Answers to reviews:
Devon Head: That's human nature for you.
Bob2121998: Well, maybe after killing Sahloknir he decides to make the Dragonbone armour due to how his fight with Mirmulnir went with his armour breaking and denting. Plus, he'd need the right sword make to pierce a dragon's hide which is tough. The game makes hitting dragons easy, but in real life Iron swords probably wouldn't make a puncture on a dragon.
Grisword: Well, considering how Miraak turned out, Alduin and Odahviing are merely worried of another similar Dragonborn becoming like him. I mean, he was heavily built up to be insanely powerful in the Dragonborn DLC.
The events after Mirmulnir had been slain by the other Dragon had been rather hectic for Rahgol, first he had to visit the Temple of Kynareth to get his wounds healed, then he was rudely awoken from his nap by the loud shouting of a group of old men on a mountain followed by being basically dragged up to Dragonsreach where the Jarl proceeded to grant him the title of Thane, where he was now reviewing the perks that came with the job.
"And finally, for your efforts in saving Whiterun from that Dragon with great injury to yourself, I will grant you ownership of Breezehome. It was recently furnished for a buyer but he never paid for it, so after the first week of waiting for payment, we decided to put it back on the market and now we are giving it to you as a token of our gratitude for your services to Whiterun." Jarl Balgruuf said, finishing of his little speech about Rahgol's new status of Thane before he stood and gestured to the Dragonborn to follow him "Now then, let me introduce you to your Housecarl."
"Housecarl?" Rahgol asked, eyebrow raised.
"Yes, all Thanes are given a Housecarl to defend their life and property." Balgruuf explained as Rahgol's raised eyebrow turned into a frown.
"I don't need some damn babysitter."
"I assure you I am NOT a babysitter." Rahgol looked to see a black haired woman in steel armour approached with a sword sheathed across her back. She glowered at Rahgol and crossed her arms. "Show some respect to Jarl Balgruuf."
"Hard to when I've been assigned someone that's gonna be a nuisance." Rahgol retorted while glaring at Lydia who glared at him. Balgruuf chuckled as he watched the two.
"I'm sure you two will get along fine. I'll leave you to it." Balgruuf said and walked away.
Rahgol sighed in irritation. "Okay, so I'm a Thane, you're my Housecarl, what is the responsibilities of such?"
"The Jarl has recognised you as a person of great importance in the hold. A hero. The title of Thane is an honor, a gift for your service. Guards will know to look the other way, if you let them know who you are." Lydia explained as they left Dragonsreach. "As my Thane, I'm sworn to your service. I'll guard you, and all you own, with my life."
"Hmm, can you fight well?" Rahgol asked, his question causing Lydia to perk up a bit.
"I'm trained in sword and shield fighting, but I've also learned the basics of archery." she answered, getting a smile out of Rahgol.
"Well, least you ain't some pretender seeking thrill and purpose in life." Rahgol snorted as they walked down the steps. "Anyway, as I'm sure you've either heard or haven't, I am the Dragonborn after I absorbed a Dragon's soul thanks to another killing him for me, now I've been summoned back to High Hrothgrar to meet the Greybeards."
"Wait, summoned back?" Lydia said with a confused expression. "You've...been up there before?"
"Yeah." Rahgol said, saying nothing else so Lydia didn't push as she could tell Rahgol didn't want to talk about his past. Rahgol made a quick stop to the Skyforge to get some armour from Eorlund which was repaired steel armour and a pair of Skyforce Steel Swords. After this, Rahgol and Lydia left and began their journey to Ivarstead, which took them through the ruins of Helgen, the once proud Imperial stronghold was now a bandit infested mass of crumbling walls and collapsing houses that the two warriors had to clear in order to continue on their journey. They had just reached a clearing where Rahgol dropped his bag to the ground and turned to Lydia.
"We'll set up camp here for the night. Stay here and guard the supplies while I collect some firewood." he said, making the Nord woman cross her arms and scowl.
"Why?" she asked, her question earning her a roll of the eyes from the Dragonborn.
"Because it's cold, and I feel feel like dying by coldness." He answered rudely before walking off to go collect firewood, leaving Lydia to huff and remain at camp to set it up.
Rahgol looked for old branches that were useful for a campfire and collected them. He was curious on the lack of foxes or elk, especially in an an area like this. Even predators like wolves and spiders weren't around.
Eventually the mystery was solved when he reached an area where the ground had been singed to black glass, the trees scorched and clawed and a half-eaten bear carcass left in the middle of this devastation. Rahgol raised an eyebrow as he observed the scene and turned to leave, but before he had taken too many steps, a voice rang out.
"You must be brave or stupid, most joor would be running at such a sight." Rahgol looked around for the source of the voice before looking up in the trees and he found exactly what he was looking for.
"Well, we both know I'm not like most joor." Rahgol said as he stared at the red-scaled Dragon that came down from his place in the trees. Rahgol noticed that this Dragon, unlike Mirmulnir who used his wings to move on the ground, this Dragon had all four legs like the Dragoness from Helgen.
The Dragon gave a chuckle. "That is true, Dovahkiin. You don't appear tense at the sight of me. orin to Zu'u vis krii hi us hi vis prus?"
"If you were going to kill me, you would've burned me alive as soon as I came here." Rahgol replied as he remained casual, despite knowing this Dragon could easily attack him.
The Dragon stared at him for a moment before eyeing the bear carcass and gestured to it. "Bahlokus?" Rahgol shook his head. "Nid? Zos fah zey, ruz."
"What do you want?" Rahgol sighed. "I don't feel like fighting another Dragon. Now that I know what I am, it feels...wrong, but that's probably my mortal side speaking.
" Hi los joor." The Dragon answered with a scoff as he dug into the corpse. "Forever weakened by such things instead of being stin like a true Dovah."
"Well, nice to meet someone else who knows a good conversation." Rahgol muttered under his breath.
The Dragon gave him a warning growl, hearing slight mocking as he finished eating. "Next time we meet, Dovahkiin...it may end with you in my teeth!"
Rahgol was about to retort but a gust of wind generated by a mighty beat of the Dragon's wings sent him to the ground, raising his head, he saw the Dragon leaving the area at great speed and a single phrase left his lips:
"Asshole."
After his encounter with the red Dragon, Rahgol and Lydia had rested for a short period before continuing on to Ivarstead and then, High Hrothgar. After ascending the Seven Thousand Steps and facing off against a few hostile creatures that called the mountain home, the two stood outside the monastery that the Greybeards called home.
"Be careful in here." Rahgol warned Lydia as he approached the doors to High Hrothgar "Though they maintain neutrality in most affairs, the Voice of a Greybeard is still a highly dangerous thing, a whisper could kill us both."
Lydia nodded as the two entered. The doors closed behind them as four men walked into the halls, each wearing hooded grey robes with ornate patterns on them and each with a log grey beard. One walked in front of them and spoke to Rahgol.
"Rahgol, I see you have returned. We thought you would have gone to the Imperial city by now." His voice – though quiet – was easily heard over the howling winds and contained some undeterminable quality that commanded respect.
"Complications arose." Was all Rahgol said with a slight sigh. "Complications being captured alongside the Stormcloaks and nearly decapitated."
"I see. But tell me, why have you decided to come back here?" Though the words were phrased as a question, both Rahgol and Lydia got the feeling that Arngeir already knew why they were here and merely wanted verbal confirmation.
"Why do you think I'm-OW!" Rahgol winced and rubbed the back of his head while throwing a glare at Lydia who glared back at him.
"Be more respectful to the Greybeards!" She hissed. Rahgol rolled his eyes and turned to Arngeir, who was watching with amusement in his eyes before he spoke again.
"You have come to answer our summons, though you do not know why nor do you understand the importance of your abilities. We aim to teach you this, though formalities must be observed first." He said, spreading his arms wide. "So, let us taste your Thu'um."
"FUS!" Rahgol shouted, a blue shockwave emerging from his mouth and slamming into Arngeir, though the only thing it did was make the old man's robes and beard flutter in the wind created by the shout.
"Good, your blood is giving you an innate ability to focus words of Dovahzul into a Thu'um, though your Shouts are admittedly lacking in power. This shall come to you with time and experience." Arngeir said as he dropped his arms back down to his sides again. "You have proven that you are Dragonborn and your training will begin, but the hour grows late so we will begin your training tomorrow at sunrise."
"Will bor- Paarthurnax join us?" Rahgol asked with slight hopefulness as Arngeir gestured to him and Lydia to follow him further into the monastery. Lydia noticed he had been about to address this Paarthurnax by another title but made no mention of it.
"No. Shortly after you left, Master Paarthurnax had a blizzard raging around the peak, preventing access to him." Arngeir said as he led Gral and Lydia to the sleeping quarters.
"Like a blizzard can stop me." Rahgol scoffed.
"No, but we can." Arngeir said and gave Rahgol an unimpressed look. "I see your slight rebellious attitude hasn't diminished, but Master Paarthurnax sealed himself off for a reason. Only until you can withstand the combined Voices of the Greybeards will you be allowed to ascend the mountain to speak with Master Paarthurnax, not before."
"Yes, now here are your beds. I would suggest getting some rest as your training will not be easy." after saying this, the old man turned and left, leaving Rahgol and Lydia alone in the room. They deposited their bags and sat on their beds, Rahgol with a book and Lydia with a whetstone, sharpening her sword.
"So… who is Paarthurnax?" Lydia asked, breaking the silence that had fallen. Rahgol did not look up from his book but answered nonetheless.
"Paarthurnax is the grandmaster of the Greybeards. Very gifted with the Thu'um and master of The Way of the Voice," he answered, turning a page in his book.
"The Way of the Voice?" Lydia asked, her question making Rahgol glance up from his book.
"Yes, it is a pacifist creed developed by Jurgen Windcaller. To put it simply, it was preached to show that the Thu'um should only be used for the worship and glory of the gods rather than martial exploits." Rahgol explained. Lydia gave a slow nod of understanding before asking the question that had been weighing on her mind.
"So, were you and this Paarthurnax… close?" In response to her question, Rahgol closed his book and set it down before giving her his undivided attention.
"That is not a so easy question to answer but I will tell you in simple terms." Rahgol said with a sigh. "I owe Paarthurnax my life. He saved me from death when I was just a boy. I had nowhere else to go, no one else, so he took me in, raised me, treated me like his own son. I even called him father a few times, which seemed to make him happy. He taught me a lot. He even gave me the name that I have due to my...rage at certain people, called it a strong name.
A small smile was on Rahgol's face as he spoke of Paarthurnax. Lydia saw that Rahgol clearly loved this Paarthurnax like a father and had no shame in calling him that. Rahgol then let out a yawn.
"We should get some sleep." Rahgol said and laid on his bed. "Tomorrow is gonna be busy."
Lydia laid down on her own bed and said. "Goodnight my Thane."
"Goodnight Lydia..."
So a little insight to Rahgol's backstory. Paarthurnax saved him from death, but didn't exactly specify what kind of death because it can come in all forms such as...abuse. Anyway, Paarthurnax saved Rahgol, took him to his mountain, taught him and raised him as his own son. This might seem OOC for a Dragon like him, but I figured it would be a nice change to the story.
Hope you readers like this development that Paarthurnax met the Dragonborn earlier than intended.
Chapter wasn't very long, but I figured it should stop here.I know I said I'd make them longer, but I can't promise anything. When I see a suitable point to stop a chapter, I take it.
Dragon Tongue translations.
Joor: Mortal
Orin to Zu'u vis krii hi us hi vis prus?: Even though I can kill you before you can blink?
Bahlokus? Nid? Zos fah zey, ruz: Hungry No? More for me, then.
Hi los joor: You are mortal.
Stin: Free
Dovahkiin: Dragonborn.
Paar Thur Nax: Ambition Overlord Cruelty.