Chapter 37 – Chasing Alduin

Z ducked the lightning bolt The Dragon priest Nahkriin aimed for her head in record time, causing her tender hands to touch the cold, mossy stone of Skuldafn. The trip by Dragon flight had been incredible, the skies themselves had been owned by the two Dovahkiin Z and Vale. Clouds had broken and fled from the steady wing beats of Odahviing as he flew through the sky, blood red scales glowing in the sunlight as if they were blood stained metal as the sun touched them on the journey across the skies. Eventually they had landed, only to be confronted by three Dragons. During the epic struggle Vale had absorbed her first Dragon soul. She had absorbed the knowledge that normally brought Z incredible pain with a bewildered expression. The information and memories didn't cause Vale any physical pain nor did it come to her in shattered pieces as Z had been shocked to discover. She had absorbed the entire soul then allowed some of the unnecessary knowledge to pass through her own energy as if it were nothing. After fighting through a ruin filled with traps, undead and a few spiders which all added up to more enemies than Vale would have liked the two had exited the ruins to stand on a form of roof, like an outside platform. It was here they had found more Drougr and the Dragon Priest Nahkriin waiting for them.

"Fus!" Vale's voice tore through three draugr as she took a confident step forwards and raised her bow. Instantly she allowed her arrow to fly, burring itself inside the eye socket of one of the draugr that had been thrown back from her shout. The other two growled at the loss of their dead brother and stepped forwards to attack again. Vale's confidence soon faltered and she quickly began to run backwards, eyes dancing around for some high ground to shoot from. Z saw this and ran towards Vale, feet hitting the ground for but a moment before she took her next stride like the graceful assassin she was. Her feet were silent and her breath quiet despite being in the heat of battle. The Draugr attacking Vale never knew their second death was upon them as Z drove her daggers into the back of their heads.

"Thanks" Vale panted with a smile as Z twisted her daggers in her victims heads. She then bowed over to shove her daggers through before pulling them free. While Z was bent to free her daggers from their dead flesh prisons, Vale fired two arrows over her back, stopping the Draugr death lord coming towards them. Z looked desperately over her shoulder as the Draugr continued to approach. With a grim determination she pulled one of her daggers free, and with a mournful look at the dark curved blade she threw her unnamed dagger into the Draugr's chest. The Strong undead creature groaned loudly as it stumbled backwards and over the edge. It was then Z had truly said goodbye to a piece of herself, to be lost forever in the snows where only Dragons could fly. It was a fitting resting place.

"Wuld!" Vale cried out, dashing forwards towards the dragon priest. She grabbed the staff it was wielding with both hands as she let a timid yet feral cry tear from the darkest regions of her throat. The sound made Z smile inside, not out of amusement or scorn but out of pride for the Elf's attempt at being fearsome. The little Elf had grown a lot under her watchful eye, and she swore to give Vale more training with a dagger once she had saved Skyrim from Alduin. Before she knew it she was sprinting towards the dragon priest, that was lashing out at Vale as she held his staff. Lightning flashed past Z as she ran. On instinct she dove forwards, rolling over her shoulders to her feet effortlessly before resuming her sprint with strong legs and swinging arms. When she reached the Dragon Priest she snarled, driving her dagger thoughtlessly though its head. Her hand burned as the priest screamed loudly, accompanied with her own growl of pain as the lines in her arms seemed to glow at the touch of the dark, ancient magic. The priest fell to ashes, leaving only its mask behind as well as the staff Vale carried. She frowned at the ashes before she lifted the mask and slipped it into a large pouch.

"Go through the portal. I'll handle the remaining Drougr" Vale announced, shoving the staff into the circle on the ground. Instantly blue light shone and became a thick pillar that Z couldn't see through. Her gaze fixed on Vale, filled with concern for her friend but the Elf stood with her bow ready and arrow notched on the ancient string. Z wanted to speak, but no words would escape her mouth. The feeling of being lost for words was rather unpleasant in Z's mind, but she did not know how to voice that discomfort. She realised Vale would most likely die protecting a way she would most likely never come through. She blinked back tears, hoping the Elf wouldn't notice her silence was strained.

"Tell Farkas…" Z didn't know what to tell him. That she loved him was the most logical choice, but it was most certainly insufficient. To say he had saved her soul was not an understatement, and his actions had brought her to the point where she actually cared about the world more than her vengeance. Since Valana Valore's death she had felt a little lost and incomplete, unable to find something to substitute for her rage. Instead of rage she had found love, she had found Farkas when she looked within herself. The smile inside her heart was so small and bittersweet as Vale placed a hand over hers gently, squeezing the fist she did not even realise she had clenched.

"I'll tell him that you were and will always be his" Vale spoke in a sincere tone of voice. Her ears twitched downwards and her eyes were filled with unshed tears. It was amusing to think they had tried to destroy one another when they first met. While they would never be the best of friends, they obviously had bonded. It was now at the end of her life that Z realised just how much she had missed out on in life, and how much she had been given during her time. She stood strong with her shoulders squared as she walked towards the light.

"I'll meet you in Sovngarde, Farkas" she thought softly to herself, trying to project love and courage through their bond. She felt the love in return and she knew she could not go back. She would die for this man who had given her everything, and she would do it with a song in her heart. Without hesitation she stepped into the blaze of blue, going out in glory and honor.

She went to her death without fear.

…..

Aela allowed a small sigh to escape her lips as Vale leaned back against her, pushing her defined shoulders against Aela's breasts and resting her pointed ear against the Nord's boney shoulder. Aela could feel the fur of the rabbit skins against her inner thighs, which were bare beneath their own skirt like armor. She could also feel the small balls of ice that was the frozen metal studs Vale seemed so fond of putting though the furs she wore. Aela naturally applied a little pressure with her own legs, squeezing the small Elf affectionately. The wolf within her seemed to celebrate Vale's closeness in the cave, and the small, blissful sigh that escaped Vale indicated that she also enjoyed their closeness. The Elf's lithe hands came to rest on Aela's knees, naturally embracing them as she ran her thumb over the Huntress' beautiful skin in a state of enchantment. Aela merely wrapped her arms around the Elf's body, holding her close as if her life depended on it. Ironically, it did in the freezing cave, as it did everywhere. Aela couldn't survive without the little Elf that was so comfortably in her lap.

"I'm cold" Vale whispered as she snuggled closer to Aela, seeking the warmth of the beautiful Nord. Aela nearly died from the adorable display Vale gave her, followed by a cold nose nuzzling into her neck. Even Aela winced at the cold flesh as Vale turned her head and placed her nose under her throat, but Aela said nothing as the Elf continued to turn in her arms. It was not an unfamiliar sensation, but it most certainly was a display of affection she was finding more comfort in than she should have. Aela fought a lump in her throat as she tried to shelter the elf from the cold of her homeland. Vale's skin was ice to the touch, yet once she was warm it was a heat source for Aela. She decided it was worth it as the Elf threw a leg over hers and sat astride her thigh.

"I know, beautiful" the words came unbidden from her lips before she could think of the consequences. She continued not to think as the wind howled like a dread ice wolf outside. Vale trembled in her arms, teeth chattering as Aela allowed her hands to come Vale's back, fingers running over the wet leather Vale was wearing. Aela frowned; whatever had possessed Vale to walk over the ice so close to the edge had a death wish. Aela had thoughtlessly dove after Vale once the lithe Elf had fallen from her exhaustion over the edge. Aela had probably saved Vale's life, dragging her from the ice and down the mountain to the cave. She clenched her jaw as she stared into the darkness of the cave, silver eyes narrowed in an attempt to focus her sight. When she saw little she smelt animals had passed through a few days ago. She dared believe the cave was abandoned as she let a hand come to Vale's leg. With a deep breath she got to her feet, heaving the little Elf up along with her.

"Aela!" Vale yelped in surprise, locking her ankles around Aela's body in an attempt to hold herself up. Her arms locked around Aela's neck, fingers finding a warm comfort in the red locks of Aela's hair. The Werewolf smirked despite herself as she began walking into the cave, somewhat surprised by how light Vale seemed. Even after everything they had endured together Aela was still blown away by the Elf she could call hers. Strangely it was not possessive, but a deeper bond. Her Elf, her Girl and the woman she hoped would be Her Mate, once Vale had adapted to the gift of Beast Blood a little better. The wolves within them had already decided and agreed with the bonding, which brought their human sides closer together. To say Aela loved Vale was not an overstatement, but the Nord would not voice that as much as Vale would have liked. The little Elf wanted to laugh, to take joy in Aela's actions, but all she could feel was the bitter cold eating at her body. She did not have the blood like Nords did that warmed the body, nor was she as used to beast blood as she would have liked. Since Aela had been taken that fateful night, Vale had learned a lot. She had learned things that haunted her senses and memories , she knew the fear of knowing the woman she loved was in the hands of a ruthless killer, she knew the fear of seeing her lover dead. She had also learned the feeling of being torn from her mate, the panic and fear that had almost destroyed her. It was then she had learned how strong love could be, and how strongly she felt for the Nord.

"You need to get out of that drenched clothing" Aela announced as she stopped and bent down. Vale clung to Aela for a moment, but released the Nord when she realized she was being placed on some furs. She heard Aela moving around, then steel and stone meeting. Sparks flew from Aela, causing her war paint to catch the light and appear like lines of darkness across her face. The haunting eyes were determined as she struck the stone and steel again; painting a picture so beautiful Vale forgot to breathe for a moment. The third strike brought a small flame to the cave, revealing a small fireplace Aela had obviously made. The Nord seemed quite proud of herself, which brought a smirk to Vale's lips.

"If you wanted me to undress, you should have just said so" she teased lightly. She saw something dance across Aela's face that resembled pain and she instantly regretted her joke. She hung her head as her fingers came to the strings of the leather and she began to pull them undone. Somewhere in the ruin and snow was Z's lifeless body, and her abandoned weapons. She could tell that knowledge pained Aela, and couldn't deny it tore at her own heart. The woman she would have once killed she now wept for. Fate, it seemed, had a sense of humor.

"You'll freeze" Aela declared firmly. The lovers remained silent as they mourned the one who had brought them together. Undressed Vale lay down in the furs before Aela snugged up beside her, saying nothing as they shared their warmth and waited for the morning to come. Tears rolled down their cheeks but neither spoke a word, for no words could begin to sum up the pain they felt. They would face it together, in the morning.

In the morning they would gather Z's fallen weapons, and reunite them with her body one last time.

…..

She could not see a thing. The world was a black haze before her eyes as she ran. She felt her feet crossing something that felt like the spine of a large animal, and she could feel the increased cold through her boots. She quickly guessed a dead animal used as a bridge, but then she dismissed the idea. What animal could be so large? Suddenly her body seemed to fall, and she hopelessly reached for the cool she felt to her right. Her hand closed around bone, thick and weatherworn but bone none the less. She suddenly didn't think her theory she was on a spine bridge was that foolish after all. She scrambled to her feet and continued across the Whalebone Bridge. The world slowly began brightening around her as the ground changed beneath her feet yet again. She ran down a slight hill as her world slowly became white. She frowned in minor confusion as she gazed at a wall of mist that was blocking her path, chilling the world before her. Then she heard Alduin roar.

"We cannot fight the foe in this mist" A wise old man's voice reached her ears. It was the voice of an ancient hero, the man who had used the scroll to banish Alduin through a rift in time. The voice belonged to Felldir the Old. The man had wide cheekbones, a square face overall with a design painted upon his cheek. His hair was grey, tied back to stay out of his eyes. His beard was also tied back elegantly. What shocked Z was he wielded a greatsword as if he were a man half his age. She then realised she expected nothing less from the soul of an ancient hero.

"Clear skies. Combine out shouts!" came the females voice. Gormlaith Golden-Hilt was a fair yet clearly Nord woman. Her eyes were somewhat squinted, hard despite their illusion of softness. Her hair was blond and falling unrestrained down her shoulders. Her skin was pale, lips pouty and her war paint a match for Aela's. Z felt a pang of pain as she began to realise where she was, and how unlikely it was she would return to her friends. Gormlaith held her sword and shield proudly, knowing that before her death she had slain four dragons in a single day. It was no small accomplishment.

"Lok Vah Koor" the shout came from the three heroes of old, and Z allowed her voice to join them with the pride of a hero. She was the Dovahkiin, and she had died to save her home. Her voice joined the dead to bring life to the afterlife. The cloud of fog was weakened, retreating from the shouts before it began to reform. Z felt her rage bubble to the surface as she prepared a second shout, encouraged by the group.

"Ven Mul Riik!" Alduin's voice boomed through the land. Like the despair that would eat the living as a loved one departed the fog returned, building back from nothing to stand as a strong wall that could never be broken. Again the heroes unleashed their voices, driving the fog back with the strength expected from the greatest. The fog retreated, revealing the grass before Z's feet. She felt almost proud as she saw the fog retreat, but the feeling was short lived. Again Alduin cried and again the fog returned.

"Does his strength have no end? Is our struggle in vein?" The younger male spoke, Gormlaith's brother lamented. Hakon One-Eye did not share his sister's soft blonde hair, instead his hair was red. Blue lines of war paint covered his face to his shaggy beard. His eyes were small yet soft, his nose large and bent as if it had been broken many times. He stood wielding his battle axe with his arms bulging. Out of all of them he appeared to be the strongest warrior, but also the most cautious.

"No! Alduin grows weak, and Skyrim depends on us. I will not fail" Z spoke before she realised she had parted her lips. Surprise was evident in the other warriors at her strong words, but they did not complain. Instead they gathered their strength and unleashed one terrifying shout. The fog seemed to shatter into a million clouds before fading away. Z puffed her chest out for a moment before she let a silent yet large breath of relief free. She was not about to fall to Alduin, who roared so loudly Z was positive her ears would begin to bleed and she would be shattered into little pieces. She faced the danger with her head held high as she drew her weapon. Gazing down she was surprised to see an ancient Nordic sword in her hand instead of her daggers, but she did not complain. After a moment she smiled at the blade, it was one she remembered. It was the blade she had first fought her first dragon with. It was almost ironic that she was going to slay Alduin with the weapon that had started everything.

The world was suddenly alight in flames as Alduin swooped down from out of the dark skies, flames rushing from his jaws like the bitter end of the world his name promised. Z thoughtlessly dove forwards, rolling as soon as her hand hit the ground. She grunted as her shoulder rolled over some sharp rock, but did not hesitate to finish her roll forwards. In a furious swirl of her cloak she turned to see Alduin flying towards her bellowing flames. He flew low to the ground, his large wing beats showing the sibling heroes aside. Z leapt to her left and brought her sword down in an overhead slash. Every muscle in her arm turned to stone as she brought the blade down with all the might she could muster in a quick, fluid movement. Alduin roared as the blade struck his scales, his huge paws landing on the ground as he ran a few strides. He sent Felldir flying with a huge swipe of his tail, then knocked Gormlaith with the rebound. Felldir collided with Hakon, sending both the large warriors tumbling in a flurry of armor and robes. Alduin then turned and snapped for Z's legs. She thoughtlessly dove over his nose, wincing as her knee collided with the horn on his nose. She bounced across the ground as Alduin flew high into the skies, summoning fireballs to fall at the warriors. Hakon quickly swung with his axe, knocking the flames aside enough to spare Felldir and he the burns they would cause. Gormlaith hid behind her shield, taking the blow with a grunt. Z was the least elegant as she pushed from her knees and dove out of the way, rolling until her shoulder struck a rock. She grunted as she pulled to her knee and glared at Alduin, the shout tearing from her lips before she could even think.

"Joor Zah Frul!"

Alduin roared as the blue surrounded him again, clinging to his wings and dragging the humongous dragon towards the ground. He managed to get his feet beneath him, landing roughly but remaining on his feet. Z could barely think as she rushed forwards with her blade at the ready. She let another terrifying shout free as she ran, one that sent fire at the dragon. He roared in pain and lifted his head to the skies, revealing the under scales of his throat. Gormlaith lunged out with her blade, slashing again and again as Alduin retreated. Suddenly he reared on his back legs and swung his paw straight into the fiery legendary warrior. She grunted in alarm and surprise as she fell backwards, her sword bouncing out of her reach. She snarled and raised her shield in a desperate attempt to shield her face from the flames Alduin was breathing upon her, beginning to melt the armor she wore. Z didn't know what she was thinking as she ran to the woman's aid, praying her feet were fast enough. Try as she may she couldn't connect to the beast blood within her, it was as if she was no longer a wolf. Still, she ran to the woman's aid as Alduin snapped at her. The warrior managed to get to her feet and slap Alduin's second snap aside, at the expense of her shield. As Alduin lined up for a final snap at the unprotected Warrior Z yelled furiously and dove forwards, wrapping her arms around the dragon's snout. The scales dug into her leather covered arms, leaving imprints on her sensitive skin. She braced with her legs and pulled backwards with all her might, preying she could drag Alduin's head away from the warrior. Alduin bellowed flames as Z tugged him away, using her body weight and strength. Everybody stared as Alduin threw his head up, sending Z flying through the air. Alduin swung his tail at her, giving Z a brief moment to catch it before she was sent plummeting for the ground. She bounced and rolled as she hit the ground again, coughing as the air was knocked out of her.

"Wuld!" Z shouted, sending herself rushing for Alduin's behind. The dragon roared as Z did the first thing that came to her clouded mind. Footstep after footstep fell along the dragon's tail as she sprinted up the scales, scarcely believing she was climbing a top a dragon let alone Alduin. She grabbed onto one of his spikes when he reared on his hind legs and flapped his wings furiously. Z placed her feet in the spikes and continued to climb with one hand, holding the blade in her other. She continued to run as Alduin bent his neck and snapped at her. She leapt to the side, spinning around herself before she sat over the dragon's neck and plunged her sword into the scales. Alduin roared loudly as he flew into the air with Z holding on for dear life. Suddenly she felt jaws snap around her armored and tear her free. She screamed in pain as she hung from her arm for a moment before she was thrown through the air. She landed with a grunt on the bridge, sliding down the bones before she could even make a mental estimate of her own broken bones. She hung onto the bridge with a single hand as her body hung, almost as her arm hung useless by her side. She took a deep breath as she heard the roar fill the skies, drawing closer and closer. She closed her eyes as she heard the flap of wings and prepared herself for the death of her soul. She gazed into the skies, admiring the beautiful stars for a moment.

"Sithis save me" she whispered softly, and then she committed suicide.

She let go.

….

An: Yes I am quite possibly back. Sorry for leaving everybody hanging, I've had terrible writers block and a case of gaming instead of writing. Hopefully I am back in business until the end, which draws closer and closer with each word.

The song for this chapter is on the playlist, but I shall name it here. It is called

"Chasing The dragon" by "Dream Evil"

Thank you everybody for reading this story and getting it to 18,800+ views. I don't know where that stands in FanFic terms but I am damn well blown away that even 5 people would take the time to check this out let alone 18,000.

Thank you thank you thank you :D