Quick introduction.
This is the first work of Fanfic I've ever written. I started writing shorts just for fun during the summer of 2018, writing my own versions of some fights and battles. Just something to share with my brothers. But before I knew it the short stories started to connect to one another and hints of a story began to show, character were given personality and so on.

So I decided ¨fill in the blanks¨ between my stories and publish them here. After all, I've now spent far too many hours writing to not share it with others.

Without spoiling too much I can say I intend the story to get a darker tone as it progresses, I already have the ending figured out in my mind.
Since I'm a huge fan of the Elder Scrolls lore I intend my story to be lore-friendly, contain plenty of lore and focus on immersion and realism.

Give it a read and tell me what you think. And if you like it so far don't be afraid to follow my story as I write on.
The more readers I get the happier I'll be to write more.

Enjoy!

Skuldafn - Prologue

I felt so tired...

Surrounded by mountains I stood at the foot of Skuldafn. An ancient Nord temple, built by the dragon cult to worship the dragons, and a gateway to Sovngarde. I was the first man to set foot here in thousands of years.

Gazing at the giant temple I felt admiration towards the ancient Nords. It must have taken a hundred years to build this temple, the devotion and work needed. The Nords of today's era have nothing in comparison.

I spotted two dragons. One clinging to the walls of the temple, the other on the mountainside to my right. Both had seen me arrive and watched me with their yellow reptilian eyes.

Facing two dragons I felt surprisingly calm. Being all alone for once I had no need to hold back.

"STRUN BAH QO!"

The words echoed against the mountains and for a moment all turned silent and calm. The sky darkened, as heavy dark clouds formed blocking out the sun. A vortex of thunderclouds took shape above my head and heavy rain started to pour down against the stony ground, hard winds caused my gray cape to pull left and right. The air filled with a slight electric current, raising the hairs on my arms ever so slightly.

The earlier quiet valley had become loud with pounding rain and the roar of thunder and lightning.

The two dragons roared in response to my thu'um and took to the sky. With a bright flash, all was white, then a lightning bolt split the sky only to hit the closest dragon, causing it to spasm in the air, lose height and violently smash into the temple wall, continuing to crash onto the stony ground, a mere forty meters in front of me.

I drew my bow and let loose an arrow towards the beast. The arrow struck the dragon on the left side of its neck and imbedded itself in its scaly skin. As expected a single arrow had no more effect on the dragon than a nasty insect bite, only causing to anger the beast. The dragon moved onto its feet, bending its neck to face me. Its left wing was oddly bent underneath its large body.

Did it break its wing in the fall?

Knowing the dragon could no longer fly I drew my great axe and sprinted forward. Suddenly a wall of fire rushed towards me as the dragon roared.

"FEIM!"

My body turned astral as the word left my lips, flames passing through me like vision through glass. Knowing fully well the dragon could not see me inside the flames I kept running into the continuous stream of fire, closing the distance. Suddenly the feeling of heat as my body started to materialize. I went into a slide under the flames, gliding under its head. I swung my great axe, mid slide, right to left across the dragon's throat, a tested weak spot of the dragons. The dragon jerked its head and tried to roar in pain, but nothing but a loud gurgling sound was heard as it spewed blood and fell to its side, gasping for air. Blood pulsated from its throat as the main artery was severed.

"One down, one to go." I thought.

The sounds of bare feet. I looked left towards the stairs to the temple and saw a group of draugr running towards me, already dangerously close.

"FUS RO DAH!"

A wall of air flew towards the group of draugr, sending them flying back. I could hear bones break as they landed hard on the stairs. Before they had risen I had already switched back to my bow. Four successive arrows pierced their skulls, the draugr had been dealt with.

It was hard to see anything in the clouded sky as the rain poured in my eyes. I couldn't spot the second dragon. Had it fled? Or was it simply taking cover from the lightning, waiting for the weather to soothe? Well, I had no time to wait. Switching back to my great axe I began to ascend the stairs.

The rain fell heavily against the stone stairs, giving off a calming sound as I walked. I was already soaked through my armor.

My throat felt like sandpaper, and as I swallowed a sharp pain stung down my throat, causing me to cough. The Graybeards had warned me of overusing the thu'um. The Storm Call shout alone was enough to have a negative effect, and followed by two shouts in such a short time, it had taken its toll on my throat.

Seems I'm at my limit. I have to be careful from now on.

As I reached the top of the temple I was faced with a large opening, large enough to hold a house. Along the sides were two high pillared walls. On top of which stood another two dragons, one on each side. In front of me across the opening, a Dragonpriest stood atop an altar of sort, facing away from me. In front of the Dragonpriest was a circular beam of shimmering yellow and blue that rose high into the sky. The colors moved and intertwined across the portal, like how I'd imagine flames move underwater.

The portal to Sovngarde... That's where I need to go. Only two dragons and a Dragonpriest in between.

The dragon on the left had a golden yellow hue to its scales, the one on the right a frost blue and white. They had both seen me but they didn't move. They seemed to study me with their eyes as if they expected something from me. Or waited for something. They gave off an unsettling feeling, but as long as they didn't move...

The Dragonpriest turned and looked at me. He too was a big threat. With the open ground and no places for cover, I would be an easy target for his magic and spells. But like with any spellcasting opponent the trick was to close the distance and hit hard. But he was too far away for a sprint. I would be dead before I'd reach him.

The Dragonpriest raised his staff in the air, electricity and sparks streamed up and down his staff. In his other hand, he conjured orbs of fire, circling in his palm. Ready to be hurled at me.

I had to close the distance. Fast.

With both my hands I lifted my great axe above my head. Could I manage another shout? There was no choice. I had to. Or it would all end. So close to the end... No. I won't let it! I lifted my legs.

"WULD NAH KEST!"

In the blink of an eye, I dashed across the open ground, stopping eye to eye with the priest atop the altar, locking eye contact. He twitched in surprise, and with no time for him to react my axe came plunging diagonally down. Breaking through his left collarbone. Digging into his dried flesh. Splitting his spine and smashing his already dead corpse onto the stone floor.

A metallic taste filled my mouth and I dropped to one knee, coughing blood. Every couch felt like razor blades down my throat, my eyes watered and my lungs felt as if on fire. This is it.

For a moment I kneeled, trying to regain my strength. I felt tired. So tired. And I didn't remember the last time I had felt any other way. I spat a mouthful of blood and gathered my strength to rise. Using my left foot I pulled my axe out of the dead priest and turned to face the two dragons. To my surprise, they still hadn't moved. Why? it had been the perfect opening. They were still only observing me. Was it fear, holding them back? A newfound sense of respect? Did they want me to challenge Alduin?

A feeling of relief washed over me as they didn't seem hostile. I knew I wouldn't be able to shout until my throat had healed, and had they decided to attack. It would have been a losing fight.

I sheeted my axe and turned to the portal, staring down into the whirlpool of yellow and blue. Simply breathing now hurt. How had faith placed me here? Had I ever truly had a choice? Or had my path always been chosen, like Delphine and Esbern so stubbornly believe? When had the cogs of my destiny truly begun to turn? Perhaps I wouldn't be standing here if I never had answered the Graybeards summons? If I hadn't been there to slay that first dragon? Or had it all began long before that?

I closed my eyes and took a deep pained breath, relaxed my body and blindly stepped forward. My feet left the ground as I stepped over the edge and I fell into the deep swirling portal...