Answers to reviews:
Ginopippofreebooter: Can't get everything perfect.
dragon rose 11: Yeah, that's why I deleted the 7th chapter and rewrote it into a better one.
-11th of the First Seed, 4th Era 202-
Rahgol arrived in Riverwood, having taken five days to get there due to the walk down the steps of High Hrothgar, then get to Ivarstead, followed by the journey to Riverwood while dealing with bandits, animals, trolls, spiders, and a Dragon or two on the road. The point is the journey wasn't easy but Rahgol's here. He just hopes Delphine had a good plan to get him into the Thalmor Embassy and that it wasn't just a waste of his time.
Rahgol entered the bar and looked for Delphine but didn't see her, much to his annoyance. He walked into the room with the secret passageway down to the secret room, which he went down and saw the woman leaning over the table and looking over a map of Skyrim. Upon hearing him coming down, she looked up.
"Good, you're here." She said in a pleased tone but Rahgol just rolled his eyes.
"You mentioned a way for me to get into the Embassy?" Rahgol asked, arms crossed.
"Yes, and you are going in there, alone." She said, causing Rahgol to frown a little at that last part.
"Excuse me? Why do I have to do EVERYTHING? This is YOUR plan after all, you wanted my help." Rahgol asked with an annoyed tone at having to do everything for everyone once again while they just sit on their asses.
"Listen, that would be a bad idea. I'd be too likely to attract the wrong kind of attention. But they don't know you at all. Maybe they know about the Dragonborn, but they certainly don't know that you are the Dragonborn, yet."
"So, what's your plan? How do I infiltrate the Thalmor Embassy?" Rahgol asked with an annoyed sigh.
"The Thalmor Ambassador, Elenwen, regularly throws parties where the rich and connected cozy up to the Thalmor. I can get you into one of those parties. Once you're inside, the Embassy, you get away and try to find Elenwen's secret files. I have a contact inside the Embassy. He's not up for this kind of high-risk mission, but he can help you out. His name is Malborn. Wood Elf, plenty of reason to hate the Thalmor. You can trust him." Rahgol just narrowed his eyes. "I'll get word for him to meet you in Solitude, at the Winking Skeever. You know it?"
"No. Never been to Solitude." Rahgol said with a huff.
"Well, you'll be visiting for the first time then. While you're doing that, I'll work on your invitation to Elenwen's little party. Meet me at the Solitude stables when you've arranged things with Malborn. Any questions?" She asked him.
"Who's that contact of yours?" Rahgol asked, not going to put blind trust into someone he doesn't know. Hell, he doesn't even trust Delphine at all, she's too...bossy for his liking and expects him to do everything for her without help, plus there's her wanting him to kill EVERY single Dragon until they are practically extinct.
"Don't worry about Malborn. He is not dangerous like you, but he hates the Thalmor at least as much as I do. Like I already have said, he's a Wood Elf. The Thalmor wiped out his family back in Valenwood during one of their purges we never hear about. Luckily they don't know who he really is, or he wouldn't be serving drinks at the Ambassador's party."
Cold as it sounds, Rahgol didn't really care why Malborn hates the Thalmor, he just nodded with a grunt before turning to leave. "I'll see you at the Solitude Stables." he said and left without waiting for her response.
-19th of the First Seed, 4th Era 202-
When Rahgol arrived in Solitude there was many things he expected upon entering the city, being recognized by the Imperials and arrested was one of them, but seeing a public execution was not one of the things he expected. Apparently it was the execution of a man who opened the gates and allowed Ulfric Stormcloak to escape after he killed the High King.
Rahgol frowned when he saw a girl was watching, upset due to the one being executed being her uncle. Rahgol just shook his head and went into the place he was supposed to meet Malborn in. Rahgol had learned long ago how cruel people were and he didn't care for people as much as anyone else would, that's how cold his heart was. Of course he has opened up to a small few people like Lydia, tried that with the Companions and look what happened with him and Skjor.
Rahgol looked around until he saw a Bosmer male, which made him narrow his eyes but he walked over and sat across from him.
"Are you all right mister?" The elf asked calmly but Rahgol could hear the fear in his voice, could smell it coming off him.
"Our mutual friend sent me." Rahgol said.
"Oh, uhm, all right. I hope she knows what she is doing…" Malborn said but Rahgol didn't care if he doubted him."Here's the deal. I can smuggle some equipment into the Embassy for you. Don't plan on bringing anything else in with you. The Thalmor take security very seriously. Give me what you can't live without, and I'll make sure to get it into the Embassy. The rest is up to you."
Rahgol almost sighed at that, not wishing to part with certain things but he figured he should. So with that in mind, he gave Malborn the Ebony Blade, feeling like he'll need that more than anything. Everything else stays.
"That it?" Malborn asked with a raised eyebrow but Rahgol gave him a look so he right. The party won't start until tonight. I will see you soon."
Rahgol watched him leave before he got up and started making his way to the Solitude Stables. Once he got there, he saw Delphine sitting on a rock.
"Have you given all the gear you want to smuggle into the Embassy?" She asked him and Rahgol nodded.
"Yes, Malborn is all set." He confirmed.
Delphine nodded. "Good, I have your invitation to the party. You still have to wait till tonight though." She gave him an expensive looking envelope and some brown luxury robes. He grimaced, not liking fancy noble clothing. "Put this on. The only way to get there is to act and look like an invited guest. Give me the rest of your gear and I'll keep it safe."
Rahgol sighed but nodded and went somewhere to change in private. Once that was done, he handed his stuff to Delphine. It wasn't much, just his Dragonbone armour and weapons.
"If I so much as find something missing or wrong with my stuff, I'm will kill you." Rahgol said to her coldly, making the message clear to not try and make something out of his armour.
"I'll keep it safe." Delphine nodded. "Take care."
Rahgol grunted as he got onto the carriage and he was soon on his way to the Embassy.
-19th of the First Seed, 4th Era 202-
It was late evening when Rahgol arrived. It was cold and it was snowing, of course the place would be held in a snowy area since that was part of the mountain area near Solitude where it was cold and constantly snowing a lot. jumping off the carriage, Rahgol saw a Redguard with a big mustache.
"Ah! A fellow latecomer to Elenwen's little soiree. And arriving by carriage no less! I salute you sir!" Rahgol didn't look amused and just walked on when the man continued speaking. "My lateness is due to more getting lost on the way up this gods forsaken mountain than any desire to actually arrive late. I prefer to arrive early. Often the day before the party, so as not to miss out on any of the drinking. I'm Razelan by the way."
Rahgol didn't care. He walked towards the stairs, leading towards the door, but a Thalmor Justiciar stopped him.
"Welcome to the Thalmor Embassy. Your invitation please." He said, looking distrustful and with some disdain at Rahgol that didn't bother him. Rahgol just showed him the invitation and he began to smile."Thank you sir. Go right in."
Rahgol did just that ad the first person he saw was the She-Elf that he saw at Helgen speaking with General Tullius almost a year ago. Hard to believe the events of Helgen were about a year ago.
The woman gave Rahgol a curious look and walked towards him. "Welcome, I don't believe we've met. I am Elenwen, the Thalmor Ambassador to Skyrim. And you are?" She asked.
"Rahgol." Was all he said, causing her to frown but it went away just as quick.
"Ah, I remember your name from the guest list. I heard that you are Dragonborn right?" Rahgol nodded, he had a feeling the Thalmor would find out he was Dragonborn...he was the only person walking with a Dragon-like name. "Those Dragons are a nuisance right? I'm sure you can take care of them. Wouldn't want them to help in the war…"
Rahgol stopped himself from clenching his fists at how everyone expects him to do this and that. What if he didn't want to do it? What if he didn't give a damn about the people of Skyrim, which he didn't save a few he called friends. Of course he did know he'll have to save it from Alduin, but he just hated how everyone constantly expects things of him.
Rahgol then heard Malborn's voice calling to Elenwen, who turned to him. "What is it, Malborn?"
"It's just that we've run out of Alto wine. Do I have the permission to uncork the Arenthia red…" Lamborn said, causing Elenwen to sneer at him.
"Of course. I've told you before not to bother me with such trifles." She said.
"Yes, Madame Ambassador…" Malborn said slowly. Elenwen then turned towards Rahgol.
"My apologies. We'll have to get better acquainted later. Please, enjoy yourself." She began to walk away and the Dragonborn noticed her whispering something in one of the guards, probably to keep an eye around Rahgol. He turned towards Malborn as he began to whisper.
"You made it in, good. As soon as you distract the guards, I'll open this door and we can get you on your way. Let's hope we both live through this day." He said nervously.
"Leave the distraction to me." Rahgol said with a smirk as he noticed a man eyeing a pretty lady ina familiar way and knew how he was going to cause a distraction. He then walked over to the man and made one little comment that maybe the woman wanted him as well considering he saw her eye him a few seconds ago, which caused the man to grow excited and walk over to talk to the woman, who wasn't actually interested which started a whole bunch of mess.
Rahgol chuckled a little and quietly and carefully snuck over to Malborn who waited by the door that led to the kitchen. "Good distraction." Malborn commented as they went through the door and Malborn closed it before anyone could notice them. We need to pass through the kitchen. Your gear is hidden in the larder. Just stay close and let me do any talking, got it? Follow me."
When Malborn opened the door, Rahgol saw a Khajiit woman cooking something. While Rahgol rushed towards the larder, Malborn began to distract her. Rahgol smirked as he grabbed his Ebony Blade. He walked out one of the doors and heard Thalmor soldiers in another room speaking. He unsheathed the Ebony Blade and smirked in a almost predatory manner.
"Guess I'll be spilling blood while I'm here." Rahgol muttered to himself as he walked into the room and impaled one of the Thalmor soldiers, which startled and surprised the others for a second before they unsheathed their weapons and charged at Rahgol who blocked and parried their blows before easily killing them.
He made his way through the Embassy, searching for anything that links the Thalmor to the Dragons' return, though in his opinion they had nothing to do with it. Alduin had returned somehow and was bringing back her fellow Dragons, but Delphine clearly didn't see the big picture and blamed the Thalmor.
Rahgol continued through the Embassy, killing any Thalmor soldier in his path that tried to stop him, eventually he came to a prison room which he knew was the dungeons due to the cells here. Rahgol went downstairs and searched a chest, finding a Dossier on himself, to which the Thalmor wanted him alive and captured for who knows what but they'll never get him as long as he has anything to say about it. He then found something about a guy named Esbern hiding in Riften, but nothing that links the return of the Dragons and the Thalmor together.
He was right. The Thalmor had nothing to do with the Dragons, not even Alduin's return. He had a feeling about it, Alduin's return was her own doing somehow.
Taking the dossiers, Rahgol went to leave but spotted Thalmor soldiers on the upper balcony with a handcuffed and restrained Malborn and a smirking Elenwen.
"I'm quite pleased that you are in the Embassy. We can get valuable information from you…" She said with a smirk.
Rahgol smirked. "i only got three words for you, sweetheart. FUS RO DAH!" The Unrelenting Force blew the Thalmor and Elenwen into the wall hard enough to knock them out. Mlaborn quickly grabbed a key to unlock his restraints. "Come on, Malborn. We're getting out of here."
After freeing a prisoner from his cell, Rahgol, Malborn, and the former prisoner escaped the Embassy through a doorway that led to a Frost Troll cave, but they killed the troll, then exited the cave where they split up. Rahgol was walking, going to make his way past the Embassy entrance then run for it, but the Thalmor soldiers came storming out and surrounded him, Elenwen standing at the door with a smirk.
"Come quietly, Dragonborn, or this will only get worse." She said with a smirk that Rahgol wanted to wipe off. Rahgol held his sword in his hand, knowing he was outnumbered and had nowhere to go.
Then something roared.
"What was that?!" Elenwen yelled while everyone looked around in confusion, everyone except Rahgol who smirked at hearing that familiar roar.
"You guys didn't get the hint." Rahgol said, causing the Thalmor to look at him. "There's only one that can kill me...and she doesn't like to share."
As he said that, a torrent of fire came bearing down on the soldiers surrounding Rahgol who ducked to the floor before he looked up in time to see Alduin herself landing on all four and sending the Elves back with her wings and tail, stomping on any that was too close to her. She then looked at Rahgol.
"How many times must I come and save you, little Dovahkiin?" Alduin asked, amused.
"I like to get into trouble." Rahgol said jokingly, making her chcukle befor eit died as she glared at the Thalmor.
"Meyus mal fahliil... Never try to kill what is a Dragon's prey." Alduin snarled before she unleashed her fire on a group of Thalmor soldiers while Rahgol started slciing and cutting down another group. Elenwen made her escape as the other Thalmor soldiers either follishly took the duo on or made the right choice by running as Alduin sent a large fireball at the Embassy which destroyed it.
"Woah..." Rahgol said, a little in awe at the power of the World-Eater...and a little turned on.
Alduin huffed as she shook her head. "Annoying ants, thinking they can harm me?" She turned to regard Rahgol and he did the same. "So, we meet again after a few months and I find you in trouble like a little hatchling getting into trouble."
Rahgol rolled his eyes. "Not my fault. I was doing some investigation."
Alduin snorted. "Don't expect me to save your pathetic life again. Be thankful I want you to live until our fight arrives."
"And when will that be?" Rahgol asked with narrowed eyes.
Alduin paused and looked at him. "When you have proven you are strong enough to stand a chance against me...or stand beside me."
"What?" Rahgol blinked.
"Come now, Rahgol, why do all these pathetic requests for the mortals?" Alduin asked as she inched closer and lowered her head until her snout was an inch away from Rahgol's face, which caused him to slightly blush at having her beautiful face in his own, a blush Alduin noticed and found amusing but made no comment about it. "Don't you wish to be free of the burdens they give you? The expectations they constantly place upon your shoulders?"
"Of course I do! I have considered your words from that day we met again near Windhelm." Rahgol said, getting Alduin's attention. "Believe me, a large part of me is wishing to become a Dragon and be free of a mortal life...but I can't. I know what has to happen. I know we have to fight."
"We don't have to." Alduin said softly as she lifted a claw to gently caress his cheek, her gaze soft before it hardened. "But if that is what you want...then you shall have it. A shame, I really wanted you by my side, Rahgol."
"Maybe in another life." Rahgol said softly, trying to ignore how his heart was beating at her offer. Alduin stared at him for a few moments before she flew off into the air. Rahgol watched her go, feeling a tear come to his eye which surprised him. Why was he so down at rejecting Alduin like this? What was going on with him? As he walked on, he came to a halt as he realized something.
He had fallen in love with Alduin...
DUN! DUN! DUN! Rahgol has fallen in love with Alduin, but does she feel the same? Clearly if she's offering him to stand by her side, but she obviously refuses to admit she loves him due to her stubborn nature and being a Goddess, plus him being mortal and her arch-enemy and the one destined to fight her.
Dragon tongue translation.
Meyus mal fahliil (Foolish Little elves.)