Dovahkiin POV:

The dragon screams, "Stop! Stop! I'm your friend!". Serana was halfway to the giant beast, but she freezes and lowers her guard. Stupid move, but I don't say anything. I keep my bow draw and ask, "How do I know?". The dragon sighs and explains, "I am the master of the Graybeards. You may call me Paarthurnax.". I slowly put my bow away, walking up to the mighty beast. I notice Serana try to slink away, but I motion for her to come stand beside me. We both have a right to talk to Paarthurnax. When we're all calmed down the male clears his throat and starts the conversation. "Drem Yol Lok. Greetings, wunduniik. I am Paarthurnax. Who are you? What brings you to my strunmah ... my mountain?".

I quickly explain why we're here, and I explain everything as best as I can. The prophecy, the Blades, and our search for a shout to kill Alduin. Paarthurnax listens intently, occasionally bobbing his head to encourage me to keep going. Serana adds a detail on occasion, but the story is mostly mine. Huh, that's a rather odd thought. I'm telling my own heroic tale to a gigantic dragon who could kill me. Maybe I'm not such a coward after all. I feel pride overtake me as I finish my story. When I'm done Paarthurnax keeps bobbing his head, and for a moment I think he wasn't listening. Then, he clears his throat.

"Drem. Patience. There are formalities that must be observed, at the first meeting of two of the dov. By long tradition, the elder speaks first. Hear my Thu'um! Feel it in your bones. Match it, if you are Dovahkiin!". He flips around and faces an ancient word wall, opening his jaws and spewing fire. When he's done I see another word of power glowing on the wall. I instantly rush over to it, eager to actually get to the point of why I came here. I've learned enough words that the process no longer pains me, and within a few moments I know the first word in the fiery shout Paarthurnax just used. When I turn back to the dragon he shares his knowledge of the shout without me even having to ask.

Once I've fully learned the shout Paarthurnax smiles and rumbles, "A gift, Dovahkiin. Yol. Understand Fire as the dov do. Now, show me what you can do. Greet me not as Khajiit, but as dovah!". I nod in obedience and open my jaws, prepared to use the new shout. I feel like I've been holding back and neglecting my new ability, so this is the perfect time to try it out. "Yol!". Fire rips its way from my jaws, and I'm nearly blown back from the sheer force. But I somehow manage to stay standing, and see my shout hit the tremendous dragon. My fire curls around his scales, the mighty dragon roaring with laughter as the fire licks him.

When the flames die down he smiles and says, "The Graybeards were right about you! Your Thu'um is strong... for a mortal.". He adjusts himself so he's lying down as he continues, "Now, let's begin speaking of more important matters.". I nod and walk over, sitting down beside the beast. I clear my throat and ask, "So, know a shout to help me kill Alduin?". He shakes his head and apologizes, "I'm sorry, but I don't. However, I know which shout you're talking about. It's called Dragonred. My dragon mind can't even comprehend the words to it. It forces my kind to feel mortal. I've never had it used on me, and I'm thankful for that. It forces us to the ground, and makes us more vulnerable.".

He lets out a slight sigh. "I should have known you would need this shout. Alduin and Dovahkiin return to this world together.". Serana breaks in from where she's standing by asking, "So, where do we find this shout?". The dragon nods and says, "I fear I'm taking up time.". He clears his throat again. "I believe you could learn it by returning to Tiid-Ahraan. The time wound at this very place.". He motions at an area of the ground a few feet away from us, and I realize the air seems to shimmer in that area. Paarthurnax continues, "However, you would need a specific kel, an Elder Scroll, to make the process work.".

I turn to Serana and see she's already looking at me. We share a smile and my lover yanks the three scrolls off her back, presenting them to the dragon. Paarthurnax balks and asks, "You have the scroll?!". I nod and the male sniffs the three, eventually flicking one with his tongue. I pick the scroll up (avoiding the spit) and asks, "Now what?". He takes a deep breath and answers. "I can't believe you have it. The Kel - the Elder Scroll. Tiid kreh... qalos. Time shudders at its touch. There is no question. You are doom-driven. Kogaan Akatosh. The very bones of the earth are at your disposal. Go then. Fulfill your destiny. Take the Scroll to the Time-Wound.".

"Do not delay. Alduin will be coming. He cannot miss the signs.". I nod and turn to Serana. Without a word we embrace and both whisper things in one another's ears. I whisper, "I love you.". Serana responds, "I love you to. Be safe.". I nod and assure her, "I promise.". I pull back and go over to the shimmering air. The Time-Wound. Am I really about to do this? I guess I am. I think of the few things that will give me courage. Serana, a nice house, and two smiling little girls. Yeah, that'll do just fine. I take a deep breath and bring the scroll out in front of me. My hands are quivering and I have a sudden urge to pee. I tell myself to get over it, and open the elder scroll. A bright light blinds me, and I scream.


When I regain my sight I see two Nords, one male and one female, fighting an ancient dragon that's flying about. My vision is odd. It's tainted red, and everything seems like it's coming in from a cracked sphere. I turn my attention back to the battle. The man screams, "Gormlaith! We're running out of time! The battle...". The dragon interrupts the man by roaring, "Daar sul thur se Alduin vokrii. Today Alduin's lordship will be restored. But I honor your courage. Krif voth ahkrin. Die now, in vain.". The man roars back, "FOR SKYRIM!". As they begin to fight the female Nord adds, "Know that Gormlaith sent you down to death!". The dragon lands for some reason, and the real battle starts up.

The two sides exchange blows for a short while, then the female Nord puts a stop to it. She rushes up to the dragon and climbs onto its head, using her sword to stab it through the eye and ends its life. The dragon dies and the female Nord walks back over to the man, a smile splitting her face. However, the man looks less than pleased. The woman ignores it and asks, "Hakon! A glorious day, is it not!". Hakon reminds me of Serana as he answers, "Have you no thought beyond the blooding of your blade?". Gormlaith laughs. "What else is there?". Hakon tries to steer the conversation back to seriousness. It seems he's more mature.

"The battle below goes ill. If Alduin does not rise to our challenge, I fear all may be lost.". Gromlaith punches Hakon on the shoulder. Hakon rubs his shoulder as the woman assures him, "You worry too much, brother. Victory will be ours.". Suddenly another male Nord appears, but he's twice the age of the other two. Hakon sees him approaching and angrily snarls, "Why does Alduin hang back? We've staked everything on this plan of yours, old man.". The elder waves his hand and assures his younger companions, "He will come. He cannot ignore our defiance. And why should he fear us, even now?".

The female Nord seems ecstatic as she interrupts the two male Nord's conversation. "We've bloodied him well. Four of his kin have fallen to my blade alone this day.". The old Nord seems put-off as he tries to remind his younger friends of the danger. "But none have yet stood against Alduin himself. Galthor, Sorri, Birkir...". The young female isn't deterred. "They did not have Dragonrend. Once we bring him down, I promise I will have his head.". The old Nord's voice betrays his frustration as he says, ""You do not understand. Alduin cannot be slain like a lesser dragon. He is beyond our strength. Which is why I brought the Elder Scroll.". The old Nord pulls out the exact same scroll I used to see this.

Hakon roars at the old man, "Felldir! We agreed not to use it!". Felldir puts the scroll back up and defends himself. "I never agreed. And if you are right, I will not need it.". The younger male Nord stands firm in his belief. "No. We will deal with Alduin ourselves, here and now.". Felldir looks up at the sky as he says, "We shall see soon enough. Alduin approaches!". Hakon turns to look at the sky as he snarls, "So be it.". As the Nords draw their weapons a gigantic black dragon lands on the word wall that Paarthurnax used to teach me the fire shout. Fuck. Fuck, am I suppose to fight that?! His tooth is bigger than I am! I'm going to die when I have to face him.

I'm going to die and Serana is going to be the only one who cares. As my life crumples around me Alduin screams to the Nords, "Meyye! Tahrodiis aanne! Him hinde pah liiv! Zu'u hin daan!". What did he say? I don't have time to question it as Gromlaith raises her sword and yells out, "Let those that watch from Sovngarde envy us this day!". Alduin takes to the skies, but the three Nords open their mouths to stop him. A thunderous shout shreds the skies, striking Alduin in the gut. "Joor Zah Frul!". Power rips through me as I learn the shout, and Alduin is forced to land. When the tremendous beast is on the ground he snarls, "Nivahriin joorre!".

He shakes his head in rage. "What have you done? What twisted Words have you created?! Tahrodiis Paarthurnax! My teeth to his neck! But first... dir ko maar. You will die in terror, knowing your final fate... To feed my power when I come for you in Sovngarde!". Gromlaith stands firm and proclaims, "If I die today, it will not be in terror. You feel fear for the first time, worm. I see it in your eyes. Skyrim will be free!". All three Nords charge him, a strange blue energy crackling around Alduin from the shout they released. For a moment Alduin seems shocked and doesn't know what to do, then he strikes. He snaps his jaws around Gromlaith, picking her up and shaking her in his fangs.

When he releases her she goes flying, and it's a safe bet she's dead. Poor girl. I've only seen a little of her and I already started rooting for her. My own fault I guess. Hakon is easily enraged as his sister's death, and screams, "No, damn you! It's no use! Use the Scroll, Felldir! Now!". The younger Nord leaps to the side, and Alduin follows him. Felldir hobbles off to the side, pulling the scroll from his robes. He holds it so it's facing Alduin and yells at the dragon. "Hold, Alduin on the Wing! Sister Hawk, grant us your sacred breath to make this contract heard! Begone, World-Eater! By words with older bones than your own we break your perch on this age and send you out! You are banished! Alduin, we shout you out from all our endings unto the last!"

The mighty black dragon flips around to face the scroll. He sees it and hisses, "Faal Kel...?! Nikriinne...". White power overcomes the beast, and he disappears into the flow of time. His last roar echos across the mountain, a final curse on the heroes that banished him. Felldir repeats one last time, "You are banished!". Hakon hobbles over to Felldir and manages to say, "It worked... you did it...". The older Nord nods in agreement, but seems haunted as he tells his younger companion, "Yes, the World-Eater is gone... may the spirits have mercy on our souls.". I feel the power of time claim me again, and I'm picked up and slowly taken back to the present. As I go I can't help reflecting on what Felldir said. Maybe he was onto something. May the spirits have mercy on our souls. Mine especially.