AN: I've decided to do something a little different here than what I normally do, but I've wanted to write something about Odahviing for the longest time. I've looked through the Skyrim archive before, and I was absolutely stunned that there were so few stories with one of the four main dragons (Alduin, Odahviing, Paarthurnax, Durnehviir) as the main POV.

Well, I decided to fix that. This isn't going to be an actual story, but rather a collection of topics and Odahviing's thoughts on them as he lives his life. I have no idea how many of these I'll do, but I've got ideas for four others right now. If anyone has any ideas or topics they would like to see explored, send me a review or pm.

For background, the dovahkiin is female (pick the race you want, I never specify it) and has done all of the main storylines in the game. So this takes place about five years or so after Alduin's defeat.

Disclaimer: I do not own Skyrim.

On the Past

He honestly hadn't expected his life to take such an odd turn. Alduin had been his lord and master—his thuri—and he had served him loyally across the ages. So as he watched the old one training a few of the more open-minded dov in his 'way of the voice,' he couldn't help but join in his own form of self-reflection from his perch on the very summit of the Monahven.

In ages past, he had been one of Alduin's most trusted lieutenants. Before the uprising, he had been worshipped as all dov were and had many mortal servants at his beck and call. He had been gifted his own territory by Alduin himself, and because of the favor shown to him by their thuri, he also had the respect of all lesser dov. But that was to be expected as one of the few privileged enough to have Alduin's ear, for even the first born of Akatosh, who ruled his subjects with an iron claw, knew the value of having trusted advisors. And that is why no one crossed him, as doing so was not only an insult to him, but to their thuri as well.

And during the uprising, he had been entrusted with some of the most important and critical missions to ensure their victory. Most of the time that meant crushing some of the more influential members of the rebellion, for killing the ones in charge was always a blow to enemy morale. Other times, Alduin would charge him with keeping their own forces in charge. They had had enough problems without an overly-ambitious young dov or dragonpriest causing them even more troubles.

He always succeeded in his missions, cementing his reputation as one of the fiercest and strongest of the dov. Which is why it was he Alduin had entrusted to find the one responsible for sharing their language with the mortals. As the ability to shout was unique only to the dov, only a traitor to their kind could teach their enemies this most sacred of powers.

He took a moment to glance down at Paarthurnax as the old dov sat perched in his usual spot atop the ancient word wall. Of all the potential traitors he had suspected, the one dragon Alduin trusted even more than he had not been one of them. Though, looking back it seemed obvious. Paarthurnax had always had a soft spot for the mortal races, but like Alduin, he had been foolish and naïve enough to trust him.

After Alduin's defeat, dov were starting to be slaughtered in an ever increasing rate. His thuri always said that defeating the enemies leaders and heroes was the surest way to victory as the ensuing chaos from the lack of leadership and crumbling morale would cripple their ability to fight back. And so it was that Alduin's defeat left the dov scattered, divided, and leaderless. The mortals had won, and so he had committed the unthinkable…

He fled.

The shame he had felt at fleeing from their former slaves was unbearable, but even that was nothing against the hatred and anger he felt towards the one who had caused this. Even now, despite the many years he had coexisted peacefully with the old one, he still held a spark of that fire within him. Paarthurnax had betrayed his kind and allowed almost all of their brethren to be slaughtered, yet he sat here atop this mountain safe from the same fate that had claimed all the rest.

He may coexist with him, and he spoke true when he said he wished Paarthurnax luck in turning others from Alduin's path, but that didn't mean he liked the old dov. And though he was sure Paarthurnax knew of his simmering anger with him, the old one never brought it up. Rather, he left him alone. And that was perfectly fine with him.

As he thought upon Paarthurnax's betrayal and what followed, his thoughts turned to the day he himself had finally been found and killed. He had survived for a long time—longer than most, in fact—but the Akaviri, and later the Blades, had been relentless, chasing him from one corner of Tamriel to another. In the end, however, he realized he couldn't escape his fate. As one of Alduin's top lieutenant, they had hunted him with a ferocity and hatred that proved stronger than him. And so he fell. Powerful he may have been, he died the same way as all the dov before him…at the end of an Akaviri sword.

Such somber and unpleasant memories made him take a deep breath as he look up to the clear, blue skies above. A strange mix of emotions began to fill him: guilt, regret…sadness. Such emotions were uncommon for a dov to experience, but he had noticed that he had been experiencing them a little more frequently lately. And all the reasons for that stemmed from the same source…

Her.

When he was first captured, the idea of serving a mortal—even the dovahkiin—was absolutely ludicrous! But after she had voiced the suggestion, he remembered the doubt he felt, though…it wasn't at her. No, she had proven her cunning by trapping him, her influence by persuading the Jarl to assist her, and her strength by defeating Alduin on this very peak he now called home. It had been Alduin that he doubted back then, and after his final destruction in Sovngarde, he knew that his doubt had been well-founded.

But at that point in time, Alduin was still very much alive. He had served his thuri loyally for centuries, so why did he suddenly have these doubts? As he sat trapped in his…humiliating position as he waited for the dovahkiin to consider his offer to take her to Skuldafn, he had his own time to think.

Alduin's defeat at her hands wasn't the only reason he had doubted him, though it had been the turning point in his decision. He remembered Alduin as a strong, cunning leader with intricate plans and several contingencies to account for unexpected obstacles. However, it seemed his banishment had changed him. When he returned, it quickly became apparent that his thuri had no plan. All he cared for was his revenge. He didn't care for the dovah that the dovahkiin slayed anymore. And no longer did he welcome his council. It seemed Paarthurnax's betrayal had made him paranoid, and as he thought more on his thuri's behavior, he realized with some form of sorrow that Alduin had slipped into madness during his banishment.

It was…difficult to accept that when he first realized it but accept it he did. And just as the dovahkiin agreed to his offer, he agreed to serve her, knowing that she had proven herself as the strongest of them all.

"OD AH VIING!"

Speaking of which…

Without hesitation, he leapt into the air, his wings catching the air currents and began making his way to where her thu'um had originated. Yes, his life had taken a rather odd turn, but perhaps that wasn't so bad.

AN: Hopefully, everyone found that at least somewhat interesting. Like I said, I'm not sure how many of these I'll actually do, but the more people interested in them, the more attention I'll put on these.

Until Next Time

AdmiralCole22