After Proventus had given him his small reward Kratos nodded at the Jarl, turned and strode out. Balgruuf sat for a time on his throne before beckoning Irileth over. "I want to know more about this man. Who he is, where he came from, anything you can find. He is not from Whiterun, we would know, as there is no way not to notice him. Ask the Companions and the merchants, perhaps they know something. He is 7 feet tall, pale as ash and covered in red tattoos. Someone will have something to say I am sure." He leaned forward, and stroked at his beard thoughtfully. "You may think me foolish, Irileth—"

"Never, my lord."

"But I have a feeling… I would rather have that man for me than against me. I'd wager he's more than capable. Send Farengar to me as well. Maybe this stranger can help us with that project." Irileth bowed, fist to heart, and hurried off to carry out her Jarl's will. Balgruuf sat, lost in his musing for quite some time. Something told him this was important. These were momentous times in which they were living. It would not be wise to give no heed to a warning spirit from the Divines.


Kratos entered the Bannered Mare and immediately winced at the bustle of activity inside. He saw on the quieter end of the inn a lone, small, unoccupied table and immediately made for it and sat down. A few moments later a harried seeming serving girl approached him somewhat tentatively. With a slight quaver she began, "Welcome to the Bannered Mare, best inn in all of Whiterun. We have stew and some fresh loaves and much to drink, of course. What can I bring you?"

"Food, please. And wine if you have it." The girl was a bit taken aback, his low quiet tone and stoic demeanor were certainly at odds with his appearance. His honey colored eyes also showed more soul than she would have expected.

She smiled brightly, "Of course! I'll bring that right out." As she bustled off Kratos leaned forward, elbows on the table, hands before his face. He sat lost in thought considering his situation. I may not need the dragon. If it uses something akin to the travel stone that I used to access the branches of Yggdrasil then I only need its key. There is no way to be sure for now. I need the beast or its method. I still know too little, have too few resources in this place, and inferior weapons. The barmaid returned, placing a large steaming bowl before him, a half loaf of crusty bread, a bottle and a large pewter tankard. "Here you are, sir. That will be five septims."

Kratos placed the coins in her hand with a nod, "I thank you." He ate quickly. He could go for long periods without eating, how long precisely he wasn't sure, but it was not pleasant. After finishing he uncorked the bottle and wafted it under his nose. He did not think it smelled like the wine of his home, but it had been so long that his memories had dimmed. He poured half the bottle into his tankard and drank. With a small, satisfied sigh he relaxed marginally. He was no drunkard, he did not believe that it was possible for him to be intoxicated, but he did enjoy the taste, the melancholy thoughts of his first home and the memory of sharing a carafe with his son. Soon he was done. At his gesture the barmaid returned. He held up a few more of the coins, "Another bottle, please." She quickly returned with another and he continued his reminiscing. Lost in the past he didn't notice the common room becoming rowdier.

He was snapped out of his reverie when he heard the barmaid snap, "No! Now let go of me!" Only few feet away a man had her by the wrist and was slowly reeling her in despite her tugs. Kratos could see the innkeeper across the loud, crowded room obliviously speaking with some of his guests.

"Now, now, Asta," slurred the man — a laborer by his dress, not that Kratos was any accurate judge — tugging her closer "I know you like me." With a disgusted noise Kratos stood and was there in single step, empty tankard still in hand.

Kratos stared down at the man, "Release her. Now." His voice was flat with menace. The man looked up, with the bravado of the very drunk or very foolish.

"Step off you pasty faced prick! This ain't any of your business." Kratos raised the tankard between them and with sudden violence crushed the heavy pewter tankard in his grip. The man gaped, his eyes popping as Kratos dropped the twisted ruin to the floor with an ominous thud.

His scowl deepened, "I will not ask you again." Both the man and barmaid seemed to have forgotten about the original situation, he looked at his hand on her wrist and dropped it as if it were red hot. Holding his hand out in a placating way he quickly made his escape. Kratos dug some more coins out of his pouch, "For the mug. And a room if I am still welcome." He said holding out the coins. Asta flinched back slightly from his hand and she saw… something… flicker across his face when she did. Kratos nodded slightly and turned to leave.

Asta reached out immediately and caught his arm, "No! Of course, you are welcome to stay. And moreover you have my thanks. Would you like me to show you to your room?" Kratos glanced around the room and saw many of the patrons suddenly very engrossed in their mead.

Kratos let out a tiny sigh, "I think that would be best."

The rising sun found him sitting on the steps to Dragon's Reach and enjoying the morning stillness, absent-mindedly honing the blade of his axe with practiced motions. His focus was on his breathing rather than his weapon, the repetitive motion serving more as a meditative focus than anything else. He returned to himself, observing the city's increasing number on the streets and returned his axe to his back. It was time then to return to the Jarl and see what he knows of dragons. He turned and began climbing the steps to Dragon's Reach. The guardsmen nodded and to him and without a word opened the doors of the hall. Kratos entered and saw the Jarl was sitting at one of the tables before the dais, food before him, in conversation with the svartalf, Irileth. The Jarl noticed him as well and immediately waved him over.

Balgruuf gestured to the place across from him, "Please sit, friend. First, I must remedy an oversight on my part. In my concern for Riverwood, I never asked your name."

After a moment's hesitation that was not lost on the Jarl, "I am called Kratos." He sat across from the Jarl, hands resting on his thighs.

"Well, Kratos, you are a man of singular skills it appears if somewhat unknown, and I would wager you don't lack for courage." He paused, as most adventurers would take the chance to say something of their bravery or exploits, and was met only with a stoic expression. Clearing his throat he continued, "Farengar, my court wizard has been researching dragons," Balgruuf's sharp eyes noted Kratos' focus sharpen at that, "and he needs an artifact recovered to continue. Would you be willing to assist us?"

Kratos nodded immediately, "Yes. I will help."

"Excellent! I'll have Farengar give you the particulars himself. I imagine that would be best." After receiving some additional detail from the wizard, Kratos set out immediately for the barrow.


His trip had been brief. There was little there to challenge him, only some malnourished bandits and a strange variety of undead. The only oddity was the creature in the final chamber. An undead creature like the rest but this one's voice had struck him with a very real and powerful force. Not that it had stopped him from crushing its skull against the sarcophagus it crawled out of. He climbed the steps to Dragon's Reach and immediately entered. Seeing the Jarl occupied with some form of audience, Kratos nodded to him and went directly to Farengar's workshop.

Farengar shot upright at his entrance, "You're back! You have it?" At his nod, Farengar clapped his hands together. "Excellent! Lay it down here and I'll get to work on trying to decipher the stone." Kratos lay the stone down on the table he had indicated; listening all the while to Farengar's mutterings and quickly developed and discarded hypotheses.

A sudden commotion drew Kratos' attention back to the main hall. The Jarl was on his feet when he entered. A mud spattered and exhausted looking hold guard stood before Jarl Balgruuf saying, "We sighted the beast several hours ago. When it began circling the watchtower I was dispatched to bring word back to Whiterun. After I was some distance off the dragon began its attack. I came with all haste, my Jarl." Balgruuf stepped forward and clapped the man on the shoulder.

"You did well. Extremely well. Now rest. We will take care of the rest." He turned to Irileth, "Put together a unit of men and go reinforce the western watchtower. I won't have dragon's rampaging across my hold!" Seeing Kratos, Balgruuf gestured him forward, "Kratos, I heard what you did to that giant. I want you to accompany Irileth and kill that damn monster. I can't have it coming back to Whiterun or Riverwood."

Kratos nodded sharply to the Jarl, "I can kill it." The Jarl let out a bark of laughter of laughter at his statement.

"Perhaps the strangest part is that I do not doubt that in the slightest, and until a few weeks ago I thought dragons were a myth." He stepped forward extending his hand. "Thank you, Kratos." Kratos nodded and the two clasped forearms. Irileth had already moved off and was mobilizing the soldiers.

Kratos headed for the doors of the hall, pausing to grab a hold of a passing soldier, "Tell the svartalf I will meet her and her men at the main gate." His message sent Kratos went immediately to the gate. Soon enough Irileth arrived with a troop of 20 men at her heels, all with bows on their backs in addition to their standard kit. Irileth formed up the men at the gate to perform a final check before they set out to the watchtower. Kratos approached her immediately, "Elf." He noted that she bristled somewhat and frowned slightly determining to explore this further at a later time. "Your armory, is it stocked with spears?" The soldiers all carried swords and axes as was their norm.

"Yes, nord. It is. Now, I must see to my—"

"How close do you want to be to the dragon? This close?" he asked stepping up to her, "Or a spear length away?" Irileth sighed. Few things frustrated her more than being undercut, except for perhaps being undercut when they have a point. She barked a few orders and sent several men running for spears. When they returned with the new arms, she stepped to the head of the formation.

"You know our mission. We have much ground to cover and no time for delay. Move out!" The expedition moved quickly out of the city and westward across the open planes of the hold. It was afternoon before they neared the watchtower. They had quick marched for hours and though the day was overcast and cool the strain of the pace was becoming evident even on professional soldiers.

Seeing Irileth's haste, Kratos barked out, "Company! Halt!" The men though unfamiliar with the voice were all too familiar with the tone of command and voice of authority stopped immediately. "Drink, eat sparingly, rest briefly. We go to war. We will go fresh and we will go to victory."

The men were already obeying, pulling out jerky and water skins when, Irileth rounded on him and hissed out "This is not your command! You do not give orders here!"

Kratos rumbled at this, "I do what I must. I will not run ragged men into the fight of their lives, not without any other option. The tower has been tormented by the beast for half a day. A few minutes will make no difference. It will to ours. I have led men. Do not spurn my advice for pride."

Irileth disliked how he had inserted himself into the chain of command but couldn't help but understand his logic. She simply nodded instead, "Check with me first. Split command does them no good."

Kratos nodded his assent, "On that we agree." After giving the men a rest, Irileth gave the order to form up and they continued on. Soon they were drawing nearer to the tower with no dragon in sight. Damage to the tower was obvious. There were rents in the tower, and it looked as if a portion of the top had been cast down to mingle with the older ruins and large boulders that dotted the plain surrounding it. Kratos had a familiar feeling of eyes on him, of ill intent. "It is here," he growled, scowling up and searching the skies. He caught Irileth's eye and she gave him a somewhat exasperated nod. Kratos raised his voice and spoke to the soldiers as the company continued forward, "The beast is here. The battle will be grim. First rank, spears! All others, bows! Every man here is your brother. Watch their backs. The beast is large. Keep to cover. Watch for opportunities and fight like wolves. Attack when its attention is elsewhere and retreat. We keep it distracted. We bleed it, find an opening, and kill it." The soldiers shifted nervously, hands clenching and unclenching on weapons. "Do not ignore the tail. It is a weapon." They were approaching the base of the tower, when they saw another hold guard open the door.

"It's still here!" he called to them just before a gigantic roar shook the earth and the dragon seemed to materialize from the clouds. It was a pale, mottled color and blended well with the grey weather and overcast skies. This beast was significantly smaller than the Helgen dragon, Kratos noted, perhaps an 80-foot wingspan.

"Take cover and loose arrows!" Kratos followed his own advice, ducking behind one of the boulders, as the beast swooped down and unleashed a torrent of flame that cut a smoking line through the center of the plain. Luckily the grasses were damp and didn't burn well, preventing a brush fire, during the battle at least. His low roaring voice cut through the other clangor of the battlefield, "Spread out! The beast will target groups!" The dragon again swooped low, drawing another blazing line across the field, and was peppered with arrows from both the men on the ground and from the tower as well. If the creature keeps to the skies, it will eventually pick us off one by one. It needs a target. "Target the wings and eyes! Be ready!" At his last statement, Irileth poked her head up from behind a nearby tumbled wall and her jaw dropped as Kratos strode into the more open clearing arms spread wide.

Kratos stood tall arms out his axe in one hand and screamed to the sky "Coward! Face me, wyrm! Face me and meet your death!" The dragons answering shriek had an added element of challenge and the proud creature dove down at Kratos. He waited until the dragon was committed to its path and then sprinted and dove to the side dodging the beast as it struck the ground, sliding, gouging furrows in the earth with its talons. Kratos ran head on at the dragon and cried "Wolves! Now!" The dragon struck like snake, gaping maw extending at the end of its long serpentine neck. Kratos dove forward and to the left as it did so, feeling the passing wind of its rushing fangs, each the size of a man's forearm. Kratos rolled to his feet and continued his reckless charge; he leapt forward and slammed his axe into the joint where wing met body. The dragon cried out in pain and outrage and spun snapping towards him again. One of the soldiers joined the fray running forward to stab at its flank before immediately falling back. The dragon hissed and glanced back only to receive a grazing cut along the muzzle from Kratos' axe. The dragon returned a vicious swipe that caught at Kratos sending him sailing through the air before striking one of the boulders. It spun then and with a breath and a cry immolated one of the spearbearers who did not retreat quickly enough. Kratos stood, dusted himself off and then bent again, seizing the boulder and hauling it up above his head and hurling it back at the dragon, before snatching up his axe and rejoining the fight. The soaring boulder smashed into the dragon's already wounded wing, wringing a pained screech from it. Kratos rushed in again, seeking to get within its reach, expecting for it to bite at him again with that engulfing maw. Instead it spun away and with a single snap of its jaws sheared another soldier in twain. Kratos' eyes widened slightly, Ironic, he thought, as the whipping end of the tail came around and blasted him through the air and sending him through one of the ruined walls. Kratos looked up to see Irileth staring down at him in shock. He let out a low growl of growing rage and Irileth watched some of the abrasions and scratches—why were they only scratches!—seemed to melt away, leaving unblemished ashen skin. He climbed to his feet and sprinted back into the fight. The beast had its back turned and was hunting the soldiers through a small patch of old construction. Kratos neared the monster and his mighty legs flexed propelling him in a prodigious leap. He landed on the dragons back just above its rear legs and immediately brought his axe cleaving down into the dragons back, seeking bone. The beast roared in shock, and shuddered as Kratos brought his axe down again. The soldiers seeing Kratos on its back, went again on the offensive stabbing their spears at its throat and face, buying Kratos the time and footing for another stroke. He reared back and brought his axe down with titanic force. The dragon screamed as its back legs went dead and it collapsed to the ground. The men cheered and fell back using the dragon's distress as opportunity to retreat. Kratos ran up its back and jumped forward, opening a rent in the dragon's neck with his axe as he sailed past. Kratos landed and spun back to face the beast, which had reared up, its serpentine neck stretched tall. It lunged down, snapping at him, but he dodged to the side and hewed open a great rent in its neck letting loose a torrent of dark, steaming blood. Before the wounded beast could withdraw its head he struck again widening the gash, and then jumped catching the beast's horn in one hand. The dragon reared back up taking Kratos with it. The dragon's eye darted madly before sighting on Kratos in the edge of its periphery just in time to see his snarling face and the head of his axe. The axe smashed through the dragon's eye lodging there, and the beast whipped long neck about, spraying blood and trying to shake off the terror that clung to it. Kratos clung to dragon's horn, his hands like iron bands. With a terrible shout Kratos swung his body forward and slammed his feet into the haft of his axe embedded in the dragon's eye, driving in even further. Like a puppet with its strings cut the beast dropped, Kratos and its head falling some 30 feet to crash to the ground below, raising a cloud of dust and smoke.

Irileth and the other guards approached cautiously waiting for the dust to clear. When, in short order, it did, they saw Kratos working his axe free of the dragon's skull. The survivors roared out a cheer when they saw him standing and the dragon dead. Kratos finally wrenched his axe free with another gout of blood and fluid. Kratos waited a moment for the cheers, hugs and backslapping to calm some before calling out, "Wolves, you did well. Now, search for any wounded and gather your comrades. We have a long road back to Whiterun."

Irileth approached him slowly, with more caution than she had before, "You could have let them celebrate. It was a battle as hasn't been fought for centuries."

Kratos merely grunted and shrugged, "The wounded, if there are any, do not have that time." He paused. "It angered you when I called you elf. Why?"

Irileth blinked and shook her head at the sudden change of topic, casting her mind back to earlier that day and gave him a sidelong look, "You do not know?" He answered her with silence. "Many nords dislike my kind and because of that use such language. They think that Skyrim is only for the nords despite the fact that this is my home too. I have fought to defend it! I have just fought a dragon to defend it! It is as much my home as theirs."

Kratos let out a small snort and bent to use a handful of grass to wipe gore off his axe. "I called you elf because you are an elf. Live where you will. Do what you will. I do not see the relevance of your ears." He glanced up to see a bemused expression on Irileth's face. His gaze abruptly sharpened on the body of the dragon behind her, seeing this Irileth spun, ice forming in her left hand and the sword flying into her right. They watched mutely as the dragon's body looked to crumple in on itself, the flesh seeming to catch fire from within and drift away as ash, leaving the enormous skeleton behind. Kratos stood, peering at the bones, "Very interesting."

Irileth stood looking nonplussed "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised by more strange occurrences. We just killed a myth. Why wouldn't it turn to ash?" She let out a small snort, "I will see to the men," and she walked off to do just that. Due to the dragon's size and strength there were no true wounded, only those who escaped lightly and the dead. Eight men had died from the company that set out from Whiterun.

Kratos stood, axe in hand, looking still at the bones. The soldiers nearby were all casting glances at him and wondering in hushed tones, who he was and how it possible for a man to do what he had done. Kratos walked up to the skull and laid his axe against the base of one of the horns and set to work chopping it free from the skull. When he had hacked the one free he turned his attention to the other. Once he had them both free he bound them into a bundle with a few leather thongs and slung them over his back.

Soon enough, Irileth had the company loosely gathered. Kratos stepped up to them "Breathe deep, the battle is won. Now drink, eat, rest. We march back to Whiterun soon." After the men had time to recuperate somewhat, Irileth formed them up again for the return to Whiterun. They had been joined by a few survivors from the tower, bringing their company back to 17 in number, including Irileth and Kratos. Kratos joined Irileth at the head of the company and paused glancing at her, she stood at ease waiting on his word. Kratos called over his shoulder, "Company, forward! Slow march." And they began the long trudge back to Whiterun, exhausted and battered but victorious.


Author's Notes: I don't plan to have review responses in these notes, and it is unfortunate that I can't reply directly to guest reviews. Thank you to those guest reviewers who have taken the time to leave a note. I appreciate it.

I hope that you all enjoyed this installment, as always please let me know what you think and if you have any tips you think would help me improve the writing.