A/n: mentions of sex. And a battle near the end.
XXX
During the course of the next few weeks, Burz returned from Solstheim after defeating a being known as Miraak who had been attempting to come back to life using the All-Maker Stones throughout the land. He had enslaved the local peoples through mind control and forced them to build temples upon the Stones so that he might control their power. Burz had found that Hermaeus Mora had sent books into the world of man to transport those seeking knowledge and power, to his library of Apocrypha, where Miraak was in hiding from the Deadric Prince. He used these books to gain the knowledge and power to defeat Miraak, but was greatly disappointed when it was Hermaeus Mora who had struck the killing blow. He pouted constantly when he thought about the battle.
Do'vra had also sent messages from her adventures. She had decided to expand the control of her magic outside of being Dovahkiin, and so had enlisted herself to the College of Winterhold. The Mages of Skyrim welcomed her into their fold and allowed her to learn with their other initiates and novices. Apparently one of the new Redguard had made quite an impression with how they handled certain situations, for now they were the Archmage of the College after the other had perished in an accident. Not that she complained; she had no desire to oversee anyone or make decisions for a group. She was happy following out the orders Isran would give her and Durak. He had stayed by her side, excepting during lessons, know knowing they were each other's fin sil, confirmed by Parthunax himself when he saw them.
Madz'r had not remained idle atop the Throat of the World. Once Burz had returned to High Hrothgar, he had made his way to what had to be the the Assassin's Guild in Skyrim. He was inducted into their order, and soon after, received a contract to kill Victoria Vici's widowed husband, leading him onto a dangerous undercover position, where he had to use his many skills to seduce and destroy the man. He would admit in private that the tale "The Lusty Argonian Maid" had been quite the inspiration for him as he carried out his contract, and while it was difficult in the beginning, apparently Asgeir was quite the willing participant in role-play. He often suggested that Madz'r don a maids outfit so that they could act out some of his favorite parts of the book. After being so long under the body of a Dunmer Vampire, Madz'r was quite often quite disappointed in the Nord man's size and stamina.
Adrayla kept to the books in High Hrothgar, reading through them again and again, hoping to find answers. Burz suggested she take a break one day and challenged her to a duel of blades in the unused meeting hall. The hall hadn't been used since Adrayla had brokered a temporary peace between the Imperials and the Stormcloaks years earlier. She had agreed and allowed herself to be dragged from her chair by an almost giddy Orc. The two battled, causing blood loss and broken bones, quickly mended with magic, until Burz all but threw Adrayla into the wall leading into the mountain. Or what they had thought led into the mountain. The wall collapsed beneath the force, revealing mound upon mound of old and decrepit books, some compleatly destroyed by time. though Burz worried for her health, Adrayla was ecstatic at the new information at her fingertips. As Burz made it his mission to clean out and rebuild the lost rooms of High Hrothgar, she cleaned and read through every new book she could salvage, some dating back to the First Era when elves still ruled in Skyrim, others as early as their own Fourth Era and the crowning of High King Istlod of Skyrim.
XXX
Adrayla danced her way around piles of books, organized by date for historical reference, an ancient scroll clutched to her breast, her wings and tail tucked tightly to her body as not to tip anything over. She thought she may have found the answer at last, but thought to put it to Master Parthunax to answer her. She carefully bundled the scroll up, fearing the intense cold and wind howling outside would cause her find to fly away or worse become damaged. She then ran up the path to her master's place of rest, pausing only when she had reached his side completely out of breath. She hadn't even the strength to clear the skies. Thankfully, Parthunax saw she had important questions for him and banished the storm with his own thu'um.
"Fos fund hi lost do zey, Maldov?" (What would you have of me, Little Dragon?)
"Daar-daar dey-dey los nol diist bok." She pulled out the scroll as she gasped for breath. "Los nii vahzah? Los niist vorey do faal Sadon?" (This- this scroll- the scroll is from the first age. Is it true? Are their others of the Grey?)
Parthunax looked carefully at the scroll. An agreement of old. "Geh ahrk nid. Osos do Juergen's ventovitaan lost hind wah wahl nistmaar wah al dovah ven nunon Dovahkiin vis. Nust krenok nistmaar, nuz vorohah kiid wah bo wah frey fend gein uv vorey faan voknau niin." He looked to the western skies. "Nii vust kos tol dahrin ful pogaan Dovahkiin lost alok, los tol vorey Sadon, daar Kendov, praag hiif ahrk faan fah nii." (Yes and no. Some of Juergen's disciples had wished to make themselves to destroy dragons the way only Dragonborn can. They divided themselves, but made a pact to come to aid should one or the other call upon them. It could be that the reason so many Dragonborn have arisen, is that the other Grey, these Warriors, need help and are calling for it.)
Adrayla thought for a moment. "Waan nust los ful lingrah nusaan, vir los mu lorfonaar wah siiv niin wah hiif?" (If they are so long gone, how are we supposed to find them to help?)
Her Ancient Master looked down to her once again. "Hi los Dovahjud. Hi vis hon faan ahrk cries do hin fron." Adrayla looked away from him, almost ashamed that she had not remembered her duties as Queen. "Strin hin miin. Fos dreh hin sil fun hi?" (You are Dragon Queen. You can hear the calls and cries of your kin. Close your eyes. What does your soul tell you?)
She looked back to him unsure, but closed her eyes and let herself fall into a meditative state. She listened to the winds as they fought through the force of Parthunax's thu'um. She heard Burz and the Greybeards in High Hrothgar below her, wondering at her swift disappearance. She listened longer and heard the words of Do'vra and Madz'r running through the country on their own adventures. She was surprised to hear another unknown voice, coming closer to High Hrothgar, as though they were a pilgrim traveling the 7,000 steps. She pushed past it for the moment, and listened past the boarders of Skyrim and it's loyal dragons who followed her rule, reaching out to the surrounding countries. Then past the Abecean Sea and the Summerset Isles. Then Yokuda and the Sea of Pearls and then past them.
She heard a song from across the ocean, almost as though there were another land, unknown to Tamriel. The voices sounded panicked, as though they knew of no other they could call to to help. "Til." She pointed the way. "Wer. Vortii himdah ahrk okaaz mindok wah mii." She let her hand drop. "Hi mindok tol." Her master only nodded behind her. "Mu aal neh daal," she admitted to herself and him. She then turned to him and looked him in the eye. "Fen hi rel ol dii hofkinaar?" (There. West. Past lands and seas known to us. You know that. We may never return. Will you rule as my steward?)
Parthunax bowed before her and bestowed fire upon her. "Nii fen kos dii zin, dii Jud." (It will be my honor, my Queen.)
She smiled gently. "Nox hi, dii fahdon." (Thank you, my friend.)
XXX
The four of them were gathered around the points of the main hall, Durak standing behind Do'vra as a sign of respect and support. "I do not command you to come with me," Adrayla said to her kinsmen. "I do not know if we shall ever return to Tamriel. But i do know that there are people out there calling for our help. People who are our kin. And I cannot abandon them." She looked at them all individually. "I fly past the borders of our known lands in a few days. Any of you who wish to join me are welcome."
The others were silent. She had explained to them all what she had heard, her intention to leave. They didn't know what they would do. This would bring them all away from hearth and home. But looking back, they had none. None of them led a life that had allowed them to pause for more than a few days. They had led lives of speed and blood and gold, constantly moving from one action to the next. And they had become richer for it, obtaining more gold than they knew what to do with.
Perhaps life in Tamriel was boring now.
They could move on.
Burz spoke first. "If you think your going across the oceans to some unknown land to help people who may or may not be our kin, you better remember you're not leaving without me."
Adrayla smiled at him as Madz'r agreed. "We cannot let you go yourself. It could be dangerous, and you are our Queen. We will of course go with you."
The men looked to Do'vrawho looked to her Queen. "I cannot stay behind while the others go with you."
"And you Durak? Will you come with us as well?" Adrayla beckoned him forward.
"If you will allow it, Queen Adrayla, I would be honored to join you."
She looked over them all. "Thank you all. We must prepare, I don't know how long it will take to cross the sea from Yokuda, so we must prepare for a long journey. We'll buy food-" She was interrupted by the sounds of fire over the roof of the keep. "Outside, now!"
All of the occupants of High Hrothgar were outside, watching as Parthunax batteled a younger Dragon. Adrayla was the first to move, transforming herself into a dragon taking to the air, Burz quickly jumping on her tail before she got to far away, climbing up as quickly as he could. Madz'r took out his bow, having more practice now than before, as Do'vra and Durak pulled out their crossbows. The Greybeards could do nothing while their Master and his Queen were in the air for fear that they would his one of them in accident.
"Kos tul, Dovah. Hin Jud fusrot nii," Adrayla spoke to the other dragon as Burz jumped from her back to its. (Be still, Dragon. Your Queen demands it.)
"Dovah dreh ni kuz uth nol joor nisaad!" (The dragons do not take orders from mortal fakes!)
Adrayla sighed. This wasn't such an uncommon occurrence among the youngest of the Dov. They all felt the need to prove that she was no Queen and that the Elder dragons need not follow her commands. "Ruz luft pahel pentaar." (Then face summary punishment.)
Parthunax dove for one side of the Dragon as Adrayla went for it's neck, her teeth biting into the soft flesh of the younger dragon's scale. The thing was so young it didn't stand a chance. When Burz's war hammer slammed into it's skull, it caved instantaneously.
The Dragon crashed to the ground and it's soul rose from its bones. Three of the four prepared themselves to receive the soul, but Adrayla knew better and soared over the keep to the face of High Hrothgar where a young Bosmer cowered under the entryway.
XXX
Calenare had been running supplies up the 7,000 steps since Klimmek had died a few months ago. The route was dangerous, but he had yet to encounter anything more dangerous than a hungry goat that had tried to eat his sack as he walked past. He had heard tales of wolves, bears, even trolls living along the steps, waiting for easy prey, but had never encountered any. Perhaps the people he had often seen traversing the steps had taken care of the dangers so that travelers could once again make the full journey.
With the coming of the Dragonborns and their willingness to help most people, there was a great influx of donated supplies for High Hrothgar, the ancestral learning place and likely home of the saviors of Skyrim and the surrounding areas. His day had started like any other: get up, gather a week's worth of supplies for the occupants atop the mountain, and begin the trek up the steps. It had been uneventful as usual.
Until he reached the offering chest. He heard the beating of wings, felt the winds shift with their thrusts, smelled the smoke that protruded from scaled mouth. And like the young elf that he was, he hid underneath the porch of the great halls of the Greybeards.
He heard the battle being waged behind the building, though it did not seem to take long, then suddenly he saw a great black/purple dragon fly in front of him, landing before the offering chest. Then he was encased in magic, he tried to escape it but it seemed to follow him. Then, as the magic settled, he heard a voice inside his head. "Dovah, kuz dii sil ahrk mindos pruzah." (Dovah, take my soul and learn well.)
He looked up in fear as the other dragon drew closer, then he noticed that the black scale of the dragon had begun to lighten, its form was getting smaller, it had hair. With every step the dragon shrunk until a horned winged woman stood above him with her hand outstretched. "I've been waiting for you, Dovahkiin."
He looked up at her shaking. He was so nervous. He couldn't speak. "Yol!" Fire burst from his mouth encasing her like the magic had him only seconds before. He cried in terror and surprise and covered his mouth. His eyes closed against the flames. Once they were gone he dared open his eyes.
The woman was still there, but she had sat on the steps. "You didn't harm me little one," she said kindly. "I'm fine."
"Who- Who are you?" His voice shook. His body shook. He couldn't stop. He had breathed fire. At this woman. And now he felt incredibly guilty even though she had survived unharmed.
The woman smiled. "My name is Adrayla, I am the leader of the Dovahkiin. What's yours?"
"I'm-I-I'm Calenare Adal. I bring food up here for you all."
"Thank you for that, Calenare. Burz and Durak have very healthy appetites, and yet you've kept us all well fed." She placed her hand on his shoulder. "Why don't we go inside? It's getting cold out here."
He noticed the change in temperature. He was still shaking, but perhaps now with the chill he was shivering as well. He let himself be stood up and brought into the keep. Once inside he noticed had stopped shaking and had begun thinking clearly. The woman had led him to a chair an Orc had placed by a fire pit. Another Orc placed a mug of ale in his hand as a Kajiit threw a blanket around his shoulders.
Adrayla sat in a chair an Argonian placed across from him and leaned over. "I have some very shocking news for you, Calenare." He took a large gulp from the ale before she proceeded. "You are Dragonborn."
He sat in shock. "That's not possible. Everybody knows that the Dragonborns are Nord folk. Why would I be Dragonborn? I'm a poor Bosmer. I can barely lift my sword." He gestured to the iron sword that hung from his hip. It was much too big for his small stature.
"Dovahkiin are whomever the gods deem them to be," Adrayla said with a smile. "And they have deemed you and all of us to be their Champions in the mortal realm." Calenare sat in stunned silence. "And I'm afraid there's more."
"More? Afraid? What?"
"We are leaving Tamriel."
"Leaving, why?"
"There are others across the ocean who are calling to us for help. We are leaving in a week to go to their aid." He sat silently in his chair. "You don't have to come with us, but you might not ever see us again. We don't know how far away they may be. You would be the only Dovahkiin in Tamriel if you stay."
"No!" His reaction was instantaneous. He dropped his ale into the fire and grasped both of her hands in his and knelt before her, placing his head in her lap. "Pease. Please, don't leave me here on my own."
She smiled and pulled one of her hands from his grasp and patted his head. "We'll not leave you, if you wish to come." She lifted his head. "But remember, we don't know when, if at all, we shall return to Tamriel. If you have family, you may very well never see them again."
He looked up at her with large forest green eyes. "I don't have a family. I''m- I'm an orphan." He looked down to her lap again. "Please don't leave me."
She ran her fingers through his hair. "We wont. But there is much to be done. We must gather all of our resources and make for the western coast."
"We must hurry," Do'vra said as the others began to adjust their armor in preparation for their journey. "We do not know how long they have been calling."
"We'll meet in Dragon Bridge in two days." Adrayla stood and folded her wings behind her as she turned into her Nord self. "After that, we'll make for the passage between the Druadach Mountians. We cannot wait, so be there."
"Yes, ma'am."
A/n: And this is where I shall leave off for now. I am working on the next part of the story, which will be posted in the Dragon Age section when I have more than a ew chapters to offer up. I'm at the point where I need to play and write and research all at once, and my cats are mad because I'm taking up all the couch space.