Chapter 36: An unlikely Ally

They already had two har battles behind them, and were currently fighting the last of the three Keepers. He swung his sword at Dipper, who ducked. The Keeper tripped over the boy, and fell down the pillar.

He and Serana walked up to the edge, and looked down. The soul of the Keeper was leaving his broken body. "So, that were all three, right?"

Serana nodded, and they made their way back to Valerica, after taking a Black Soulgem from the Keeper.

"You managed to destroy all Keepers? Very impressive."

Dipper shrugged. "Well, we killed two of them. The last one fell to death."

"Please follow me. Keep watch for Durnehviir. With the prison's barrier down, he's almost certain to investigate."

They entered the courtyard, which was build like a giant arena. Suddenly, a loud roar was heard. A Dragon, colored in a sick green and brown, appeared from behind the walls. "It's Durnehviir… he's here! Defend yourselves."

The dragon flew into the courtyard and Dipper pulled out his bow. Serana and her mother activated their spells.

"DIIL QOTH ZAMM!"

The shout hit the ground, and a number of undead rose. Valerica took them on, while Dipper shot arrows at the Reptile. It sat down on the seats of the arena. "FO KRAH DIIN!"

Ice hit the battleground and froze some of the undead. An arrow pierced the dragons wing, and caused it to shout in pain.

"GAAN!" Dipper's Shout hit the dragon, and sucked Stamina out of it. Some Fireballs hit it, and Dipper saw that Valerica and Serana had dealt with the undead, and now paid all their attention to the Dragon.

The dragon flew up again, but one of Dipper's arrows hit its throat. It tried to shout as it pummeled to the ground. Durnehviir crashed into the seats and slid down the arena into the middle. On the way down, multiple stones and small pillars stabbed into him. He tried to get up, but fell down dead before he completely evaporated.

Everyone put back their Weapons, and Valerica approached Dipper. "I never I'd witness the death of that dragon."

"Why didn't you try to fight him anyway? I mean, you seem pretty powerful." Dipper asked.

"Volumes written about Durnehviir allege that he can't be slain by normal means. It appears they were mistaken."

"Unless he is just taking a break. Afterall, this is basically the afterlife. He could just rise from the dead. How long would that take." Dipper said.

Valerica thought for a moment. "Minutes? Hours? Years? I can't even begin to guess. I suggest we don't wait around to find out. Now, let's get your Elder Scroll and you can be on your way." She led Dipper and Serana to an ornate Alcove in the side of the courtyard, and pulled the Scroll out of a box.

"That's it. That's the last Scroll. Come on, let's take it to Dexion." Dipper took the giant scroll, which was surprisingly lightweight. He strapped it to his back.

"Now that you've received the Elder Scroll, you should be on your way. If there's anything I can do before you derart, you must let me know."

"Any Idea how I can get my soul back?" He asked.

Valerica chuckled. "So my daughter applied some of the lessons I taught her about Necromancy, did she? Don't worry, I think I can help you."

"Great. And how?"

"Your soul essence was trapped inside a gem. When you and Serana entered the Soul Cairn, it was 'given' to the Ideal Masters as payment. You simply need to retrieve the gem. The moment you touch it, your soul essence will be restored."

"And this gem? Where is it?"

"There's an offering altar not terribly far from here. I'm willing to bet that the gem you're looking for is there."

"Okay, thanks." Dipper said and smiled.

"And promise me you'll keep my daughter safe. She's the only thing of value I have left. Farewell. Remember that Harkon is not to be trusted."

"Will do. Thanks for the help."

"No problem." They waved goodbye, and Serana hugged her mother before they left the courtyard.

As they walked down the stairs into the Soul Cairn, Durnehviir suddenly materialized before them. Dipper and Serana drew their weapons. "STAY YOUR WEAPONS. I WISH TO SPEAK WITH YOU, QAHNAARIN."

The two looked at each other for a moment and put away their weapons. "I knew you weren't dead." Dipper said.

"CURSED, NOT DEAD. DOOMED TO EXIST IN THIS FORM FOR ALL ETERNITY. TRAPPED BETWEEN LAAS AND DINOK, BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH."

"And why are you talking to me?"

"I BELIEVE IN CIVILITY AMONG SEASONED WARRIORS, AND I FIND YOUR EAR WORTHY OF MY WORDS. MY CLAWS HAVE RENDED FLESH FROM INNUMERABLE FOES, BUT I NEVER HAVE ONCE BEEN FELLED ON THE FIELD OF BATTLE. I THEREFORE HONOR-NAME YOU 'QAHNAARIN', OR VANQUISHER IN YOUR TONGUE."

"Uhm, thanks. I guess. You are worth too." Dipper said, still unsure what to make of the situation.

"YOUR WORDS DO ME GREAT HONOR. MY DESIRE TO SPEAK WITH YOU WAS BORN FROM THE RESULT OF OUR BATTLE, QAHNAARIN. I MERELY WISH TO RESPECTFULLY ASK A FAVOR OF YOU."

"Didn't you try to kill me?"

"THE HOSTILITY WAS NECESSARY. I WAS BOUND TO AN OATH."

Dipper sighed. "What kind of favor? Want to take over my body?"

Serana raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"It's a long story."

"NOTHING LIKE THAT. FOR COUNTLESS YEARS I'VE ROAMED THE SOUL CAIRN, IN UNINTENDED SERVICE TO THE IDEAL MASTERS. BEFORE THIS, I ROAMED THE SKIES ABOVE TAMRIEL. I DESIRE TO RETURN THERE."

"Uhm, and how? Can you just, like, fly through the portal?"

"NO. I FEAR MY TIME HERE HAS TAKEN ITS TOLL ON ME. I SHARE A BOND WITH THIS DREADED PLACE. IF I VENTURED FAR FROM THE SOUL CAIRN, MY STRENGTH WOULD BEGIN TO WANE UNTIL I WAS NO MORE."

"And how am I supposed to help? I'm not exactly an expert in magic."

"I WILL PLACE MY NAME WITH YOU AND GRANT YOUT THE RIGHT TO CALL MY NAME FROM TAMRIEL. DO ME THIS SIMPLE HONOR AND I WILL FIGHT AT YOUR SIDE AS YOUR GRAH-ZEYMAHZIN, YOUR ALLY, AND TEACH YOU MY THU'UM."

"So, like a shout? And you'll help me?"

"INDEED."

"Holy crap. That's awesome. And that's all?"

"TRIVIAL IN YOUR MIND, PERHAPS. FOR ME, IT WOULD MEAN A GREAT DEAL. I DON'T REQUIRE AN ANSWER, QAHNAARIN. SIMPLY SPEAK MY NAME TO THE HEAVENS WHEN YOU FEEL THE TIME IS RIGHT."

"You keep calling me Qahnaarin. What does that mean?"

"IN MY LANGUAGE, THE QAHNAARIN IS THE VANQUISHER, THE ONE WHO BESTED A FELLOW DOVAH IN BATTLE."

"I'm not a dragon, you know that. Right?"

"YOU ARE THE DOVAHKIIN, THE DRAGONBORN. YOU MAY NOT BE ONE OF US IN BODY, BUT YOU HAVE EARNED THE RIGHT TO BEAR THIS TITLE."

"Okay. Cool, I guess. One last question though. How did you even end up here?"

Durnehviir looked into the purple sky. "THERE WAS A TIME I CALLED TAMRIEL MY HOME, BUT THOSE DAYS HAVE LONG SINCE PASSED. THE DOVAH ROAMED THE SKIES; VYING FOR THEIR SMALL SLICES OF TERRITORY THAT RESULTED IN IMMENSE AND ULTIMATELY FATAL BATTLES."

"Kind of like humans. And you have taken part of that?"

"I DID. BUT UNLIKE SOME OF MY BRETHREN, I SOUGHT SOLUTIONS OUTSIDE THE NORM IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN MY SUPERIORITY. I BEGAN TO EXPLORE WHAT THE DOVAH CALL 'ALOK-DILON', THE ANCIENT FORBIDDEN ART THAT YOU CALL NECROMANCY."

"And thus, you came into contact with the ideal masters."

"THE IDEAL MASTERS ASSURED ME THAT MY POWERS WOULD BE UNMATCHED, THAT I COULD RAISE LEGIONS OF THE UNDEAD. IN RETURN, I WAS TO SERVE THEM AS KEEPER UNTIL THE DEATH OF THE ONE WHO CALLS HERSELF VALERICA."

"But she's a vampire. She's immortal. They tricked you."

"I DISCOVERED TOO LATE THAT THE IDEAL MASTERS FAVOR DECEPTION OVER HONOR AND HAD NO INTENTION OF RELEASING ME FROM MY BINDING. THEY HAD CONTROL OF MY MIND, BUT THEY COULDN'T POSSESS MY SOUL."

"But you've failed. Valerica is free. You're free."

"FREE? NO. I'VE BEEN HERE TOO LONG; QAHNAARIN. THE SOUL CAIRN HAS BECOME PART OF WHAT I AM. I CAN NEVER FULLY CALL TAMRIEL MY HOME AGAIN, OR I WOULD SURELY PERISH. I ONLY HOPE THAT YOU WILL ALLOW ME THE PRECIOUS TIME THERE THROUGH YOUR CALL."

"Don't worry. I won't let you down." Durnehviir teached Dipper the Shout. He simply shouted at the ground, and the words appeared, like back with the Greybeards. After that, he left.

"Well, now that this is taken care of. Let's get your soul back." Serana said

And Chapter 36 is out.

For all that wonder, next Chapter will focus on Mabel.

Now to replies:

Bayaboo: It'll show up later.

Ilikebob: Arvak will come later, when they visit the Cairn a second time.

Glitter Bomb1221: Well, at least he got what they meant.

Elder Scrolls belongs to Bethesda; Gravity Falls belongs to Disney.