A/N: Seeing as I have plenty more of this written, it is time for an upload. A bit of a bridging chapter this, getting Elisif back to her people and providing the first hints of what's been happening while she's been gone, so you may well get ch36 posted as well. Enjoy!
Summary: All things must come to an end, and it's time for Elisif to leave. But she's got little time to wallow in the heartbreak of leaving Sovngarde behind. Things have moved on in her absence, and Skyrim needs its High Queen to step up and finally stop the war.
Finally the time came to leave. Everyone was gathered on the plain outside Shor's Hall, Tsun ready to Shout her home.
Jordis had hardly left her side, looking tearful to see her go. Elisif knew how she felt, Jordis was loyal, kind, capable, had been there at the start and helped her out here as selflessly as she had in life. But Elisif couldn't stay and Jordis would be here waiting when Elisif died.
"Stay safe, Maia," Jordis whispered, despite Elisif telling her she could use her name now, she'd earned the right.
"You too, Jordis," Elisif said, kissing her housecarl on the cheek and squeezing her tight. Next up, Torygg, who'd turned up to see her off, and she still wasn't sure what to say to him. They'd talked and talked and said everything they had to say. Nothing would change the fact that what he'd looked for in his wife just wasn't who she was any more. Nevertheless, there was still something left over, or he wouldn't be here now.
"Elisif," he said nervously. "I guess this is it."
Elisif nodded, not sure what to say.
"Guess it is. Until I die, but that'll be years away, I hope!"
"I hope so too," Torygg said quietly. "I'll miss you. But don't worry about me. I mean, I'll be in Sovngarde, you know? All Nords want to come here. You just live your life and be happy. Be a better leader for Skyrim than I was."
"You tried," Elisif told him. Torygg just shrugged.
"Skyrim needs better than that," he said. "You sorted out the mess I left you with. You're what our homeland needs, not me."
Maybe. But there was something she could leave him with.
"You're in Sovngarde," she told him. "You're a hero too. I'll make sure that's how you're remembered. Never mind everything between us. I'll make sure history remembers you as a brave man who died defending his country even when it seemed hopeless."
Torygg looked surprised, and then he was reaching out to pull her into his arms, holding her tight, and for a few precious moments Elisif could close her eyes and it was as if none of it had ever happened. She was still his adored wife, he was still her loving husband, they were safe and happy in Solitude and everything was all right.
And then she opened her eyes and it wasn't.
"You take care, Elisif," Torygg said roughly, tears rolling down his cheeks, and Elisif knew her own cheeks were wet too. "You go and be happy. Go be a hero. Go and be the next Tiber Septim. If we can't have each other, let me at least be able to say I was lucky enough to be loved by a legend once."
You still are! Elisif wanted to howl. She still did love him... but she couldn't look up to him any more, and Torygg couldn't deal with that. Best to just walk away, and in the decades to come, perhaps he'd find peace here. She could but hope.
"Divines keep you," Elisif whispered. "I don't know for sure if there's eight or nine, but I hope you find peace. I'll remember you, I swear."
"Thank you," Torygg said softly. "I know you don't really worship Talos, and if you're Dragonborn, you've got no reason to... but I think he believes in you. I'm sure he'd be proud – he should be at any rate. There's just one thing... you'd have made offerings to the Divines after I died, right?"
Elisif had done that very thing – to the Eight. But with the Thalmor watching, not to Talos, the Divine her husband had worshipped in secret along with his father.
"To the Eight," Elisif admitted. "I was never able to make one to Talos."
"I understand," Torygg said grimly. "If it's too dangerous, I won't hold it against you, but could you do one thing for me? My father's old warhorn, it's on the desk in our bedroom. Can you take it to a shrine to Talos for me, leave it as an offering? There's plenty of them in secret corners all over Skyrim, although the one east of Whiterun has a special place in my heart."
Elisif remembered. Torygg's mother had been a Whiterun noble, related to Balgruuf. His parents had often gone up there while courting and in the early days of their marriage. Giving the horn to Talos at that shrine would be a nice way of honouring the memory of Torygg's family, the High Kings and Queens gone before.
"I'll do it," Elisif promised. Torygg smiled at that.
"No rush," Torygg said, something seeming to amuse him. "Who knows, a time may come soon when Talos can be worshipped freely again."
That time could have been now if Ulfric had won and Elisif felt an unexpected twinge of guilt at that. But who knew what might happen. Elisif stepped back, wiping the tears away and then looked up... to see Torygg backing off and Ulfric Stormcloak approaching, Galmar and Njada at his back.
"Ulfric," Elisif said, surprised to see him. "You came to see me off?"
"Thought I should wish you well," Ulfric said, shrugging. "Next time I see you, the world will be different. I just wanted to make sure you know to look after my country."
Elisif thought of Sofie's terrified face as she pleaded with Madanach, and little Aventus being brought back from his house, Madanach and Karliah flanking him with Madanach's soldiers keeping everyone else at bay so people didn't stare, and how thin and filthy he'd been, and decided if that was how Ulfric ran a city, she could hardly do worse than him at leadership. She knew for sure all Solitude's children were loved.
"Skyrim doesn't belong to you, Ulfric," Elisif told him. Ulfric smiled sadly and shrugged again.
"Perhaps not. But I belong to her. Take care of our home, Elisif."
Elisif promised she would and while she wasn't sure about a full Nordic bear hug, she did take the hand he offered.
Then Njada.
"Good job," Njada noted. "Guess Kodlak was right about you. Guess he's not happy with me, eh?"
Elisif was fairly certain he wasn't... but he'd also given Njada a respectful eulogy.
"He's sad it came to that," she said softly. "He genuinely didn't want his Shield-Siblings fighting each other. But he respects you, and when his own time comes, I think he'll greet you as a friend."
Relief in Njada's eyes but she hid it swiftly.
"Then I'll keep some mead warm for him," she told Elisif.
Finally Inga, who'd been holding on to Argis with tears in her eyes, whispering to her son and Argis nodding back, drying his own eyes, and then Inga was turning to her.
"You take care of him," Inga told her, her voice hoarse. "You take care of my boy."
Elisif nodded and promised she would. "He'll always have a place at my side," Elisif promised. "After following me here, he's earned my permanent friendship. I know he's got Farkas to look after him and his kin too... but I'll make sure he's always got a place of honour."
Inga nodded and then leaned closer, whispering in Elisif's ear. "Take care of his father too. He is old and likely lonely, and I don't like to think about what that mine did to him. Will you look after him too?"
"I'll try," Elisif said softly. "I don't know if he'll let me, but I'll try. Inga, he told me to say he was sorry. I think he'd have liked to be there for you but he never could."
Inga tightened her grip on Elisif, little sob escaping her mouth.
"Stupid man," Inga gasped. "Stupid, stubborn, sweet-hearted man. You tell him... oh Dibella, I don't know. Tell him I'm thinking of him. And wish him well. Tell him to live well and be happy and look after our son. Gods, Elisif, just look after him. If he can't be happy with me, at least let him be happy."
Elisif had no objections to that, but whether she could be the one to make Madanach smile, she didn't know. Still, if she could get him his throne, or at least see the Reach free and him settled in a nice retirement, she'd have done her best.
He might be grateful. He might show his appreciation in... other ways. Elisif gasped as her inner dragon helpfully flashed up images of Madanach kissing her, Madanach stripping off to reveal an older man's body but one still strong from the years of fighting and physical labour and holding out his hands to welcome her in, pinning him down and rutting against him, nails digging into him as her teeth nipped at his flesh and dear gods, this had to stop. She'd thought her dragon blood was under control, that she wasn't a danger. She'd even asked Madanach to stop her hurting anyone if needed. It would be horribly ironic if he was the one she was most likely to hurt.
And then it was time to leave. Tsun had one parting gift for her, a Shout that would summon one of the three Tongues to help her if needed, and a promise to both her and Argis that they'd earned a place here regardless of how they died.
"Thank you," Elisif said quietly. "I'd like that."
"I'll think about it," Argis said gruffly. Couldn't be easy for him, with a mother here but a father who'd never come to Sovngarde ever. Elisif suspected much would depend on how things went with Farkas... but she quietly hoped she'd see Argis here too one day.
And then it was time to go. Final goodbyes were said and then Elisif took Argis's hand and braced herself as Tsun Shouted them home. The last thing she saw was Jordis waving goodbye and Inga's tear-streaked face, the older Nord woman's eyes never leaving her son... and in the background, Torygg looking on, watching her go with sadness all over his face, but looking proud of her too.
Torygg, I'm sorry, I still love you! And then Sovngarde was gone.
The first thing Elisif was aware of was the cold, smacking her in the face. After Sovngarde's permanent summer, the cold of Skyrim's winter was a shock. But there was wind and snow and rock and... dragons?
Lots of dragons. But no one attacking. Just weaving overhead or perched on rocks, and Paarthurnax perched on top of his Word Wall.
Next to her, Argis was waking up, also cursing out the cold.
"Daedra help me, couldn't he have sent us somewhere warm?" Argis grimaced, and then he saw the dragons and reached for his axe.
"Don't!" Elisif cried. "They're not attacking. They're singing..."
She hadn't known dragons could sing, but they were! Well, a chant really, and Elisif caught Alduin's name. Alduin mahlaan. Sahrot Thur qahnaaran. Mu los vomir. Dovahkiin los ok dovahkriid. Thu'umii los nahlot. Elisif didn't understand it, but she could tell the sentiments. Part dirge for their fallen leader, but also a celebration of sorts. The dragons were free to go their own way. Elisif couldn't help but smile. Maybe they were brutal killers... but they were also sentient creatures and at least now they could choose to be monsters or not.
Like Cicero. Or Madanach. Free to choose their paths now, and while Elisif had a feeling Cicero would go right on stabbing given the chance, she had a feeling Madanach had longed for redemption. Rather like Ulfric. Ulfric had had to die to find his, finding a destiny in protecting his kin from Alduin. Elisif hoped everyone else could find theirs in life. She'd seen enough friends die.
At length the dragons peeled off and flew away, leaving only one remaining. An old, grey dragon perched on a Word Wall.
"Paarthurnax!" Elisif cried, racing over to him, heedless of Argis following and scratching his head, before recalling that oh, right, Paarthurnax was the good brother wasn't he?
"Yolaazov," Paarthurnax said, lowering his head and letting Elisif embrace his nose. "Greetings. You have been some time... but I can feel it in the wuldsetiid. You have done it. Alduin is no more."
He didn't sound very happy about it, and Elisif told him this. If dragons could shrug, Paarthurnax would have done.
"He was the Firstborn, Yolaazov. Greatest of us all once, the crowning glory of Akatosh's creation. And now he is no more. Maybe this is for the best, I know not. But I cannot celebrate, Yolaazov. He was my brother once."
Elisif was an only child, Elisif had never had any siblings, not even had to share her father with a mother. But she'd seen her father quietly grieving and always wondered what her mother was like... and these past few weeks had given her a taste of what having a large family was like. Elisif didn't know what it was like for a true dragon, but she knew what grief felt like.
"If it's any consolation, I don't think I took his soul," she told him. "He might come back one day."
"Perhaps," Paarthurnax said softly. "Even those of us who fly on the wings of time cannot see past time's end. But it is done and that is for the best. Alduin had flown far from wisdom by the end."
Elisif couldn't disagree there.
"What will you do now?" she asked. "Are you going to stay here?" The old dragon had seemed awfully lonely and desperate to talk to someone. With Alduin gone, there was no need for him to guard the mountaintop, and he had plenty of other dragons to talk to now.
"In truth, I do not know," Paarthurnax said thoughtfully. "I have spent so long watching for my brother, I had almost forgotten what path I was supposed to be flying. Learn well, Yolaazov. Do not spend so long perched on someone else's strunmah that you forget what it is like to fly."
Elisif wasn't sure she'd ever known what that was like... but these past few weeks had given her a freedom she'd never known. First childhood, then caring for her father, then marriage, then bereavement... then the coming of dragon blood and the knowledge she was needed to save the world, but even then there'd been a mission. Now it was done... and all that awaited was someone else's strunmah. Her former husband's strunmah, also known as the Blue Palace, and just the thought of going back made her feel ill. But who else was there?
Leave it to Falk. Let him be Jarl, let Balgruuf be King, get Argis to tell the world you died in Sovngarde then hit the road.
It was a tempting thought. But there were still things she needed to take care of. Head back to Windhelm for one and see how everything was going there, then go to Solitude and tell Tullius that the war was done, could he sign off on Madanach as King of the Reach, or failing that, Madanach as Jarl of Windhelm? She honestly had no idea how Tullius would react to that, but he was a practical man. He'd see reason, she was sure... but she had the feeling she'd need to be present for the negotiations.
"I'll try not to," Elisif promised. "Do you know where you're flying?"
"No, but that is half the fun," Paarthurnax laughed. "Goraan, but I feel younger than I have in years. I will keep this place as somewhere to rest, and visit my Greybeard friends. But as for myself, I think I will try to bring my fellow Dov around to the rightness, the vahzen, of the Way of the Voice. They may yet be persuaded of the power of my Thu'um. But willing or not, they will hear it!"
Paarthurnax took to the air, wheeling overhead, looking truly more carefree than Elisif had ever seen him. Someone else finally feeling the responsibility lifting and being able to stretch their wings.
"Fly well!" she cried out to him.
"And you, Yolaazov! Lok Thu'um!" Paarthurnax circled round the Throat and then flew east, dragon roar echoing across the sky as he faded into the horizon.
Elisif would miss him... but she had a feeling she'd see the old Dovah again. She didn't have time to dwell on Paarthurnax though. Another dragon had landed, sending snow flying and her and Argis staggering.
"Sithis' sake, who's this?" Argis cried, reaching for his axe, and the new arrival growled, head swinging to face him.
"Argis, wait!" Elisif cried. "That's Odahviing, the one who flew me to Skuldafn!"
Argis sheathed his weapon, staring at the red dragon who was still growling
"He friendly?" Argis said, not looking convinced. Elisif wasn't sure either, but she didn't think Odahviing was here to attack. If they weren't exactly friends, at least they weren't enemies... not yet. And he had said he'd watch to see who returned.
"Odahviing," Elisif said firmly. "That's Argis and he's with me. Leave him alone."
"If he stays his blade," Odahviing growled, turning back to Elisif. "So, Dovahkiin. You have returned. And Alduin is dead. The proving is done and we know for sure now whose Thu'um is stronger."
"It was my sword killed him," Elisif said. "But he wouldn't stay still without Dragonrend."
"Hah!" Odahviing laughed. "I can believe it. I would have liked to have seen it, it was surely a sahrot krongrah – a mighty victory."
"She carved up his side, squealing 'this is easy!'" Argis said, grinning. Elisif had no recollection of saying any such thing, but it had felt somehow natural. Fated. Doom-driven. As if she'd had no choice but to do it. She wasn't sure it'd be relevant to her normal life, but you could never tell.
"For you, perhaps," Odahviing said knowingly. "Yolaazov Thur, you have proved your strength twice over. Your Thu'um is stronger, Thuri."
"Thuri," Elisif said, frowning. "What does that mean?"
Odahviing closed his eyes and nudged at her gently.
"Leader," he said softly. "My leader. You can Shout my name. When you have need of me, call. I will come, if I can."
"What?" Elisif said, trying to work out if she'd heard that correctly. "You... you'd come when called? And help me?"
"Of course!" Odahviing said, surprised. "You ended the mightiest of us. You are worthy of serving, Yolaazov."
She'd just got her own dragon. Her very own dragon! Elisif resisted the temptation to squeal... but a dragon! Wait until Madanach heard this. Or Tullius! Goodness, Falk's reaction, and suddenly Elisif didn't feel so bad about having to go back to Solitude. People would have to take her seriously with her very own dragon.
"Where will you stay when I don't call you?" Elisif asked. "Have you got a strunmah?"
"Not any more," Odahviing sighed. "I used to live at Skuldafn but I will not be welcome there now. I was thinking of staying here. The old one, Paarthurnax, would not mind, I don't think, even if he will not shut up about the Way of the Voice."
"Come with me," Elisif said, feeling impulsive, reckless, and this was a terrible idea but she was Jarl of Solitude if nothing else, and the city would just have to get used to it. "There's a mountain to the north-west, by the sea. There's a statue of a woman with a beam of light shining into it, and a bridge with a dragon's head on it, and a big city with ships and a great stone arch over the river with a palace on it. That's the Blue Palace of Solitude. That's where I live. Did you want to live on the mountain nearby? I'd tell the guards to leave you alone, have them make sure no one hurt you. Maybe build you a platform on the palace roof!"
"A Dov in a city of the joor?" Odahviing said dubiously. "Thuri, is this wise?"
"It's my city," Elisif said firmly. "I'm Jarl there. If I ordered it, they would have to let you be, although you are not allowed to eat anyone who lives there."
"I will want assurances before I visit regularly," Odahviing said, still dubious. "But I could make my home on the mountain nearby. Call me once you have warned the guards there that I am coming, and I will visit."
Elisif promised she'd make all the arrangements, inwardly squealing. A dragon, a dragon, she had her own dragon!
They would have to take her seriously now.
Down the mountain, stopping briefly to tell Arngeir the good news, and then to Ivarstead for a drink and rest at the inn. After Sovngarde, even the Black-Briar's best fell short... but Elisif was glad of warmth and food.
"What news, Wilhelm?" Elisif asked, keen to find out what had happened since she'd been in Sovngarde. She'd already found out from Klimmek she'd been gone for over a week. A week? Anything could have happened in a week!
"Nothing good," Wilhelm said, guarded. "We've had no news out of Riften for over a week now, just smoke in the east and the sound of dragons. It's concerning. I was expecting a delivery from the meadery three days ago but nothing. My stocks are running low. I'll have to send to Honningbrew at this rate. Bassianus left for the city two days ago to find out what's going on. We've heard nothing since."
Worrying. Elisif exchanged looks with Argis.
"Should we go?" Elisif whispered. "I know it's Stormcloak territory but something's not right."
"For all we know, Da and Delphine are behind it," Argis murmured back. "I know Karliah was heading back out there to scout the area... and Da sent Cicero with her too."
"Cicero?" Elisif hissed. She'd not even thought Cicero was that close to Karliah. "Why is he... oh gods." She had a horrible feeling there was going to be a repeat of Dawnstar. "We should really get out there..."
"El- Maia," Argis said firmly. "He's not going there to assassinate Jarl Laila. Trust me, whatever he's up to, you do not want to be anywhere near it. You'd be better off going to Windhelm and checking Da's all right, and asking him what he knows about Riften. And speaking of Windhelm, ask your man there if he's heard anything out of Eastmarch."
So Elisif did. Wilhelm's expression darkened.
"Bad tidings – unbelievable tidings, you might say. They say Ulfric's dead and that the entire Hold's been taken over by these savages. No news out of there for over a week either, just word from travellers that Fort Amol's in the hands of these fur-clad heathen witches. I don't even want to think of what's going on if they've taken the city as well."
Elisif nudged Argis to be quiet and stop grimacing. It seemed Madanach was still in control of things over there, but Elisif knew the Legion would be there before long. She'd need to hurry.
Tipping Wilhelm extra for his trouble, Elisif withdrew to bed. She had a horrible feeling all was not well.
They left Ivarstead early, taking the road north to Windhelm, rising through the mountain ridge that marked the Rift's northern border... and then out onto the road overlooking the Aalto plain. Elisif could see Windhelm from here, glimmering in the sunshine... as was the armour of the Legion troops camped out around the city, clearly laying siege to it. The city wasn't actually burning... but it was only a matter of time before something happened.
"Divines help us," Elisif whispered. "I didn't know they'd get here so quickly!"
Argis said nothing, staring out at the army camped around his father's city, and Elisif saw his expression, saw the grief and terror and realised that she'd seen many emotions on Argis's face but she'd never seen him afraid before.
"Elisif," Argis said softly. "Elisif, my da's in that city. Farkas is in that city, my sisters are in that city. Elisif, we need to do something, please, they'll execute him if you're not there, they'll kill them all..."
No. Absolutely not, she'd taken Windhelm, that city was hers, and Madanach was her Jarl, her sworn vassal, hers! General Tullius had no right to overrule her. Fear evaporated and cold, unmoving rage settled into her gut. She'd do something all right.
"Come on," Elisif said quietly. "Let's get down there. General Tullius will listen to me, he has to."
He never listened to you before, why would he start now? Elisif ignored the treacherous little voice whispering at the back of her mind. She'd spent too long doubting herself and her decisions and she was determined it wasn't going to happen again.
I have a dragon this time. Inside and out. He will have to listen or I will burn his camp down.
Not that Elisif wanted it to come to that, of course. But she did have options.
Queen and housecarl raced down the road as fast as their heavy armour would let them, although Argis was trained to it, and by this point, Elisif had spent so much time running around Skyrim in the stuff she barely noticed the weight. So along the ridge it was, then down the hill and alongside the plain, past the remains of the giant camp... and then just outside Kynesgrove, as the camp boundary was just visible in the distance, someone whistled sharply.
"What was that?" Elisif whispered. "Was that one of the Forsworn?" It sounded like a Forsworn signal, Elisif had heard enough of them while Witchmist Redoubt had been here.
"Yeah," Argis said, frowning. "I think?"
Another whistle, and then a hiss from behind the stone wall.
"Elisif!"
She knew that voice. Not a Forsworn, but a friend.
"Karliah?" Elisif asked, confused. "What are you doing here?"
Karliah slipped out from the shadows, pulling her grey cowl off, shaking out her hair... and she wasn't alone either.
"Hello pretty Dragonborn!" Cicero cooed, popping out from where he'd been hiding next to Karliah. Elisif could practically feel Argis's mood drop. Argis had always been a bit on edge around the little jester.
"Cicero?" Elisif asked, glancing between the two of them. "What are... how did you both get here? Argis said Madanach sent you to Riften."
"He did," Karliah sighed. "Delphine wanted the word on the street, and Cicero had an errand to run."
Cicero kicked at the ground, scowling.
"Cicero needn't have bothered," he muttered. "Cicero got there and found the old crone was already dead. Eaten by a dragon! Hmph! Cicero was very disappointed."
"Who was?" Elisif asked, wondering just who Cicero had been after this time. By the Eight, had Madanach actually sent Cicero to fill Aventus's contract?
"Half of Riften," Karliah told her, purple eyes looking like they'd stared into the Void and back. "Dragons attacked, destroyed half the city. Jarl Laila's dead, her steward too, and her son Harrald, although Saerlund survived, just about. Not to mention Hemming Black-Briar, Vulwulf Snow-Shod, Grelod from the orphanage, Bolli from the fishery, Madesi, half the guard. The entire city's a wreck. It's a good thing the priests at the Temple survived, and Alessandra at the Hall of the Dead, and the alchemy store too, or I'd say disease would have killed the survivors. As it is, Maven's taken over as Jarl and moved everyone to the Ratway. I was bringing the news back to Madanach, trying to see if he'd send aid. Maven doesn't care about Talos or the war, and she's got friends all over the Empire. She'll want peace so she can rebuild."
"I knew we should have gone there first," Elisif whispered, barely able to breathe. That poor city... all those people. She should have been there. Should have been protecting them. As it was, she'd neglected the Rift completely and now its citizens were paying the price.
"Hey, we couldn't have done anything," Argis said, patting her shoulder. "This is a job for the Legion. And hey look. They're right here. You tell Tullius you'll deal with Windhelm and he can get troops over to Riften to help out."
"You make it sound so easy," Elisif said, wondering if Tullius would do any such thing. But Argis was right. This was a job for the Legion, and as High Queen to be, she needed to be the one informing Tullius.
"Come on," she told them both. "Come with me. I can get us into the army camp. They haven't attacked Windhelm, have they?"
Shakes of the head.
"No, it's all been quiet," Karliah said. "I don't like it though. Feels like a fight could start any minute."
Cicero giggled nervously, but Elisif looked into his eyes and saw that despite the laughter, he looked terrified. Cicero didn't often look scared of anything, but his girlfriend was in that city. The poor man must be on the edge of a breakdown.
"Let's go," Elisif said gently, holding out a hand to Cicero. "Don't worry, I won't let them invade."
Cicero went to her arms, snuggling next to her as he hooked his arm through hers.
"They mustn't, they mustn't," he whispered. "Pretty Elisif mustn't let them kill pretty Eola and Madanach and Farkas and Delphine!"
"I won't," Elisif promised, tightening her grip on Cicero, Karliah and Argis falling in behind her. This was her city, her strunmah lawfully taken in war. General Tullius would not attack it if she had any say in the matter.
The camp guards stopped her at first, telling her she was 'interrupting Imperial business, citizen!'
Elisif soon set them right on that score.
"I'm High Queen. Here to speak with General Tullius. Let me and my comrades in, soldier," Elisif said firmly, and while the one who'd challenged her was an Imperial, his companion was a Nord, and he clearly knew the legend of the Jagged Crown.
"That's her, idiot!" he hissed. "Queen Elisif herself!"
"What, you think so?" his friend asked, suspicious. "She could be any Nord mercenary."
Elisif rolled her eyes.
"FEIM ZII!"
She saw the colour leaching out of the world as she went ethereal, seeing both guards staring in shock and hearing the camp go quiet as soldiers gathered to see what the noise was. Then the awed whispers started.
"The Thu'um! That was the Thu'um!"
"That's her! Jarl Elisif!"
"Dragonborn..."
"Go through, High Queen," the Imperial breathed, no longer questioning her right to be there. "Don't let us stop you."
Elisif nodded at them both and made her way in, head held high. Time to find out what was going on.
General Tullius was holding a meeting in his command tent, and while Elisif had expected him and Rikke, and wasn't exactly surprised to see Elenwen there either, she was surprised to see Jarl Balgruuf there with Irileth at his back, and even more surprised to see an elderly Breton with a long nose sitting quietly in the corner and drinking a steaming mug of tea.
"Nepos?" she heard Karliah whisper, and realised that the Reachman Jarl himself had turned up. Things really were serious.
The entire tent looked up, going silent to see her walk in. Was it her or did Rikke look just a little bit impressed? Nepos was looking her over as well, seeming to approve. Balgruuf seemed to have lost a weight off his shoulders just by looking at her. But Elenwen's face had looked annoyed for the briefest second before a carefully calculated blankness replaced it, and Tullius... was Tullius.
"Jarl Elisif, you have a lot of explaining to do," Tullius snapped, straightening up and coming to circle the table to face her. "Do you mind telling me what on Nirn's going on here?"
"Well General, you refused to help me so I found a man who would," Elisif said, shrugging. "We took Windhelm, and then his people took control of two enemy forts. We also carried out a summary execution of a Jarl who'd supported treason and insurrection and defied his Empire. General, I might ask what you're doing laying siege to a city loyal to me."
"Loyal to – Jarl Elisif, he's a wanted criminal, guilty of murder, insurrection and treason himself!" Tullius shouted. "You can't just put him in charge of a city!"
"Too late, I already did," Elisif snapped, folding her arms. "And I know what he did. But he helped me when no one else would, and he promised to stop attacking innocent people, and when I needed Ulfric unseating and you wouldn't do it, he offered his services. So I've taken him up on the offer and pardoned him of all previous offences. General, we led a combined assault on an enemy of Skyrim and the Empire, we were only doing what your forces were going to do anyway. Madanach's assured me he's quite willing to swear fealty to the Emperor and to vote for me in the Moot. He's fine with the White-Gold Concordat too." This was said with a pointed look at Elenwen, who just sniffed.
"That doesn't surprise me," Rikke muttered but she'd also noticed the annoyance on Elenwen's face and didn't look as hostile as she might have done.
"I'd be prepared to take your word for that," Tullius said sceptically. "Only that pardon is only valid for prior offences. It won't absolve him of any future wrongdoing. I'm told you put him in charge and left the city to go and trap a dragon, is that right?"
"Yes," Elisif admitted. "I needed to find out how to track down Alduin and kill him so dragons won't come back to life. But I've done that now so you don't have to worry..."
"Elisif," Tullius snapped, cutting her off. "I don't care about dragons. What I do care about is that a city of innocent people is currently in the hands of a dangerous black magician, doing Divines know what in there, and that he's sealed the gates and won't talk to us, not unless we unilaterally ratify your little arrangement with him, or put him in charge of the Reach as a separate kingdom. He insists he's the lawful Jarl and the city recognises him, but Eight only know what he threatened to get them to do that."
"He didn't threaten anyone," Elisif cried. "The Dunmer and Argonians backed him, and a few Nords tired of war. I just ratified it. He's Jarl, and he's one of my Jarls! General Tullius, if having me as High Queen is to mean anything, you need to respect my choices! And deciding who runs each Hold falls to the High Queen or King. Not the Empire."
"She's right," Balgruuf spoke up, and never would Elisif have thought she'd see him defending Madanach... but perhaps Balgruuf also respected Nord traditions too much to see the High Queen ignored. "Maybe the Empire has nominated Jarls in the past," he nodded at Nepos here, "but it's a power exercised with the High King or Queen's agreement. If Elisif vouches for him and his city accepts him, you can't overthrow him. Not if he's really willing to swear loyalty."
"He wasn't very willing earlier," Elenwen purred. "He saw I was there and had the gates barred. It's as if he doesn't trust us."
"He doesn't," Elisif admitted. "He's paranoid, suspicious, and you turned up with an army. Of course he's wary. But he trusts me. Please, General, will you let me talk to him?"
Tullius glanced at Rikke, who'd remained silent... but she nodded once. Seeming satisfied with this, Tullius turned back to Elisif.
"All right. I will take you to Windhelm itself and you can try to talk to him. It's approaching sunset, so if he lets you in, you've got tonight to talk him round. If you're not back out here with his answer by noon tomorrow, I hope he realises that'll constitute abduction of the lawful ruler of Skyrim."
"He won't hurt me," Elisif said quietly. "He's not like that."
"We don't know what he's like, no one's got in or out of that city for two days," Tullius growled. "Elisif, that pardon only covers prior offences, if he's been abusing his power, I will have no option but to execute him."
No no no, please no. Elisif could almost feel Argis thinking the same thing, and she knew Karliah and Cicero were both close to him in different ways too. But Madanach wasn't a fool, Madanach was smart, he wouldn't betray her like that, would he?
There was only one way to find out, wasn't there?
Windhelm loomed up ahead of her, Imperial troops occupying the outer farms and the stables... but the gates themselves had goats' heads on pikes welded into the stoneworks and Spriggan heads on the ramparts, and while the Empire controlled the far side of the river, Madanach clearly still held the city. Elisif had a feeling Madanach wasn't worrying too much either. Those teleportals of his were probably bringing in enough food to keep the city fed, and he could probably evacuate the entire city out to the Reach with half an hour's notice if he felt like it.
Elisif followed Tullius to the gates, Argis at her side, Karliah and Cicero flanking them both, unable to shake off Rikke's eyes boring into her back, not to mention the smirk on Elenwen's face. This was where she found out just how strong her alliance with the Forsworn was.
"MADANACH!" Tullius shouted up at the ramparts as he made his way to the front. "I know you're in there! We have the High Queen, as requested. Show yourself!"
No response, but there were guards on the ramparts, and one left, presumably to fetch Madanach. Silence, and it was a good ten minutes before they returned, with another figure... in a female headdress.
"General Tullius!" Kaie shouted back. "Are you ready to acknowledge Jarl Madanach's authority and withdraw your troops yet?"
"I'm acknowledging nothing!" Tullius snapped. "Jarl Madanach owes his allegiance to the High Queen of Skyrim and the Empire, and he'll swear loyalty to both or lose his head!"
"He's already sworn to the High Queen!" Kaie called. "And... hey! ELISIF! Welcome back!"
"Hello Kaie!" Elisif cried. "Can we come in? I promise Tullius won't execute Madanach!"
"You can, can you?" Kaie called, radiating scepticism. Elisif couldn't see her face properly but had a feeling she was frowning. Then Kaie returned to her official princess voice again.
"The Palace of the Kings recognises the High Queen and her friends, Argis the Bulwark, Karliah Y Merilin, and Cicero Garra-Lann. They may enter. The rest of you will have to wait. Including you, Jarl Nepos."
Nepos, who'd turned up with two Reachmen warriors at his back, wrapped in furs from head to toe and only allowed there because he'd persuaded General Tullius having someone who understood Reachfolk culture along would be beneficial, pouted up at Kaie.
"I'm very disappointed in Jarl Madanach, Brenyeen. I had hoped he'd be more hospitable to one of his fellow countrymen."
Laughter from Kaie. "We'll see, Oncailar, we'll see. You seem to be doing well enough at the Empire's table for now!"
"It has its perks," Nepos called, shrugging. "And the retirement package is excellent, I can heartily recommend it to Yanhun."
"I'll pass your comments on, he'll be delighted, I'm sure," Kaie laughed. "Now. High Queen, bring your companions to the gates and we'll let you in. The rest of you stay where you are or leave."
"You'd better stay back," Elisif said quietly to Tullius. "She won't hesitate to order them to fire on you if she thinks you're trying to force your way in."
Tullius grimaced but motioned for everyone else to retreat.
"He'd better be letting Imperial observers in by tomorrow," Tullius growled. "Doesn't matter that Windhelm was a rebel city before, he's still a dangerous marauder himself. If he's not willing to swear allegiance to the Empire, or if it becomes apparent he's been abusing his power, I will have no option but to unseat him."
"I'll convince him," Elisif promised. "He'll listen to me."
"I hope so, High Queen," Tullius said, eyes glittering coldly in the early evening half-light. "You brought this on Windhelm, if he's been massacring the citizenry, their blood is on your hands."
Elisif nodded, knowing, hoping, Madanach wouldn't have done anything foolish. He wasn't a fool, he had to know this all hinged on him proving fitness to rule. But Madanach was also an old-fashioned Reachman warlord and had no problem authorising death. Elisif just hoped nothing had gone wrong while she'd been away.
Close up, Windhelm's solid metal gates looked to actually have been fused together. Tullius had spoken literally when he'd said Madanach had sealed the gates. How hot would the fire magic have needed to be to melt metal? It beggared belief. But the smaller door wasn't welded shut, and Elisif heard a bar being lifted and the lock clicking and then it swung open. Forsworn warriors were on the other side, looking grimly at her, but they nodded and motioned for her to enter.
Inside the city looked as it always had done, but it was quiet. Forsworn were everywhere, and not many citizens around. But Nils from the inn was chopping some firewood, and the market appeared open, and Viola Giordano was watching from a distance.
Kaie was making her way down the wooden stairs that had appeared leading up to the ramparts.
"Brenhina, about time you showed up," Kaie snapped. "The Empire's here and they're not friendly. They brought that Thalmor bitch with them, as if there's any Talos worshippers here, and they're demanding immediate and unconditional surrender and Da turning himself in."
"But you do have an open and functioning Temple of Talos here," Elisif pointed out. That did give Kaie pause.
"Yes," she admitted. "Sort of. But Da's not one! And he'll close it down if he's asked. But Tullius hasn't asked, he's just demanded we hand the city over. He didn't seem to believe us when we gave him a copy of Da's pardon and your official proclamation of his appointment of Jarl. It's like he doesn't really believe you're High Queen."
Kaie was staring frostily at her, and Elisif realised Kaie had guessed, Kaie saw what her father didn't, Kaie could tell exactly what Tullius thought of her, what they all thought of her. But Elisif was Dragonborn now and she was a long way from the woman she'd been once.
"He will believe it when I am finished with him, I assure you," Elisif said firmly. "Now where's your father?"
"In the palace, where else-" Kaie began, but she was interrupted by the inn door flying open and a Nord warrior striding out of it.
"Kodlak?" Elisif gasped, stunned to see the Harbinger himself emerging, Ria not far behind. "What are you doing here?"
"Preventing a bloodbath," Kodlak said, stern and commanding and a far cry from the father figure he normally appeared as. "Lass, what were you thinking?"
Tullius's disapproval Elisif could deal with, Balgruuf she could stand up to with no problem. But Kodlak Whitemane was someone Elisif adored and respected and to hear him disapproving brought tears to her eyes.
"I – I'm sorry, Balgruuf wouldn't help me with the dragons with Ulfric being here, and the Legion wouldn't help..." Elisif faltered. Kodlak was shaking his head, standing before her with his arms folded.
"You thought it was a good idea to replace one rebel warlord who murdered his way to power with another?" Kodlak sighed.
Elisif wanted to say it hadn't been like that, but honestly, now Kodlak put it that way, it sounded exactly like that. I'm sorry, she wanted to say, but it was Kaie who actually cut in.
"That is my father you're talking about, Nord. And he's Jarl of this city, like it or not. Feel free to leave if you don't."
Kodlak hmphed but did not argue. As he turned back to Elisif though, Elisif saw his expression lightening, and she realised he perhaps wasn't as angry as she'd thought.
"You took an awful risk, lass... but sometimes a warrior has no choice. As it is, it looks like it paid off. I can't say I like the man and he's certainly not fond of me, but he's ruled well enough. There was only that one execution, but I can't honestly say that wasn't entirely justified, and then that whole Winterhold business, but I'm told that's all calmed down now. Maybe it's for the best Madanach had mages on hand to help contain it. Archmage Ervine certainly seems grateful anyway."
Archmage Ervine? But the Archmage was Savos Aren, had been for years. What had happened?
"I think I need to talk to him," Elisif said, worried.
"I think you do," Kodlak confirmed. "Come on, he'll be pleased to see you..." Kodlak's voice trailed off as he looked at her companions for the first time, Argis being hugged by Kaie and told off for leaping through portals to the afterlife, he could have been killed, what if they'd decided to keep him?, Karliah slipping off towards the Grey Quarter... and Cicero in his Shrouded Armour, head bare, standing obediently at Elisif's back, fidgeting a bit but eyes wide and innocent and currently watching Kodlak with interest. Oh dear. He was clearly remembering that getting to be a werewolf involved impressing Kodlak and persuading him he was a good man and an honourable warrior. He had his work cut out for him.
"Who's your friend, lass?" Kodlak asked, eyes not leaving Cicero.
"Oh, er, that's... Cicero," Elisif said, not really sure how to describe or explain Cicero. "He's... er..." Barely reformed Dark Brotherhood assassin really wasn't how she wanted to describe Cicero to Kodlak, but there was no other way to sum him up.
"A friend!" Cicero cooed. "A friend of the lovely Dragonborn, who helped poor Cicero and saved him from the Dark Brotherhood. Are you the famous Harbinger, sir? Famous and honourable Kodlak Whitemane? Cicero has heard about you! Cicero is very impressed, sir, very impressed indeed."
"Aye, that I am," Kodlak said, voice turning surprisingly gentle, sadness in his eyes. "You don't need to call me sir, lad, I'm not a soldier and you're not my subordinate. Just Kodlak will do. Or Harbinger, if you must. Are you a warrior yourself? You're armed at least, you must have some skills."
"Yes. Yes!" Cicero giggled. "Cicero's killed lots of things! Cicero is very very good at removing the unneeded and unwanted from the world, Harbinger. You need have no doubt of that!"
"Do you now," Kodlak said, appraising him carefully and seeming to like what he saw. "You know, I can believe it. But how do you decide who needs removing, Cicero?"
"Me?" Cicero said, wide-eyed. "Oh, Cicero does not trouble himself with such decisions. Cicero leaves such considerations to his betters. Cicero just receives his orders and carries them out. Cicero does not ask questions. Cicero is a professional."
"Aye, as I thought. You're a soldier – ex-soldier perhaps," Kodlak sighed. "In the Companions, we don't operate like that. We're men and women of honour and we don't blindly follow orders. We decide for ourselves what's right or wrong, and we turn down jobs we think are less than honourable no matter how much the client's paying. For example, just lately I have been short-handed in Jorrvaskr and had to prioritise the work, and due to certain political considerations, may have allowed certain jobs against the Forsworn to slip to the bottom of the pile. It's entirely possible the jobs may become irrelevant before long... or at least resolvable through diplomatic means, in fact Kaie here has sorted out a few of them for me already."
"A few stolen goods and kidnap victims returned home was a small price to pay," Kaie shrugged. "We've not got the people back home to guard them anyway."
Not exactly evidence of reformed Forsworn, but it was something, Elisif supposed. Cicero was gazing up at Kodlak, frowning a bit but not arguing.
"Cicero would help?" Cicero volunteered. "If Kodlak has jobs that need doing and require someone willing to get their hands dirty, Cicero would be happy to help the Harbinger. Cicero is sure Kodlak knows what is honourable and what isn't, Cicero is happy to follow his lead in these matters."
"Glad to hear it, lad," Kodlak said gently, actually putting an arm around Cicero's shoulders and patting him on the back. "Tell me, do you have any family?"
Mournful shake of the head. "They died," Cicero said quietly. "Cicero lost his mama very young, in the war with the Thalmor, then he found a new family after. But they died too. Cicero was all alone for so long, so very long! Cicero... Cicero misses them. Cicero misses Mama..."
Elisif watched in amazement as Kodlak pulled Cicero closer.
"Aye. I lost my own blood kin as well, and someone else dear to me in adulthood. I count myself fortunate to have found a new family in Jorrvaskr." A pause and then Kodlak's voice sounded rough, hesitant even as he spoke the next words. "You could be part of it, Cicero. If you wanted."
Cicero perked up, surprised.
"Really? Me? Humble Cicero? A Companion of Jorrvaskr?"
Kodlak nodded, and a smile split Cicero's face as he started giggling, then lost it completely, cackling echoing throughout Windhelm, noise bouncing off the stonework. Finally he dried his eyes, grinning up at Kodlak.
"Cicero would love to!" Cicero giggled. "Only Cicero will need to ask pretty Eola what she thinks. Cicero would not want to take a course of action she disapproves of, and Cicero will not stay in a place she is not welcome."
"Eola?" Kodlak said, surprised. "What, Madanach's daughter?" When Cicero nodded eagerly, Kodlak actually laughed.
"By the Nine, you are brave. Of course, I've met her already. Bring her as well, she's certainly handy with a sword. I can make use of that."
Cicero squealed and looked quite happy at that, promising he would kill lots and lots of undesirables for dear Kodlak.
Kaie and Argis had both moved closer to Elisif, watching all this in disbelief.
"Did that just happen?" Kaie whispered. "Did the Harbinger of Jorrvaskr just recruit the last Dark Brotherhood assassin to the Companions?"
Elisif nodded, wondering just how weird things had just got. "Do you think we should tell him?" she whispered.
"What and admit to Kodlak you keep a Dark Brotherhood assassin around?" Argis snorted. "Nah. Just let him head off to Jorrvaskr. He can kill lots of bandits, make himself useful and we don't have to deal with him."
"You will when you visit Farkas," Kaie grinned and that made Argis groan.
"Oh gods. Elisif, can I have a job in Solitude? A full-time one I can't be spared from, so Farkas has to visit me. I don't care if it's Keeper in Chief of the Privies, long as it keeps me away from Cicero."
"I think I can do a bit better than that," Elisif promised. "I'll have to see. I do have room for a new Thane..." If only there was a way round the property owning requirement... but there was a house for sale, and Elisif had a feeling Madanach might be able to help his son buy it. And she had promised Inga... and she had to admit, the prospect of having a friend at court made going home so much more appealing. Could she keep him as a housecarl maybe? Assign Bolgeir to Falk and instate Argis instead? Perhaps. But first, she'd need to sort out this whole mess. And that meant talking to Madanach.
The Palace was quieter than she'd expected, especially considering half the Blades appeared to be there. Madanach was in his throne, Borkul at his right, Delphine on his left, talking to Karliah. Brynjolf and Sapphire were sitting at the table with Eola, and Vilkas and Farkas were on the other side with Aela, and Aranea was next to Eola, sitting across from Erandur, the two elves still looking uncomfortable but rather less so than they'd been when she left.
And then there were the two children, Sofie and Aventus, both clean, rosy-cheeked, dressed in nice clothes and both the owners of an enchanted ebony dagger each, looking a lot happier and healthier than when she'd last seen them. Madanach had taken care of them well, it seemed.
"High Queen!" Sofie cried, getting up from the table and running towards her. "You're back! You're alright!" Elisif found herself being hugged to death by the excited eight year old and felt tears come to her eyes as child-grief and child-need all smacked into her at once.
"Yes sweetie, I'm back," Elisif whispered. "Oh, look at you, you're looking so well! You were so thin and pale before, now look at you, you're looking so healthy!"
"Madanach's been looking after me," Sofie told her. "He's been really nice!"
"He's the best," Aventus added, turning up with a broad grin on his face. "Welcome back, Elisif, did you kill Alduin?"
"Yes!" Elisif told them both, feeling very pleased to see the awe on their faces. "Yes I did. The world's safe, I promise."
"Yay!" Sofie cried, hugging her. "I knew you would. You're a hero, you can do anything."
"I don't know about that," Elisif said, hugging Sofie and why didn't she have her own little girl, she wanted her own little girl, a little baby to dote on and love.
Well. She knew why. But at least now she could face the possibility of maybe having one in the future, with a husband she loved. After all this was settled anyway.
She looked up from hugging the children to seeing Cicero cuddling Eola and Argis with Farkas, and then Madanach, currently staring down Argis with a face like thunder.
"I have been worried sick about you, young man," he snarled. "Disappearing down a portal then I find out from your aunt that you decided to go running off to Sovngarde after the Dragonborn, as if it's not bad enough Elisif keeps risking her life doing stupidly dangerous things involving dragons. What if you'd died, hmm? I'd never have seen you again!"
"Yes, Da. Sorry, Da," Argis said, sounding very submissive even as he held on to Farkas's hand. "I wasn't planning on going back. Not for a long time."
"I hope not," Madanach said firmly, but Elisif could see pain in his eyes at the thought of Argis going there at all. He was quiet for a bit and when he next spoke, his voice was a little bit softer. "Was your mother there?"
Argis nodded, and Madanach lowered his eyes, looking unusually vulnerable for him, and Elisif wanted to tell him it would be all right. But it wasn't, she had the feeling he'd genuinely cared about Inga and Inga had cared about him and they'd never see each other again and that hurt. She remembered Inga asking her to look after Madanach for her. Elisif would do her best if he let her.
"She all right?" Madanach asked gruffly. Argis nodded again.
"Yeah. She misses you, I think, but she's OK. Was pleased to see me. Says she's proud. She's glad you're out of prison and not stuck with Mireen any more."
Madanach nodded and then held out his arms to Argis, who went into them, and Reach-King and Nord embraced.
"Well done, son," Madanach told him, patting him on the back. "I'm proud of you."
"Thanks," Argis said, voice muffled, and Elisif had a feeling one, if not both, of them was crying.
Elisif watched hesitantly as father and son embraced, and then Madanach was letting Argis go, patting him on the back and stepping away, drying his eyes and letting Argis be led off by Farkas to get some food and mead. Then it was her turn to face the wrath of the King in Rags.
"So you're back then," Madanach growled, arms folded as silver-blue eyes glittered at her. "Done being suicidally brave and hacking dragon-gods to bits? The world's not going to end, I trust?"
"Alduin's dead," Elisif confirmed. "The world's not going to end. I killed a dragon-god, aren't you even remotely impressed?" She'd just saved the world and Madanach didn't even look happy... and then she looked closer and saw that underneath the growling, he actually seemed scared. Or worried. Anxious about something.
He'd been worried about her, and that had a way of defusing her anger and making her smile.
"I'm impressed. Well done," Madanach growled. "High Queen, in case you hadn't noticed, I have an entire Legion on my doorstep who seem to think I'm not a legitimate ruler and should be surrendering unconditionally. They don't seem to think your word's good enough. I can't think why General Tullius might not respect Skyrim's High Queen. I hope your word's actually worth something, Elisif."
"It is!" Elisif protested. "I mean, it will be. Look, I will talk to him in the morning, he's given me tonight to discuss matters with you. Tullius seems to think you're a lawless marauder who's probably been slaughtering an entire city. I can't imagine why he'd think that, can you?"
Madanach's eyes had widened, lips pouting, the 'would-I-do-a-thing-like-that?' look on his face back in force.
"I've been very good, we all have!" Madanach said, sounding a little bit hurt. "We killed hardly any civilians during the take over, and we only executed one since, and that was after a thorough investigation. We've got independent witnesses and everything." Madanach indicated Kodlak, who'd been watching all this very shrewdly.
"It's true," Kodlak said wearily. "When the news came into Whiterun, I decided honour demanded I come and ensure a disaster didn't happen, so I returned to the city with Aela and Ria. It's been an interesting time, but nothing like I'd imagined. I thought I'd be standing up for innocent citizens against a Forsworn megalomaniac intent on ravaging the place. Instead it looks like I'm going to be standing up for said megalomaniac against the Empire's troops."
Smirk on Madanach's face as he acknowledged Kodlak's implied approval, and while these two men were never going to be friends, it appeared they at least respected each other. Wonders would never cease.
"What's been going on?" Elisif asked, sensing a story to be told here. "Kodlak, you said there'd been an execution... and some crisis in Winterhold?"
"In a word, mages," Kodlak sighed. "Don't look at me like that, Madanach, normal people don't do this sort of thing."
"Normal people wouldn't have had a clue where to start dealing with it," Madanach growled, glaring at him. "Come on, High Queen, I can see you're curious. Take a seat, have some food, grab a drink and settle in. We've got some stories for you."
Elisif followed, definitely intrigued and very curious, if a bit worried. What exactly had been happening without her? Taking a seat at the head of the hall table, Madanach settling down across the table from her and Kodlak on her right, Elisif poured herself a drink and prepared herself. She had a feeling this was going to be interesting.
A/N: Interesting isn't the word for it! Next chapter is story number one, aka Forsworn do Blood on the Ice.
The dragon song is from the game and can be translated as: Alduin is fallen. The mighty overlord vanquished. We are free. The Dragonborn is his dragonslayer. His (Alduin's) Thu'um is silenced.
Wuldsetiid - winds of time.
Lok Thu'um - lit. peace voice, a dragon greeting/salutation, wishing the other well.
Oncailar - uncle.
Brenyeen - princess.
Yanhun - Himself, i.e. Madanach.
Merilin - Nightingale
Garra-Lann - Laughing Dagger, Cicero's nickname amongst the Forsworn.