Disclaimer: I do not own the Elder Scrolls, I own nothing.
-16th of the Last Seed, 4th Era 202-
Rahgol arrived in Whiterun and shifted back to his human form before entering. Even when he shifts his armour stays on when he reverts back to human form, so at least he didn't have to worry about destroy his armour upon changing. Rahgol's first stop in Whiterun was Jorrvaskr. When he arrived, he was greeted by the Companions.
"It's time?" Vilkas asked, Rahgol nodded.
"Yes." Rahgol looked at every one of his Companion friends. "I hope you are all prepared for what is to come. I am honored that you want to fight for my cause. I shouldn't have asked for this, but I had to."
"We'll always fight alongside you. Not because you're Harbinger, or even Dragonborn, but because you're our friend." Aela stated. Rahgol nodded at her, while smiling at her words. "Just do us a favour...come back alive."
Rahgol shrugged. "I can't see the future. If I die...I'll die taking her down with me." He hated to talk about killing Alduin but knew he had to do so. The fate of the world comes before hie selfish feelings.
Rahgol left the Companions and went to Dragonsreach where Balgruuf, Lydia, Irileth and a few guards were waiting.
"Really wish I had that armour." Lydia huffed, looking at the Dragonbone armour Rahgol wore.
Rahgol smirked at her teasingly."Sorry, only a Dragonborn can have this privilege of wearing Dragonbone armor." He looked at Balgruuf. "Are the preparations made?"
Balgruuf nodded. "Just waiting for you to call the Dragon here." Balgruuf led them to the balcony of Dragonsreach and Rahgol looked around, seeing a guard at a switch that will pull down the trap on the Dragon."My men are ready and the great chains are oiled. They're yours to command."
"Here we go." Rahgol said before he got started, knowing which Dragon he should call. "ODAHVIING!" The whole of Dragonsreach trembled at the shout. It was silent for a few seconds before there was a roar in response, then a familiar red Dragon landed on the balcony in front of Rahgol, crushing a guard in the process but Odahviing didn't seem to notice of care.
"Dovahkiin, we meet again." Odahviing said with some surprise in his voice before he looked up at the trap and chuckled. "You summoned me here in the hopes of trapping me? Kril... nuz meyus. I do not come here as an enemy. I did not come here to test my Thu'um against yours...I came here to acknowledge my new leader."
This surprised everyone with Rahgol raising an eyebrow. "Really? And what has made you betray Alduin? Last I checked, you were her loyal commander."
Odahviing gave a small sigh. "You have proven yourself worthy enough since I last saw you. I felt your Thu'um become stronger upon your...change." Rahgol had a surprised look for a second. "Yes, I felt and sensed that. No doubt Alduin has to, even in Sovngarde. You wish to go there? To her portal?"
Rahgol nodded. "Yes. I may have my own wings now...but I don't know where Alduin's base of operations is located."
Odahviing hummed at this. "And so you need my help. Her door to Sovngarde is at Skuldalfn, one of her ancient fanes high in in the eastern mountains. I will carry you there."
Rahgol nodded. "Very well. I'll trust your word." Odahviing nodded and faced the balcony while Rahgol said his goodbyes to those he cared for. Rahgol looked at Lydia who was...crying?
'Well that's a surprise.' Rahgol thought before speaking. "Lydia...I thank you for the adventures we had together. You are one of my greatest friends and I couldn't wish for a better Housecarl."
"If you don't come back, I'm going to find my way to Sovngarde to kill you myself!" She stated. Rahgol just smiled and they embraced before stepping back. Lastly, Rahgol looked at Balgruuf, Irileth and the guards behind those two.
"The future of Tamriel is in your hands Dragonborn." Balgruuf said. Rahgol nodded at his response. Irileth and Rahgol shared a few glances, giving each other their respect.
"Krosis, I do not mean to interrupt, but it is wise to begin our journey towards Skuldafn. It will take quite some time." Odahviing suddenly said, spread his wings, making the room radiate reddish glow because of the reflection of the light off his scales.
Rahgol walked over and Odahviing lowered his head so Rahgol could climb onto a space between the spines on his neck. Odahviing then took to the air with one flap of his wings and soon they were off. Rahgol looked back until he could no longer see Whiterun and closed his eyes, knowing this was it. He'll be faccing the Dragoness he loves and he may return with victory,..or may never return...
When Alduin opened her eyes, she found herself in a place for dreams...but it was one she knew all too well, and especially who was trying to speak with her like this. The very thought brought anger to her and she let out a growl while turning around to stare at the large golden dragon behind her.
Her father, Akatosh.
"Hello my daughter." Akatosh smiled softly at his daughter.
Alduin snarled. "You DARE speak to me after all this time?! Have you seen what has been done to me, my kind! The race YOU created! The mortals hunt us Dov down to the brink of extinction and yet you do NOTHING to prevent it! As if neglecting me during my childhood wasn't bad enough-"
"Alduin." A familiar motherly voice spoke, one that always calmed Alduin during her temper tantrums when she was younger. She turned around and beheld the beautiful form that was Mara, Alduin's mother. "Hello my sweet little one."
Alduin growled but it lacked the usual bite she just used when speaking to her father. "What do you both want?" She said with an irritated sigh. "I have things to do and an enemy to kill."
"Yes...the Dragonborn." Mara said with a knowing smile at her daughter as Alduin gave her a glare. "Alduin, i know full well about love and who feels, and even now you-"
"Don't." Alduin cut her mother off and turned from her parents. "I cannot feel like that for him! he's a mortal, I'm a Goddess! He's ny enemy! We're meant to battle and kill each other! It's...it;s just not right."
"Is that your mind or heart talking?" Mara asked pointedly and Alduin was silently because she knew the answer to that question...Her mind spoke the loudest while her heart yearned for the Dragonborn to be hers.
"you have a choice to make, Alduin." Akatosh said, causing Alduin to look at him with confusion. "One that will give you what you really want, what your heart wants, and not what your mind thinks is right."
Before Alduin can say anything, she found herself being brought back to the land of consciousness...
Normal POV
Odahviing arrived in Skuldalfn and landed, allowing Rahgol to climb off him. Rahgol looked at the place known as Skuldalfn. it resembled Labyrinthian. The same architecture consisting of massive stone arches that probably serve as resting spots for Dragons; stone bridges were around the place, so the people of old could walk around the place efficiently; massive stone stairs that were carved out of the stone in a very precise way and there were many pillars… with Dragons sitting on them. They were watching Rahgol.
"Dovahkiin, this is a sacred place. Your Dovah sos is increasing your senses. You sense it do you not?" Odahviing asked him and got a nod in response. "We all wait for your return...or Alduin's."
Rahgol said nothing and just walked, noticing a few Dragon younglings, hatchlings, hiding underneath the wings of their mothers. It was a heartwarming sight and brought images of Alduin with a hatchling at her side. He shook that image away and walked on.
Rahgol defeated any Draugr that stood in his way, cutting them down with his Dragonbone sword. It felt good to be back in his Dragonbone armour and wielding the weapons. After killing the Dragur, Rahgol walked on. None of the Dragons around bothered him, only watching him or remaining motionless with their eyes closed.
Rahgol quietly bypassed a small watchtower, slowly walking up the stairs and when he arrived at the top, he took in the view.
This city was ancient, very ancient and crumbling. The stones were a dull grey and by were the terrain has become rugged and unsteady. The once proud city of Skuldafn now looked so… lonely and forgotten. Small plants have begun to grow on the stone path that probably leads to the temple itself. The massive arches now seemed to look very fragile and ready to collapse at any moment.
Rahgol's gaze was cold as he continued to the entrance of the ruin, killing Dragur along the way until finally he arrived at a set of doors and entered them. Rahgol journeyed deeper into the ruin, killing anything that tried to kill him, walking up stairs and going through different ruins. He didn't look for anything of value here, he was here for one reason and was sticking to that reason.
Rahgol soon entered a room with three symbol pillars and frowned. He looked around and hummed to himself as he saw the symbols on the walls. He rearranged the symbols into the right order, unlocking a gate. He walked on, killing a few Skeletons and Spiders. Rahgol kept going deeper into the ruin, solving puzzle after puzzle, killing enemy after enemy, anything that came at him he took it head on with no fear.
Eventually, he came out to where the portal was and walked up the stairs, pausing when he saw a Dragon Priest up ahead. Nahkriin.
Nahkriin turned and said something in his language before pointing his staff at Rahgol, shooting a fireball at Rahgol who rolled out the way before he ran at the Dragon Priest who threw spell after spell, avoiding Rahgol's attacks.
"It's such a shame that Alduin has become weak and fragile. A failure. She has no authority anymore. I will take matters in my own hands." Nahkriin taunted, which just angered Rahgol and he charged at the Dragon Priest, duckinga fireball being thrown before he leaped at the Priest and in one swing of his sword...
He decapitated Nahkriin.
Rahgol sheathed his sword and picked up Nahkriin's mask, smirking before putting it away. Rahgol looked at the portal to Sovngarde before he jumped in...
Rahgol's eyes shot open befor ehe shut them due to a bright light. Eventually his eyes adjusted and he opened them to see where he was. There was a bright white light high up in the sky, as if it was a large portal that leads somewhere. Rings of small clouds were situated around the 'hole' and the hole was shooting large rays of purple and blue light towards the ground. Rahgol also noticed that there was an aurora here too, but the hole in the sky was so much spectacular. Even here, the stars were shining brightly in the dark blue sky.
He was standing on a path of natural stone with a cold breeze that followed the path itself. Snow and pine trees were everywhere, and it closely resembled the nights of Skyrim. However, this was not Skyrim, but Sovngarde, the land of the Nordic dead. Large stone statues of robed people lined the road, and a few large bones were protruding out of the ground. Rahgol decided to head down the path and see where it would bring him.
He kept walking through the mist, hearing Alduin's roar in the distance. He paused when a Stormcloak soldier ran out of the mist and in his direction, in fright probably. He paused upon seeing Rahgol though.
"Turn back traveler! Terror waits within mist!" The man said, obviously terrified. "Many have braved the shadowed vale but vain is all courage against the peril that guards the way."
"Who are you?" Rahgol asked him. The man gave a low bow, before finally speaking.
"Near Giants' Gap, in the gloom before dawn, we marched, unsuspecting into the Imperials' trap. Then we stood and fought, our shield-wall defending until dawn's light the Legion's ranks wavered. But I never knew if nights-end brought victory. A swift-flying arrow to Sovngarde carried me."
"What's this mist?" Rahgol then asked.
"I do not know, but none have passed through. Alduin, his hunger insatiable, hunts the lost souls snared within this shadowed valley. Can you lead the way to where Shor's Hall waits, beckoning us on to welcome long sought?"
Rahgol ignored the man getting Alduin's gender confused. He brushed past the man and walked through the mist. He had a mission to do. He paused when he saw Kodlak and the two briefly talked with each other until Rahgol continued on his way, finding a building which he belived was named Shor's Hall, with the skeleton of a whale as the bridge.
Rahgol noticed a lone man with long brown hair standing in front of a very large bridge made of bones. The man didn't have any armor on his chest; he was only wearing steel greaves and steel bracelets, a steel belt with a strange symbol on it and a brown loincloth.
"What brings you here, wayfarer grim, to wander here, in Sovngarde, souls-end, Shor's gift of honored dead?" He asked.
"Who are you?" Rahgol asked with narrowed eyes.
"I am Tsun, shield-thane to Shor. The Whalebone Bridge he bade me guard and winnow all those souls whose heroic end sent them here, to Shor's lofty hall where welcome, well earned, awaits those I judge fit to join that fellowship of honor. I ask you again, what brings you here?"
"My name is Rahgol, the Dragonborn, I pursue Alduin the World-Eater."
Tsun looked at Rahgol intently. "A fateful errand. No one knows what the Worm has been doing all this time. Alduin's soul-snare is hindered, but why? That answer I seek to find out."
Rahgol#s eyes narrowed. "Alduin is mine to face and defeat. No one else's. I'm no hero here looking for glory or fame or anything like that. I'm here because everyone else keeps fucking wanting me to without any regard for how I feel in this matter."
Tsun raised an eyebrow. "And how do you feel about this? You cannot allow selfish-"
"If you finish that sentence, I'll be your worst enemy." Rahgol growled as he glared at Tsun. "I get that I cannot allow my emotions to cloud my judgement...but it's MY life. I'll decide what clouds my mind. Not you, not the people of Skyrim, not the gods. I'm here for Alduin, nothing more."
"Then face me, Dovahkiin."
Rahgol and Tsun looked upon hearing the voice to see none other than Alduin herself looking down at them, her eyes firmly on the Dragonborn...
Damn, Rahgol's different than what you'd expect. Like I said, he's an Anti-Hero in a way, he doesn't care for anything that comes with being a hero, hell he doesn't even see himself as one. He's got a heavy heart because he's fighting the woman he loves.
Next chapter: As the Dragons begin attacking Skyrim, the final fight between Rahgol and Alduin begins.