A/n: Okay, so I re-uploaded this story because I'm at a point where I'm comfortable posting more characters to this story. There will be other characters as time goes on and this will transform into a crossover eventually. The rating is M and while there is currently nothing bad except for death and theft, later on there will be talk of slavery, abuse, and sex. All of the Dovahzul was translated from English to Dovazul using the Legacy Translator from . If it's wrong, please don't PM me or write a review about it, I know it may be wrong. I have no way of making it grammatically correct.
Enjoy the story
XXX
The blizzard whipped around the stone as ice fell. One could barely hear the knocking on the iron doors of High Hrothgar. Apprentice Einarth had been meditating in the main hall when the first knock passed softly, being mistaken for the wind. But the knocks grew more incessant, being more than ice and snow, and finally prompted the apprentice to rise from his place and open the door.
A young man carrying a bundle close to his chest fell through the partially open door, and it was shut behind him. He panted and bled, his skin black from being unprotected in the storm for too long. There would be no saving him from his fate, all the magic held within the stone walls could not help him now.
He offered up the bundle to the robed man. "She is the Dragonborn," he wheezed, his voice, like the rest of him, was exhausted. "Her name is Adrayla." And with that he passed into Oblivion.
Einarth opened the bundle that had been given to him and nearly dropped it in surprise. Sleepy silver eyes looked up at him as black/purple scale wings stretched to cover the exposed pink skin of its belly. The tip of a tail rested near two small horns that protruded from the head where soft snow white hair sat atop. The rest of the babe was as a newborn should look: arms, hands, fingers, legs, feet, toes, though bits of scale did appear in patches over those areas.
He brought the waking babe to the others who had gathered behind him. It was agreed that the creature would be taken to Parthunax when the storm died down. The shouts would no doubt wake her, but in the mean time she could rest.
Master Birger and Apprentice Arngeir took the child to the top of the mountain. "Master," they said bowing to the dragon that had made its home at the Throat of the World. "This child has been presented to us." Arngeir uncovered the babe and set it before the grand master.
Parthunax's golden scale enchanted the small creature as he looked over it. "This being is a Dovahjud, a Dragon Queen. Only one is ever in power at a time. I had not realized the Jud had found her fin sil." He raised his head to look upon his students. "There has never been a human born Jud. She must stay with us. Learn to control ek thu'um, ek kopraan, ek hahdrim."
"As you wish, master," Arngeir said collecting the child. He and his master made their way back down the mountain, and gave the news to their brothers of their masters orders.
XXX
A teenaged looking Adrayla sat cross legged before Parthunax, hair tied back in braids around her horns, her wings nestled comfortably on her back, her tail lazily swaying behind her. "Dovthur, rul zu'u los joor ahrk Jud, fod fen zu'u dir?" (Literal translation: 'Dragonmaster, if I am mortal and Queen, when will I die?')
The grandmaster lowered his head to rest it before her. "Krosis, zu'u mindok ni. Fin dovah lehney mahfaeraak, nut fin dovahkiin vod kotin fin ruz suleyhsejun gein do pogaan miiraad. Nust aal kos vey tum ko grah uv nust aal siiv fin sil." (I do not know. The dragons live forever, but the Dragonborns can pass into the next realm one of many paths. They may be cut down in battle or they may find the soul.)
She tilted her head to the side. "'Fin sil'?" (The soul?)
He closed his eyes in thought. "Fin zeymahsin do mahfaeraak." (The companion of forever.)
"Ahrk ruz." (And then?)
"Nust lahney fin laas do fin sil erei dinok." (They live the life of the soul until death.)
"Dreh nust mindok fod nust lox fin sil?" (Do they know when they have the soul?)
"Zu'u mindok ni." (I know not.) He lifted his head and looked to the skies. "It will soon be time, Maldov. Tiid los meyz." (Little dragon. Time is turning.)
She stood and bowed to him before retreating back to High Hrothgar.
XXX
The Greybeards stood in front of her. "Now, dragonborn, it is time for your journey to begin. Find the ruins of Ustengrav and bring back the horn of Jurgen Windcaller. Then you shall prove ready to face your next trials."
A twenty-something looking Adrayla stood before them in leather armor, a simple bow and quiver at her back, an iron sword and dagger on her hips. "Yes, masters." In truth she would be 68-years next week. As she left she thought on her life in the castle of the Greybeards. She had been with them since she had been born. She had known no other people aside from her masters and a former student, Ulfric Stormcloak.
She had spent years atop the Throat with Parthunax learning about being the Dovahjud, and learning how to blend in with men by creating a thu'um for her to use. This made her horns, wings, tail, and scales disappear giving her a completely human look. Though she was most comfortable in her own appearance she could also turn herself into a full dragon, all purple and black, her wings attaching to her arms, growing to be just smaller than her dov master.
Her average height and moderately heavy, full human form was somewhat claustrophobic in the tight armor. Her body was used to the freedom the mountain gave her in her natural form.
She had little gold and fewer possessions; Master Arngeir had traded with one of the villagers below every year for her day of birth. She had been given mostly books on the world below, but she was once given an amulet of Talos that helped her with her thu'um. It now hung around her neck under her armor.
She ran west down the mountain side, bypassing the 7,000 steps, to the town of Riverwood. Surely someone in town would be in need of some help.
XXX
She stood with Gormlaith, to her right, Hakon and Felldir on her left as the mist cleared infront of them. Alduin took of from the peak of Sovngarde and crashed onto the ground below. "You are brave, Dovahkiin, to come to Sovngarde and face me. But now I shall kill you and devour your soul as I have many others."
Adrayla sheathed her sword and disarmed. "Hi los ni onik us bo wah zu'u, Alduin." She began taking off her leather armor. "Zu'u los ni Dovahkiin." She stood before him bare, her skin taking on its natural scale form. "Zu'u los Dovahjud." (You are not wise to go against me. I am not Dovahkiin. I am Dovahjud.)
She ran at him, commanding the heroes who had joined her to attack as she turned into a full dragon. As they fought in the air, the heroes attacked both dragons in the air. Though they knew one was there to help defeat the other, they had no time to discern one from the other.
In the air, Alduin attempted to resist the pulling call to obey his queen, and succeeded rather well for a time. Then she reared her head back used Dragonrend against him and they crashed to the ground in front of the Hall of Valor. "Hi los mul, nuz hi lost meyz wuth ahrk kod nau joor sil. Rotmulaag kreh ko dii sil, ahrk zu'u kod nii voth fin dun do pogaan dovah," she said to him before she broke his jaw. (You are strong, but you have become old and useless on mortals souls. The words of power twist in my soul, and I wield it with the skill of many dragons.)
She finished Alduin by biting into the soft underside of his jaw, ignoring his feeble attempts to push her off. Then the gods stretched down their hands an began tearing the flesh from his bones much like when they destroyed other dragons in Skyrim, though this time his soul was absorbed by the gods in lieu of Adrayla. When the flesh had been stripped the bones began to disintegrate and their dust was swept up into the sky, and Adrayla changed into her human form.
As the dust settled, Tsun approached her. "That was a mighty deed! The doom of Alduin encompassed at last, and cleansed is Sovngarde of his evil snare. They will sing of this battle in Shor's hall forever. But your fate lies elsewhere. When you have completed your count of days, I may welcome you again, with glad friendship, and bid you join the blessed feasting."
The three hero's who had assisted in Alduin's demise cried behind her. "All hail the Dragon Queen! Hail her with great praise!"
Tsun continued, "Return now to Nirn, with this rich boon from Shor, my lord: a Shout to bring a hero from Sovngarde in your hour of need." The words were gifted to her as she would study a word wall. "And this also, an armor and weapons set, blessed by the gods, that you mat survive any ill attack." He handed her a bulky bundle that she held close to herself in awe.
Tsun took a few steps back and shouted at her. "Nahl...Daal...Vus!"
XXX
She waited for Brynjolf to draw attention to the marketplace before she began to pick the lock on Madesi's stall. After she obtained his ring, she snuck behind Brand-Shei, waited for a guard to be watching, and slipped it into the unsuspecting Dunmers pocket. The guard caught her. She didn't even feel sorry to pay the fine.
"I guess I expected too much from you," Brynjolf said after she was released. "I didn't think you'd get pinched." He shrugged but continued. "Can't say I'm surprised with the way things have been going around here."
"What's been going on?"
"Bah," he exclaimed pushing his hand through the air as though to throw the thought away. "My organization's been having a run of bad luck, but I suppose that's just how it goes. But never mind that, even though you fouled up the job I still think you've got the spark I'm looking for." She tilted her head to the side interested. "There's plenty of gold out there for the taking... if your up to the challenge."
She thought for a moment. Since she had left High Hrothgar after the battle with Alduin, money had been tight. She had left her masters to travel the land she had saved. That was two years ago. She had lived off the land, but longed for a more permanent residence. "The money's nice, but I don't know..."
"Look, I'll make it simple for you. The group I represent has its home in the Ratway beneath Riften... a tavern called the Ragged Flaggon. When you make up your mind, come find me there and we'll talk about your future."
XXX
She ran up to Snow Veil Sanctum and met up with Mercer Frey. "Good your finally here. I've scouted the ruins and I'm certain Karliah is still inside."
"You saw her," Adrayla asked as she pulled her unbundling hair from her face, seriously wondering if anyone so experienced could be so careless.
"No, I found her horse. Don't worry, I've taken care of it... she won't be using it too escape. Let's get moving. I want to catch her inside while she's distracted. Take the lead." Adrayla nodded. "Just make certain you keep your eyes open. Karliah is as sharp as a blade. The last thing I need is you blundering into a trap and warning her we're her."
She nodded again and ran up the mound, then jumped down to the entrance of the Ancient Nordic burial site. Mercer followed her using the stairs. She noticed the iron barred door. "How could she get past this?"
"They say that these ancient Nordic burial grounds are sometimes impenetrable. This one doesn't look too difficult," he said as he gently pushed her aside to fiddle with the door lock. "Quite simple really. I don't know what the fuss is about these locks. All it takes is a bit of know-how and a lot of skill." He stood and gestured her inside. "That should do it. After you."
XXX
The Nord woke and sat up quickly on a bed roll, reaching for her dagger. A Dunmer woman in thieves guild armor steadied her. "Easy, easy. Do this get up so quickly. How are you feeling?"
Adrayla felt her stomach where Mercer had stabbed her. "I'm fine, I think." She looked up to the other woman. "Hold on... you shot me!"
"No," Karliah said in a huff. "I saved your life. My arrow was tipped with a paralytic poison. It slowed your heart and kept you from bleeding out. Had I intended to kill you, we wouldn't be having this conversation."
Adrayla nodded and stood with the other woman's help. "Why save me?"
"My original intention was to use that arrow on Mercer, but I never had a clear shot. I made a split second decision to get you out of the way and it prevented your death," Karliah said as she handed over the Nords weapons.
"Then I'm in your debt."
"More than you'll ever realize," the Mer said ruefully. "The poison on that arrow took me a year to perfect; I only had enough for a single shot. All I had hopped was to capture Mercer alive."
"Why capture Mercer alive?"
"Mercer must be brought before the Guild to answer for what he's done. He needs to pay for Gallus's murder."
"How will you prove it now," Adrayla asked as she secured her bow over her quiver.
"My purpose in using Snow Veil Sanctum to ambush Mercer wasn't simply for irony's sake. Before both of you arrived, I recovered a journal from Gallus's remains. I suspect the information we need is written inside," she said pulling a tattered and decaying book from her cuirass, and holding it out to the other woman.
"Well, what's it say?" She took the journal gingerly, not wanting to cause the broken binding to drop any pages.
"I wish I knew. The journal is written in some sort of language I've never seen before."
"Perhaps it could be translated," She postulated as she gently picked through the pages.
Karliah put her hand to her mouth and folder her other arm underneath her chest in thought. "Einthir... Gallus's friend at the Collage of Winterhold. Of course..." she saw the Nord woman's confusion and explained. "It's the only outsider Gallus trusted with the knowledge of his Nightingale identity."
"There's that word again, 'Nightingale'."
"There were three of us," The Dunmer said dropping her arms. "Myself, Gallus, and Mercer. We were an anonymous splinter of the Theives Guild in Riften. Perhaps I'll tell you more about it later. Right now, you need to head for Winterhold with the journal and get the translation." She stopped the other woman before she could hurry away. "Here, take these as well, they may prove useful for your journey," she said as she handed over several potions.
XXX
Adrayla led the way silently through the doors of Irkngthand, Brynjolf and Karliah followed after her, their own weapons drawn. The spotted Mercer upon the face of the ancient Snow Elf statue. "He's here and he hasn't seen us yet. Brynjolf, watch the door." Karliah gave the orders in an authoritarian whisper to the two new recruits.
"Aye, lass. Nothing's getting by me," The red haired Nord said as he turned his attention to his task assuring both no falmer would join them from the outside and that Mercer could not escape either.
The Dunmer turned to the other Nord. "Climb down that ledge and see if you can..."
"Karliah, when will you learn you can't get the drop on me?" Mercer turned to the trio with an uncaring drawl and a relaxed stance against the statues chin. He cast a spell he had charged in his hand that shook the entire cavern, causing Adrayla to fall from the ledge and away from her companions. Mercer dropped down to a book the statue had rested on its knee. "When Brynjolf brought you before me I could feel a sudden shift in the wind. And at that moment, I knew it would end with one of us at the end of a blade."
"Give me the Key, Mercer," Adrayla said as she slowly reached for her bow.
"What's Karliah been filling your head with? Tales of thieves with honor? Oaths rife with falsehoods and broken promises? Nocturnal doesn't care about you, the Key or anything having to do with the Guild."
She scoffed at the former Guild Master, her words biting with repressed anger. "It's not about Nocturnal. This is personal."
"Revenge is it? Have you learned nothing with your time with us? When will you open your eyes and realize how little my actions differ from yours? Both of us lie, cheat and steal to further our own end."
"The difference is I still have honor," she spat at him.
"It's clear you'll never see the Skeleton Key as I do... as an instrument of limitless wealth. Instead you've chosen to fall over your own foolish code."
"If anyone falls, it will be you," she said finally getting a grip on her bow but being unable to reach an arrow.
"Then the die is cast, and once again my blade will taste Nightingale blood!" He cast another spell to the dislocated pair before he drew his blades. "Karliah I'll deal with you after I've rid myself of your irksome companion. In the mean time, perhaps you and Brynjolf should get better acquainted."
"What... what's happening..." Brynjolf cried as he began to attack his Bosmer companion. "I can't stop myself."
"Damn you, Mercer," she snarled. "Fight it, Brynjolf. He's taken control of you," she said as she defended herself.
"I'm sorry lass, I can't."
The Nordic woman wasted no more time and pulled the bow from her back and an arrow from its quiver. Mercer had disappeared from view, so she looked for the telltale fluctuations of an invisibility spell. She let lose an arrow and brought him down to his knees. A second arrow made him drop his daggers. She approached him, arrow pointed to his head. "For the Guild," she said before she shot him in the eye.
Irkngthand had begun to fill with water. As the water rose the trio had searched for a way out. A great yell Adrayla had recognized as her Masters, dislodged many rocks in the ceiling of the cavern, creating an opening to escape from.
As soon as they were free, the Dovahjud turned to her fellow Nightengales. "I must go. I shall return the key when I am finished with what ever it is my Masters bid me do." Then she fled to heed the call.
Her gigantic stallion was waiting for her outside. She didn't know how he always knew where she would be, but she was always pleased to see him waiting there for her. The seven foot tall hauling horse was a half foot taller than her. His black coloring was a point for her as it contrasted beautifully with her natural white hair and the purple coloring of her scales blended wonderfully when she felt the need to be in her natural form.
She had taken lots of care with him to accept her in all her forms. It had taken several months for him to be calm in her full dragon form, but it was essential that he was able to take her into battle against other dragons who still resisted her commands. She named him Markku, which meant 'Rebellious', for his nature to do what he wanted at times.