Sovngarde."
"If only!", the housecarl mumbled as his friend shot him a dark glance and headed out of the war room.
Ulfric reached for the blue piece of linen he had kept in his pocked since he returned. He still had a promise to keep.
'Pray for me.'
3rd of Sunsdusk - 4 E 201 - Skuldafn - The portal
Eliana took the dragon shaped staff from the pile of ashes remaining of the dragon priest and carefully watched the two dragons that had landed on each side of the portal. The white scaled dovah on her left bowed his head, soon followed by the golden one on her right.
"Wundun zeim miiraak. Zahrahmiik ahrk zind."
'Travel through the portal. Sacrifice and triumph.', the silver one said, descending from his perch to stand by the portal.
"Nokvul ahrk morokei... Mu werid hin, Dovahkiin. ", the golden one added, joining with his white brother, on the other side of the door to Sovngarde.
'Noble and glorious… We praise you, Dovahkiin.'
Using the staff for support, the young woman climbed the steps and placed it in its keyhole in the ground. The carving shined a blinding light and the stone floor before her crumbled in a deafening sound. A white gold whirl of light pierced through Skies and Earth.
"If it's time to go, remember what you're leaving."
She let her thoughts and feelings flow freely in her mind. A smile formed on her lips, tears escaped her eyes and she stepped into the Void.
'Pray for me… Until we meet again…'
We soon reach the (first) climax : Sovngarde !
I don't know for you, but I actually had much more trouble travelling through Skuldafn that I had defeating Alduin! Draugrs everywhere! ... no wait... Draugr overlords with Unrelenting force shout and a 2 seconds cooldown! After that, the World-Eater was a piece of cake, really! Well, that's just me, cause Elie will probably think it harder ^^ Or maybe not XD Surprise!
There'll be two unexpected guest stars in next chapter :) I bet you'll love it ;)
Stay tuned! and don't forget to review! :)
PS: Sorry about Galmar being grumpy! ;) His mood should improve (slightly... we're still talking about Galmar! No way denying he IS grumpy! ^^) in the next chapters ! ^^
PPS: And two Doctor Who references! Two! :D A cookie/muffin/"thecakeisalie" to who finds it ! :D
