Disclaimer: i do not own The Elder Scrolls.
"Okay, that hurt." Rahgol groaned as he stirred from unconsciousness and stumbled to his feet, falling to a knee. He looked up at the sounds of Dragon roaring and quickly ran to see Delphine, Lydia, and some guards, fighting Sahloknir but Alduin was gone, most likely having flown off after blasting him away with her Shout. Rahgol growled at this and took out his two Iron swords, he really need to make himself some new armour and weapons that were capable of hurtinga Dragon.
Rahgol ran and landed a slash across Sahloknir's right eye, causing him to roar out in pain. "Hi fent biis fah tol!"
"Go fuck yourself!" Rahgol retorted before shouting. "FUS RO!"
Sahloknir staggered a little at this, and Rahgol took the chance to send Ice spikes at the Dragon and his blood fell on top of Rahgol when he flew above the Dragonborn. Rahgol launched more ice spikes to bring him down, and he began to fly just a foot above him. Rahgol quickly grabbed one of his swords and slashed it on Sahloknir's exposed belly. More blood fell on top of Rahgol and he saw the Dragon crashing against the nearby trees. Sahloknir growled before facing him again.
"You are strong...for a mortal." He growled. Rahgol just glared before he rushed forward and talon met sword. His other talon slashed against Rahgol's chest, but he didn't care. He grabbed my other sword and attacked him wildly with a flurry of slashes.
Sahloknir tried to bite Rahgol but he rolled out the way and landed a slash across the Dragon's cheek, causing him to roar and cover the wound as blood fell to the ground. Rahgol then jumped onto his wing and stabbed through it, causing the Dragon to roar louder in pain before he threw Rahgol off, looking at the wound on his wing.
"Hi fen ag!" Sahloknir roared before unleashing fire at the Dragonborn who avoided it with a grunt as he ducked behind a rock. Once the fire died down, Rahgol stood as Sahloknir lunged with his jaws wide open, but Rahgol had his sword sin hand and drove them right through the top of Sahloknir's mouth and out of his skull, blood splattered everyone as Rahgol gripped his swords before yanking them out of the Dragon's mouth.
Rahgol took a few deep breaths as he took a step back, watching as the body began to burn and he absorbed it's soul. Once that was done, he looked at Delphine who walked up to him with Lydia, both in awe.
"Happy now?" Rahgol grunted.
Delphine was shook from her awe at his question and said. "Yes, so you are the Dragonborn after all. I owe you some answers don't I? Ask me everything you want to know. Nothing held back."
Rahgol didn't waste any time though. "Who are you and how did you know I was Dragonborn?"
"I'm one of the last members of the Blades." Delphine said and Rahgol's eyes narrowed at that. He has heard tales of the Blades, that they 'serve' the Dragonborn. Now he knew why he felt like killing her, because she hunted Dragons for a living. "A very long time ago, the Blades were Dragonslayers, and we served the Dragonborn, the greatest Dragonslayer. For the last two hundred years, since the last Dragonborn emperor, the Blades have been searching for a purpose. Now that Dragons are coming back, our purpose is clear again. We need to stop them."
Rahgol stared at her, feeling the urge to just kill her again but he sighed and shook his head. Much as he didn't want anything to do with the Blades, dead as the order is from what he knows, he knew she won't leave him alone.
"I know who the Blades are. Nobody even remembers your name these days." Rahgol said, holding a smirk back.
Delphien looked upset at that knowledge being frown in her face. "You're right, nobody even knows. We used to be known across Tamriel as the protectors of the Septim Emperors. Those days are long gone, though. For the last two hundred years, we've been searching for the next Dragonborn to guide and guard, as we are sworn to do. But we never found one. Until now."
rahgol hummed and went onto his next question. "What of the Dragons coming back? Know anything about it?"
Delphine shook her head. "Not a damn thing. I was just as surprised as you to find that big black Dragon here...who you seem to know."
"She...ironically, saved me from having my head chopped off." Rahgol said and explained the events of Helgen, then his second encounter with her, Alduin her name was. He knew who she was now, the World-Eater. After he finished explaining, he sighed. "To think, the Dragon who saves me twice happens to be the one I'm 'destined' to fight."
"Pretty ironic." Lydia said with a smirk, getting a nod from Rahgol. "Sounds like she has an interest in you."
"Yeah, and not in that sense." Rahgol smirked back at her. "She most likely wants to see who her nemesis is going to be." He looked at Delphine. "What's next?"
"The first thing we need to do is figure out who's behind the Dragons. The Thalmor are our best lead. If they aren't involved, they'll know who is." Delphine said with confidence.
Rahgol frowned a little. "What makes you suspect them? I don't like them much, but what makes you think they are behind this?"
"Nothing solid. Yet. But my gut tells me it can't be anybody else. The Empire had captured Ulfric. The war was basically over. Then a Dragon attacks, Ulfric escapes, and the war is back on. And now the Dragons are attacking everywhere, indiscriminately. Skyrim is weakened, the Empire is weakened. Who else gains from that but the Thalmor?"
Rahgol had to agree with that but he was curious on one thing. "You mentioned them earlier, sounds like they are after you. Why?"
Delphine sighed. "Before the Great War, the Blades helped the Empire against the Thalmor. Our Grandmaster saw them as the greatest threat to Tamriel. At the time, that was true. Maybe it still is. So we fought them in the shadows, all across Tamriel. We thought we were more than a match for them. We were wrong."
Rahgol grunted. "So, we need to gain information from them. How exactly are we going to do that?"
"If we could get into the Thalmor Embassy... it's the center of their operations in Skyrim... Problem is, that place is locked up tighter than a miser's purse. They could teach me a few things about paranoia..."
"How do we get in?" Lydia asked.
Delphine shook her head. "Not sure yet. Give me time and I may have a way. I will send you a letter when I know how. Keep an eye on the sky, this is only going to get worse. Here's the key for the basement."
Rahgol nodded and took the key. As he watched her walk away, he turned his gaze to the sky as he thought over how easily he was blasted back with a Unrelenting Force by Alduin and his fists clenched. He would have to get stronger, far stronger to match her and face her. Though, a part of him didn't. A part of him, okay a big part of him, found her beautiful. Hell, he had even stared at her beautiful, voluptuous body. He blamed it on his Dragon instincts.
"So what next, Dragonborn?" Lydia asked curiously.
Rahgol turned his gaze to the skeleton of Sahloknir. "I think I should get myself some new armour and weapons for this Dragonhunting business..."
After telling Lydia to go to Whiterun and give the Dragon bones and scales to Eorlund Grey-Mane, so that he can melt them in the Skyforge and start crafting weapons and armour, Rahgol went to High Hrothgar to give them the Horn of Jurgen Windcaller. He walked into the monastery, noticing Arngeir meditating in front of the alter. The Greybeard looked up upon hearing him enter.
"Ah, you've retrieved the Horn of Jurgen Windcaller?" Rahgol nodded and gave him the horn. "Well done. You have passed all the trials. Come with me, it is time to recognize you formally as Dragonborn." Rahgol followed him towards the circle of light and he began to stand in the circle, while the four Greybeards stood around him. Arngeir began to speak.
"You are now ready to learn the final word of Unrelenting Force, 'Dah' which means 'Push'." Rahgol saw Wulfgar placing the Word on the ground, and he began to absorb the energy around the word.
"With all three Words together, this Shout is much more powerful. Use it wisely. Master Wulfgar will now gift you with his knowledge of 'Dah'." Like before, Rahgol absorbed the energy around Wulfgar and he decided to try that Shout.
"FUS RO DAH!" An amazingly large shockwave appeared that could blast almost anything out of the way, but Rahgol noticed his wasn't that strong like Alduin's. Arngeir looked at him with a concerned look.
"Is there something wrong?" He asked gently. Rahgol shook his head.
"I'm fine Continue." Arngeir nodded.
"You have completed your training, Dragonborn. We would Speak to you. Stand between us, and prepare yourself. Few can withstand the unbridled Voice of the Greybeards, but you are ready." Rahgol was curious but nodded nodded.
Suddenly High Hrothgar began to shake, but Rahgol stood still.
"Lingrah krosis saraan Strundu'ul, voth nid balaan klov praan nau! Naal Thu'umu, mu ofan nii nu, Dovahkiin, naal suleyk do Kaan, naal suleyk do Shor, ahrk naal suleyk do Atmorasewuth! Meyz nu Ysmir, Dovahsebrom! Dahmaan daar rok!"
The Greybeards stopped and the place stopped shaking. Arngeir spoke once again. "Dovahkiin. You have tasted the Voice of the Greybeards, and passed through unscathed. High Hrothgar is once again open to you. It always has been as it is your home."
Rahgol smiled at that. He knew what they had said to him in the Dragon Tongue: Long has the Stormcrown languished, with no worthy brow to sit upon. By our breath we bestow it now to you in the name of Kyne, in the name of Shor, and in the name of Atmora of Old. You are Ysmir now, the Dragon of the North, hearken to it.
A fine title.
"What more can i know about being Dragonborn?" Rahgol asked, but Arngeir shook his head.
"You are not ready yet to know that."
Rahgol kept a growl in but was a little annoyed at this being kept from him."You have learned so much already, Dragonborn. Growing your gift too quickly would be dangerous. But there are many Words of Power in Skyrim, carved in the Dragon Tongue. Even from here we can feel the Thu'um resonate from them. Finding these lost words would be a sufficient test, to temper your abilities with experience. Ask when you are ready to search."
"Actually, I wouldn't mind having their locations known to me. I could use something to pass the time and grow stronger." Rahgol said, getting a nod from Arngeir who marked the locations on Rahgol's map along with known Dragon Lairs all over Skyrim where a Word Wall will most likely be guarded, some of which even had a Dragon Priest guarding it as well.
"Could I become as strong, if not stronger, than Miraak himself?" Rahgol asked, having been told the story of the first Dragonborn by Paarthurnax when he was younger.
"You could." Arngeir answered. "But that requires a lot of time and patience. You don't intend to become like Miraak, do you?"
Rahgol shook his head, no way would he become a monster like Miraak.
Skuldafn
Alduin lifted her head upon hearing the sound of the Greybeards naming Rahgol Ysmir, Dragon of the North. She snorted, no matter how strong he gets...he will never be a true Dovah unless he learned how to-
"No." Aludin growled. "He's not strong enough to learn that kind of Shout, not even Paarthurnax would teach it to him...just now."
"Thuri." Alduin looked up and saw Odahviing come in to land beside her. "it would seem, that the Dovahkiin is growing in strength and power."
Aludin snorted. "But not enough to stand a chance against me. I must admit, his desire to grow stronger is something worthy of a Dovah. He shows that side of him well...if only he wasn't restricted by that pathetic mortal shell and emotions."
"Thuri, do you believe he may become like the first?" Odhaviing asked, not mentioning Miraak by name.
Alduin growled at the thought of him. "I will kill him before he can become that strong." She then chuckled as she remembered something. "but it seems, I may have caused a few things to stir within him...judging by how he unknowingly gazed at me like I was his prey to devour."
Odahviing hummed in amusement. "His Dovah side."
Aludin chuckled. "Yes. But he is not worthy of having me as such...unless he proves it." Alduin gained a thoughtful look. "If he can be turned to my side, he could become a powerful ally. I would show him his true potential, teach him the true meaning of what he is...and unlock his true Dovah side."
"It is ready." Eorlund said as soon as Rahgol arrived at the Skyforge, where Eorlund had a set of armour, sword, shield, bow and quiver of arrows laid out. "Your Dragonbone armour and weapons."
"thank you, Eorlund." Rahgol said with gratefulness in his voice.
"thank you for allowing me the chance to fashion armour and weapons from the very bones and scales of a Dragon." Eorland said with a smile. "it is something that a Blacksmith dreams of, but to actually do it..."
Rahgol chuckled and patted him on the shoulder. "Well, you're welcome."
After putting the armour and helmet on, Rahgol grabbed the bow, slung it around him, strapped the quiver to his back, and sheathed the sword at his waist. He walked down the steps, about to leave when Aela ran up to him.
"hey, been looking for you." She said, causing Rahgol to stop and face her.
"What is it?" he asked with some concern.
"Skjor's been looking for you, actually. He has something special planned for you tonight." Aela said. "You'll need to speak with him."
Rahgol sighed but nodded and entered Jorrvaskr, looking for Skjor until he came up to him. "Hey, I've been looking for you. Nice armour."
"Thank you. So what is it you need me for?" Rahgol asked curiously.
"I have something planned for you. But it's not for everyone to hear. Meet me in the Underforge tonight. We will speak more." Skjor said, looking around in case someone was listening in.
"Where is the Underforge?" Rahgol asked.
"I forget that you've never seen it. Beneath the Skyforge, where Eorlund works. The door is hidden, but I will show you the way." Rahgol nodded and watched him walk away. Sighing, Rahgol decided to do some jobs while waiting until night.
Later that night, Rahgol followed Skjor to the Underforge. Rahgol looked it over, impressed a little to hide something beneath the Skyforge. Before they entered, Skjor turned to Rahgol.
"Are you prepared?" He asked.
"What is this place?" Rahgol asked.
"Here's all you need to know. Jorrvaskr is the oldest building in Whiterun. The Skyforge was here long before it was. And the Underforge taps an ancient magic that is older than men or elves. We bring you here to make you stronger, new blood. Now let's move." Skjor entered while Rahgol narrowed his eyes before he followed him in.
As soon as he entered, the first thing Rahgol saw was a Werewolf that looked at him with a look of recognition, without hostility. In front of the Werewolf was a bowl, a large bowl of some kind on a pedestal. Rahgol now had a feeling what this was about.
"I'm glad you came. It's been a long time since we had a heart like yours among our numbers." Skjor said as he walked towards the Werewolf and stood a little ways from it. "That pitiful ceremony at the hall does not befit warriors like us. You are due more honor than some calls and feasting. I would hope you recognize Aela, even in this form. She's agreed to be your forebear. We do this in secret because Kodlak is too busy trying to throw away this great gift we've been granted. He thinks we've been cursed. But we've been blessed. How can something that gives this kind of prowess be a curse? So we take matters into our own hands. To reach the heights of the Companions, you must join with us in the shared blood of the wolf."
Skjor looked at him. "Are you prepared to join your spirit with the beast world, friend?"
Rahgol had his answer right away. "Fun as being a wolf sounds...my answer is no."
Skjor frowned and Aela growled in surprise.
"Don't you want to get stronger?" Skjor asked with a hard tone.
"Dragon blood is enough for me." Rahgol said coldly as he stared Skjor in the eye. "I'd rather not be bound to Hircine and o to his Hunting Grounds."
Skjor looked angry. "To join the Circle, your blood must be as ours."
"Well then, I won't join the Circle." Rahgol said with a roll of his eyes. Honestly, this was starting to be a waste of his time now.
"You are just like Kodlak. You see it as a curse, don't you?"
"Now you are just putting words into my mouth." Rahgol said. "I don't want to be a Werewolf, I would rather take on the form of a Dragon if I could than be bound to a Daedric Prince. If you can't accept that, then fuck off."
"Fine then, have it your way. But this remains a secret. If I hear you talking about this, I will kill you." Skjor said, glaring hatefully at Rahgol who glared back.
"Threaten me again...and it won't end well for you." Rahgol said with an almost dragon-like growl before he turned and began walking away when he heard a sword be unsheathed and whirled around to see Skjor rushing at him with his sword raised.
"Don't mock me!" Skjor yelled and brought his sword down but Rahgol blocked it with his own and elbowed Skjor in the face. Aela rushed in and grabbed Skjor, but Skjor pulled himself loose and again ran towards Rahgol.
"FUS RO DAH!" Rahgol shouted, and Skjor was blasted against the wall.
"You are not a Companion…" Skjor growled.
Rahgol sheathed his sword with a frown. "Go fuck yourself, Skjor. I don't give a damn what you say. If you want to spend your life being a mutt, no offence Aela, then go right ahead. But don't force it on others just because you like it. Besides, I'd rather be what I was born as."
With that, he stormed out the Underforge and took a couple of deep breaths before he walked away when he saw Farkas and Vilkas coming up. "What happened? We heard you...Shout?" Farkas asked with concern at the anger on Rahgol's face.
"Skjor tried to make me a Werewolf, I said no, he didn't take it well." Rahgol said as he walked past them. "I am done. I quit the Companions. I'd rather not be around someone like Skjor any longer because i'll rip his damn head off if I did."
Farkas and Vilkas tried to speak to him but Kodlak walked up and told them not to, watching with sad eyes as Rahgol left...
Rahgol walked through the forests far away from Whiterun, breathing heavily in anger as he thought over what just happened. The fact that Skjor couldn't take no for an answer. The fact that he dared to attack him! The Dragonborn! He should've burned Skjor where he stood! Rahgol unleashed his Fire Breath Shout on a few trees and watched them burn to the ground.
Rahgol took a deep breath. "Now you're thinking like a Dragon, Rahgol...but it doesn't feel too bad to."
"No, it doesn't."
Rahgol whirled around with a hand on his sword as Alduin herself landed before him with an amused look on her face.
"Hello, my little Rahgol." Alduin purred in a taunting, yet almost seductive manner, most likely to mock him. "You are filled with the rage as you are named for. I almost saw a true Dovah come out there. Shame it's blocked by that mortal shell of yours."
"What do you want. Alduin?" Rahgol asked with a tired sigh as he leaned against a tree he hadn't burned and slide down until he sat on the ground, looking at the Dragoness. "I'm really not in the mood, sorry I can't entertain you."
Alduin was a little confused, but more curious. She laid down and looked at him. "Tell me." Rahgol looked at her with a frown. "Why are you in a rage tonight? i see you wear the bone of a Dragon, but that matters not to me despite how disgusting it is."
"Why do you want to know?" Rahgol asked.
Alduin shrugged. "Can't a female be curious about a male's life?"
Rahgol raised an eyebrow but sighed and started spilling what happened at Whiterun, with ALduin listening closely. he couldn't believe he was talking with ehr ina civilized manner like this. When he was finished, Alduin growled.
"Pahlokaal dok. Wah krilon grik truk voth Dovah?" She said.
Rahgol looked at her. "Didn't think you cared."
Alduin gave him a warning look. "Careful, Dovahkiin. I may not be in the mood to kill you right now, but test me and that will change. So tell me, how does one such as yourself be raised by a traitor like Paarthurnax?"
"Don't call him that." Rahgol growled with a glare, something which Alduin smirked at her and laid on her side, deciding to show off more of her body as she noticed the deep, hidden desire in his eyes from his Dragon side.
"Oh? And what is he to you?" Alduin asked curiously.
"The one who saved me from death at the hands of my family." Rahgol spat as he glared at the ground now while a surprised Alduin got back into her previous position.
"Explain." She demanded, Rahgol gave her a look. "We may as well...talk while we are both still in the mood for it."
Rahgol sighed and shrugged. "I was born to a normal human family...but then I was beaten abused, starved even. The village I was in, they knew what was being done to me and didn't care. No one did and I felt nothing but rage, nothing but hatred and the desire to kill them all. Men, women, and even children. When I was a boy, about six or seven, my father tried to kill me with an arrow...then Paarthurnax showed up. He had been hunting, and heard my cries. He saved me, burned my human father to a crisp, razed the village but left everyone else alive as a warning...and took me with him. He raised me like his own."
Alduin was silent and surprised. To think her traitor of a brother would do this. She thought this over, mulling over what she had been told. She still sensed the rage and the anger within Rahgol at that day. Alduin knew what mortals were like, especially humans. They had a cruel nature, not eve Dovah would mistreat their young like that until they were fully grown and able to fight back.
"What was it like back then?" Rahgol asked, bringing Alduin out of her thoughts and she looked at him with a frown.
"What was what like?" Alduin asked.
"The days you ruled, before you were rebelled against and Paarthurnax betrayed you. he told me some stories of the days before he betrayed you." Rahgol said, curious now. "But I want to hear your side."
Alduin stared at him before she sighed. "Fine, since you told me part of your story, I'll tell you part of mine..."
Ironic, the two who were destined to fight each other sat together, speaking in a civilized manner...though both knew they would go back to being enemies, but this was the first of many normal talks between them as mortal and Goddess started to understand one another...
So yeah, Alduin and Rahgol had a normal talk with each other instead of trying to kill one another right away. The intention I have for their relationship is that they come to understand each other better, then they grow to respect each other before finally coming to love each other, despite their fundamental differences as human and Dragon.
If anyone has any ideas, I'd like to hear them, even though i have my own but I would like to hear your thoughts and ideas on how to make them understand each other better, then respect one another, before finally coming to love each other. Though don't expect the get together of romance to be like THAT! Things need to happen t do character development.
And their fight in Sovngard needs to happen as that is a turning point for many ideas, whether I choose to remain in canon or change the outcome of the fight, but I already know what I have planned for that.
Dragon Tongue translation:
Sahloknir: Phantom Sky Hunt
Alduin: Destroy Devour Master
Fus Ro Dah: Force Balance Push
Hi fent biis fah tol!: You shall pay for that!
Hi fen ag!: You will burn!
Lingrah krosis saraan Strundu'ul, voth nid balaan klov praan nau! Naal Thu'umu, mu ofan nii nu, Dovahkiin, naal suleyk do Kaan, naal suleyk do Shor, ahrk naal suleyk do Atmorasewuth! Meyz nu Ysmir, Dovahsebrom! Dahmaan daar rok!: Long has the Stormcrown languished, with no worthy brow to sit upon. By our breath we bestow it now to you in the name of Kyne, in the name of Shor, and in the name of Atmora of Old. You are Ysmir now, the Dragon of the North, hearken to it.