Guide:

Dwemeris

Thoughts

"Speech"

"Dovahzul"

Warnings/Disclaimer: see chapter 4

Chapter Warning(s): none

Last time… A roar splits the heavens and red wings block out the light of the sun, Odahviing unbothered by the fires in a way only one born form it can be.

"DOVAHKIIN! Here I am!"

Revised: 9-3-2020

Chapter 69 – Od-Ah-Viing

There he is, alright.

I eye the massive red dragon as he blocks out the sun, his powerful wings nearly blowing me off my feet when his claws dig grooves into the stone like so much wet parchment. Behind me, the world is on fire. In front of me, the pyre that Whiterun has become casts marbled patterns of golden flames and soot-like shadows onto Odahviing's intimidating figure. Larger than any dragon I've seen except for Alduin himself, rows and rows of yellowed teeth and a tongue that –

I dive to the side just in time to avoid the torrent of flame that erupts from Odahviing's open maw, crying out in shock more than pain when the sheer heat of the attack causes my armor to burn into my pants.

Talk about being stuck between a rock and a hard place. I think sarcastically through the haze of adrenaline. Dead if I do, dead if I don't. And this is a horrible place to die.

I need to use every trick in the book to convince the bastard to talk. To dragons, or the Dov, I should say, talking is the same as battle.

Please, please, please let Paarthurnax not have been lying about dragon etiquette.

Odahviing roars and spreads his wings to their full span, chest puffed up and out proudly.

"Haalvut Sahlo, Dovahkiin Joor! I sense weakness in you! Hi Los Vazah-a Dovah Faas! You are right to fear me!" But even as he boasts, showing off his strength in an admittedly terrifying show of might and still managing to pull off a preening peacock, he does not immediately go for a follow-up attack. His eyes, black as pitch and gleaming with uncanny intelligence, are focused fully on me.

Paarthurnax said the trust in Alduin's power was shaken by my victory at the Throat of the World, what feels like eons ago. I can build on that doubt. Odahviing is curious now. Maybe this doesn't have to end up in a fight. Not yet at least.

At least, I'm holding out hope for that.

"Are you too fearful to speak, Joor?" The dragon mocks as I try to gather my scattered wits. "You waste my time. Hin Dinok Fen Koz Faas!"

"Drem Yol Lok! Greetings, mighty Odahviing! Indeed, your power is most impressive! Zu'u Bonaar! I am humbled by the intensity of your flames!"

The dragon preens. Arrogant. Like a Dwemer scholar that invented a new composition of Tonal Architecture. I can work with this, I think.

"You went through a great deal of trouble to summon me here, Dovahkiin. Rash. Foolish, to do so without your mortal tricks." He tilts his head and snaps at me, fast as lightning and I dodge by the skin of my teeth. I've never quite done this before. Talk to a mostly hostile dragon.

My mental voice has been reduced to nervous laughter. My hands are sweaty, and I can barely hold on to my axes. I keep my feet steady on the searing stonework, glad for the heat-resistant qualities of dragon scale soles.

"Alduin ran. He is Nikriin. Cowardly. Gutless, to run from our fight. To flee from a Joor, even if I am Dovahkiin. I seek to hunt him down and finish our battle. Zu'u Paar Nir Rok!"

Odahviing stills, scrutinizing me. His serpentine head comes uncomfortably close. The reek of rot and death emanating from his maw easily overpowers the stink of burning wood at this distance, his teeth nearly scraping my cuirass. I straighten my back and jut my chin out in defiance at the clear attempt at intimidation. Cool. Calm. Collected. Firm.

Inside my head it's another story entirely. I don't think I'll ever stop mentally screaming after this. Hostile dragon breathing in my face that could eat me in a second. And he's too close to dodge. Fuck.

Around us, the arched ceiling of the Great Porch of Dragonsreach crashes to the earth. A large beam shatters behind me, splinters nipping my heels. I don't budge an inch. I've been closer to the flames of the forge than the flames eating at this building. The forge burns hotter, the forge burns harder, and these pale imitations will not deter me. I grind my teeth together and stare Odahviing down.

"Hind Siiv Alduin, hmm? You seek to find Alduin? Why would I aid you? You hold no power over me, Tumgol." Dwemer. And in the most mocking tone I've ever heard the word.

I counter his question with another one: "Why did you answer my call, mighty Odahviing?"

He sneers, and the amount of ungodly sharp teeth so close to my vulnerable mortal self is not good for my blood pressure. The adrenaline spike leaves me reeling hard enough for the edges of my vision to black out. I take a deep breath. The sky remains dark with smoke and clouds, dull grey a sharp contrast to blood-red scales.

Rot and death. No comfort to anyone but those intimately familiar to it. And I share a sanctuary – a home – with the Night Mother's corpse. The stench grounds me enough to register Odahviing's reply. In my head, the screaming has become broken up by a desperate mantra: Tinvaak is talk and combat, Tinvaak is talk and combat, Tinvaak is talk and combat – Now stick to the 'talk' and away from the 'combat'.

"I came to test your Thu'um for my own. You speak our language, I have noticed. But I have yet to hear you speak, Dov-Ah-Kiin. If you are not some mortal imposter send here to trick me." He hisses sharply, a startling, jarring noise, and rears up to strike, spikes jutting out and chest heaving with a heat so intense the glow is visible through Odahviing's blood-colored scales.

Oh shi-

I dodge the torrent of fire that sends the flames behind me higher into the sky, leaving for a depressingly small arena. The main structure of Dragonsreach is build out of stone, yes. But the collapsed roof is most certainly not, and its flaming remains block out large parts of the floor and spaces behind the pillars. I take a smoke-filled breath and cough from my newly acquired spot on the far left of the porch, the wall behind me so that the absolute traitorous bastard of a lizard can't Shout me off the roof with a well-placed Unrelenting Force.

"So you want to hear my Thu'um, huh?" I mutter under my breath at the oversized red dragon, who is grinning darkly at me. My eyes narrow.

Is – Is he fucking toying with me? Well. Fine then. Be that way and don't come crying to me about it after.

"JOOR ZAH FRUL!"

Were this any other situation than a battle to the death for the sake of saving time on top of a burning city, it would have been hilarious to see Odahviing choke on his Fire Breath Shout halfway when my Thu'um slams into his front, the dragon making an undignified clucking sound, beady black eyes round as dinner plates in surprise.

"What-"

"Taste the power of the Thu'um that will be Alduin's Bane!" I yell at him, pointing my axe at him threateningly. "I am no imposter, as you can see! You asked me, Odahviing, why you should aid me! I will defeat Alduin. I can defeat Alduin. We do not have to battle each other! Aid me, Odahviing, so all Dov will know that his defeat was only possible because of you! Drun Krongrah Was Alduin Pahlok! Bring victory against his mindless arrogance! I know if I were in your place, I would question his right to rule! Don't you?"

Once again, the battle stills, only this time Odahviing sneers, fighting to stay upright under the unnaturally bright blue force of the Shout that has him taste mortality.

"Geh. Indeed." He admits finally, never wavering from his wary stance. "Many of us have begun to question Alduin's rulership. Among ourselves, of course. You have learned the way of the Dov well. Perhaps there were merits in Vulthuryol's meddling with Fate when he brought a Tumgol Dovahkiin through the Time stream after all. Kren Tiid Ofan Faaz. It was his undoing."

"Wait, Vulthuryol brought me to this time?" I'd thought him an eccentric dragon with uncanny knowledge of the Elder Scroll of Time, at most.

Odahviing, to my surprise, snorts and inclines his head. "Vulthuryol Mulaag. He was my equal, once. Then Akatosh bestowed upon him a task. Tiid Deinmaar. To keep Time and not interfere. He did, of course, or you would not stand here now. And thus, time broke. Tiid Kren. And many streams are Vahzen, Truth, at once. They overlap. Collapse." A pause. "You were not the only Dovahkiin in this age. Paarthurnax was too weak to speak to you of the other. They burned at Helgen, when Alduin came for them."

"So I was the chosen replacement." I state slowly. It's… Impossible to wrap my head around at this moment. Another Dragonborn… And I wouldn't have had to go through all this pain. Wouldn't have had to make sense of a world so different from my own. Wouldn't have had to lose my family. Wouldn't have suffered so much.

Wouldn't have found something worth suffering for. People flash through my mind's eye. Marcurio, Calcelmo and Aicantar, Ghorza, Ondolemar, Jenassa, Cicero and Nazir and Babette, J'zargo, Onmund, Erandur and all the other people I've met, places I've seen.

Even if I am a replacement, I'm THE replacement. Saving them falls to me now.

"It doesn't matter." I say, and Odahviing growls, teeth bared menacingly.

"You were never more than the second choice."

"And yet I'm the one standing here, facing you. Now tell me where Alduin is."

There's a low rumble that shakes the stonework, the loud roaring of the fires dulled as the first drops of rain start to fall around us, sizzling and spluttering. I barely noticed the sky darkened at all, engrossed with Odahviing as I was. Now, the droplets of water make me glance up, enjoying the soothing respite from the scorching heat surrounding me, rising from the blackened carcass of Whiterun.

I guess nothing truly keeps burning forever.

I look Odahviing straight in the eye and repeat my demand. "Tell me."

He glares at me. I glare right back. Something flickers in his eyes. Begrudgingly, reluctantly, there is respect there.

"He has traveled to Sovengarde to regain his strength." Odahviing informs me, and apparently dragons travelling to the mortal afterlife is a Thing now.

"Why Sovengarde?" If he only went there to avoid me, I must admit he's done a great job. What in Sithis' name is a Dwemer assassin supposed to do to get to the Nordic warrior afterlife?

"Alduin du Sillsejoor. He devours the souls of the mortal dead, a privilege jealously guarded. If you plan to hunt him, Dovahkiin, his door to Sovengarde can be found at Skuldafn, Alduin's most ancient fane high in the Eastern Mountains. Mindoraan, Pah Ok Middovahhe Lahvraan Til. I surely do not need to warn you that all his remaining strength is marshalled there."

Alright. Skuldafn. Ancient fane, Eastern Mountains. In Skyrim? Has to be. But, wait… Something isn't right about this.

I'm getting so tired of all the roundabout and half-assed explanations.

"Listen, Odahviing. I've been across Skyrim high and low. Eastern mountains, western mountains, highest mountain peak. I've not once seen or heard of this Skuldafn. Knowing dragons, you're holding out on me. What are you not telling me?"

The dragon tilts his massive head, clearly not intending to tell me more. "Niid. I have answered your question. Now I will take my leave." Wings spread to prepare to launch Odahviing into the air. Oh no you don't.

"JOOR ZAH FRUL!"

I sheathe my axes and cross my arms impatiently, viciously satisfied as the mighty hunter crashes down to the porch. Even if my throat feels like I swallowed a handful of the heaps of burning splinters underfoot.

"I don't need chains or traps to bind you here."

Odahviing hisses like a discontented cat. And sure, he could kill me. But I'm so fucking done. It's raining and I'm wet. And I'm also still overheated from the fire. And tired from running up here. And I have a headache from the whole Vulthuryol thing. And from Odahviing not giving me straight answers.

"Odahviing. I will ask nicely only one more time. What aren't you telling me?"

So that didn't come out as a question. Sue me. I tap my foot rhythmically against the cobbled stones beneath me. My newfound dragon "prisoner" grumbles and digs more grooves into the stone.

"I should kill you for your insolence, filthy Joor."

"If you wanted to kill me, you would have already tried. You want Alduin gone as much as I do, which is why you gave me that information in the first place. Fucking commit to it, Odahviing. If you're going to betray Alduin, don't do it with half your effort." I point out roughly, scowling at the unruly bastard.

More grumbling and snarling before he tries to fly off again.

"Joor Zah Frul." I don't even bother Shouting as loud. Odahviing stays on the platform.

"Insufferable." He complains. Then: "Very well. If you… insist. I have neglected to mention only this: You have the Thu'um of a Dovah, but without the wings of one, you will never set foot in Skuldafn."

My feelings at that statement can be summed up in a singular word: incredulous.

"Hold on. Now that's just. Alright. Let's take this step by step. You want Alduin gone. I want Alduin gone. You told me where he is and what he's doing there. You also told me where the portal was for me to actually get there. Because you also want Alduin defeated. And now you're telling me there's no actual way for me to get there? Then what was your whole point? I can't get rid of Alduin like this. You can see that too, can't you?"

There's a long, uncomfortable silence. The sky breaks open and it starts pouring. Distantly, thunder rumbles down the mountainsides. I'm soaked to the bone in seconds. Odahviing is dripping rainwater. Both of us are covered in soot slush. I heave a sigh.

"Just… Bring me there. You can leave me at the entrance to Skuldafn and take care of the hard work for you."

"Why should I take orders from you?"

"Be my ride to Skuldafn and I won't kill you where you stand."

Another pause. The rain is really cold as it drips into my eyes and down the back of my neck into my armor. It's soothing. Also painfully cold. I'm kind of missing the fires now.

"You will no longer use that wretched Thu'um to keep me grounded if in return I bring you to Skuldafn?"

"I would also appreciate if you stopped supporting Alduin."

Another snort. "Zu'u Ni Tahrodiis. You can trust me that I will not help Alduin regardless of your wishes. He has proven himself unworthy to rule. I go my own way now. Very well, Dovahkiin. I will take you. Climb onto my neck and shake with envy of the Dov as you see how we see the world, which you will never possess."

Sithis' unholy balls, I get to ride a dragon.

I get to RIDE A DRAGON.

I clear my throat and climb up as instructed, unable to clamp down on my childish excitement. Even if I die fighting Alduin later, I can at least tell everyone in the Void that I did this.

Oh my fucking gods I get to fly on the back of a dragon.

I clear my throat again and attempt to sound steady instead of excited. I fail miserably. "Just shut up and take me there already."

And then we're flying. And it's pouring rain out, and the horns are slippery, and the sky is dark, the cold stings my hands, my face, my ears and seeps into my armor and I don't dare turn around to look at the sorry state of Whiterun but. It's exhilarating.

I'm flying. And on my way to Alduin.

It takes a while for that thought to process.

Hmm… Fuck.

A/N: I hope that was a bit believable, convincing Odahviing without the trap? I always see him as arrogant, willing to do against Alduin even before you meet him, proud with the skills to back it up and the tendency to play with prey. Like a massive red scaly cat.

Fair warning: I will not go into detail too much in Skuldafn, we've all been there, done that, got the collection of shitty ebony swords, 500 times.