I woke up in a large soft bed, it was warm and cozy. But my head was foggy. I sat up and stretched. How did I get here? "Morning hansom." Huh? Hansom? I felt someone wrap their two smooth arms around my waist and felt around my chest... my... bare... chest... I looked at who it was. A beautiful Argonian with golden eyes and... I looked at her breasts and... by the Nine! The bra she wore didn't even cover... This is a dream.
The Argonian giggled and kissed me, then got out of bed. "You should go find Merlin, Siigon, and Malkoorlok." Little Summer Sky, cute name. "Our kids were itching to get their flying lessens from you today." She said as she got into a beautiful blue dress. She noticed this and smiled. Wait? Our kids? "Remember you have a meeting with Akatosh. The treaty will be signed today, I'm so happy I could just... We can do that later. For now, let's go find Odahviing." I looked at her confused. It's my dream, right? I didn't just live another life while I was asleep? Odahviing is one of Alduin's lieutenants. I should probably ask my... wife's... name first.
"Uh... honey?" She stopped in the middle of putting on her amulet of Akatosh and answered.
"Yes my Dovahkiin?" Dovahkiin, what?
"Uh..." I cleared my throat. "I... um... forgot what happened... from now to..." I struggled to find the words. The Argonian looked at me worried.
"What is it my love?" She came over and sat next to me.
"Who am I?" Her face was blank. I sat on the bed and waited for an answer but none came. It was awkward if anything. "I-I remember going to Lyg with my brother Inigo and three others to help this girl... I went to sleep and..." I let my arms drop.
"Momma? Is dad home?" Suddenly a little boy's voice asked from outside the room's door. My eyes widened. She looked at the door then back at me and back again. At the door a small black dragon crawled in. The little dragon hopped on the bed and laid his head on my chest. My eyes were still wide when I looked up at the Argonian. What is a dragon doing here? She looked worried as she looked down at the little dragon. I'll admit, he was cute. He looked up at me with his little golden eyes and my heart melted. "Can we go see Uncle Paarthurnax? Before you go?" He asked. I looked back up to the Argonian. A single tear fell down my cheek. What could I say? No? She was as scared as I was it seemed. That's when I knew what to do.
"Y-yes, son. We can go see... my old friend." Maybe he could help.
A little less of an hour later, my son and I were walking towards Paarthurnax at the top of the Throat. "Dovahkiin! It is good to see you. How are the younglings these days?" He asked. It was just him so I assumed he wasn't having a session yet.
"Uh..." I kneeled down next to the boy.
"Go play in the snow, okay. Daddy has to talk to Uncle Paarth right now. Daddy stuff." He nodded and ran to a nearby snow pile, laughing and jumping in the snow. I smiled. Looking back to the old dragon I let out a sigh in grief. "Paarthurnax... I need your help." He nodded. He was smiling. I looked back and made sure the child wasn't listening. He was still playing. "Paarthurnax, listen closely. I'm stuck in my own dream. And I can't get out. No one knows though. And for some reason an Argonian is my wife and I apparently have three kids. Dragon kids!" I yelled quietly. Paarthurnax was looking at me with an odd expression. "I know this seems crazy to you... but that's because you're the dream." Actually, that brought up a good point. "Wait... if you're a dream... then why am I asking you for help?" I asked myself. I heard him sigh.
"If this IS a dream, Dovahkiin... than explain why you are talking to me, instead of figuring out your predicament on your own?" He got me there. But dreams work in mysterious ways.
"I'm not sure, but the last thing I remember was being in Lyg. Not in Skyrim. Hell! Not even in Tamriel! I don't remember looking older, I don't remember having an Argonian wife, and I surely do NOT remember having kids." He sighed and shook his head in disappointment.
"Dad?" I heard the young dragon say from behind. He sounded scared. Oh joy, the kid heard. I didn't turn to face him when I spoke.
"Kid, you're not real." I mumbled. "None of you are." Suddenly a hand roughly grabbed my shoulder and flipped me around. I stumbled but another hang grabbed my other shoulder. I was met with my supposed wife, a very pissed off wife.
"So none of us are real then? Is that it!" She fumed. Her eyes were narrowed and her body shaking. "So the last four years is NOTHING TO YOU!" Her golden eyes turned red at this point. Quite literally, crimson red. It reminded me of Alduin actually. But that's absurd. She is a dragon, not an Argonian. "Ziin tik vod mu liin ontzos ahrk Zu'u kiiraal voth un amativ kiir! Mu los grin! (Two months ago we mated again and I'm pregnant with our fourth child! We are bonded!" She knows dovahzul? I tried to get her hands off but she held firm. She squeezed my shoulders hard as she bore her eyes into mine. "Mu vorohah malur voth joor! Grah faal Fahliil! (We made piece with the mortals! Battled the Elves!)" Tears were threatening to fall from her eyes as she spoke. She brought me close and continued. "Ahrk fod hi mah... Zu'u lor Zu'u fund neh koraav hi ontros. (And when you fell... I thought I would never see you again.)" I felt her tears run down my still bare back. I can't let this get to me. This could all be some kind of spell the natives of Lyg put on my while I'm still sleeping. "Nuz hi los zek. Hi daal. Dahik hi los dii Dovahkiin. Hi los dii Dovahkiin, dii liin, dii dahrin. (But you are back. You returned. Because you are my Dragonborn. You are my Dragonborn, my mate, my reason.)" There is only one person who would say that to me that I currently know of. And I pray that I'm wrong. Taking the plunge I said her name.
"Alduin?" Her sniffling quickly turned to sobbing. Clinging to me like her life depended on it. I couldn't believe it, I'm married to the World Eater! No. This is a dream, it... it can't be real! This is wrong! Alduin is under a spell that I placed. I need to fix this... But... This is a dream. My dream... I guess I could have some fun. So I... should return the hug. Yeah. Still a little freaked by this but it's just a dream, I can't get hurt in the real world. "Alduin." I repeated in relief.
"Dare. Is it really you?" She asked, sounding hopeful.
"Yeah." I lied. "Sorry for scaring you. It's just that I've been..." I thought of an alibi. "...busy with the treaty and all. And... it's a lot. I guess the stress was too much that... the trauma is catching up to me." Alduin kissed between the crevices of my mouth and let go. I put on my best act to look worried.
"Then take a break, Dare. Akatosh knows you need it." I shrugged and looked to Paarth. He was watching me with curiosity. He gave a curt nod and flew to the skies.
"Dare?" Alduin tapped my shoulder.
"Mm Hmm?" That signaled her to speak. There was a short pause.
"If... we were in your dream, please don't make it end." I put an arm around her waist and pulled her in, rubbing her back.
"I'm afraid that I can't control my dreams. But for now, I want to enjoy what will never be. If this isn't real, that is. I want to enjoy something that... I want to be real." As I spoke we walked to the ledge of the mountain and looked over Skyrim. "I will not lie to you, Alduin. I love you. In the real world you pursue me. You love me like you do now, or at least, what I've observed. But... it's morally wrong." We sat down in the snow and she sat in my lap. I held her close.
"Morally wrong?" She asked.
"Yes. Do you remember the Shout I used on you?" I felt her give a nod. "Sure you're female now both in and out but, before you were male. You would have never felt this way towards me. It's like being brainwashed. Manipulation. Illusion. It's..." my voice drifted off.
"I understand, Dovahkiin." She was quiet and she sounded distant. We stayed there for quite some time. Behind us, our son was watching us. And I felt like I needed to say something.
"Son? Come here, please." I heard paws smash the snow as he dawdled over. He stood a few paces away from me with an angry look. "Closer." He huffed and stomped over. I grabbed him, setting him on Alduin's lap and he yelped. He huffed again and looked away. "I'm guessing your Siigon, or Merlin?" He grumbled some things. Still not looking at me.
"Merlin." He grumbled. He was mad, obviously.
"Well Merlin, I'm Diinmaar from plus three years ago. I was-No. I am still confused, Merlin. But for now... I'll try my best." I pat him on the head. He flinched but nothing more.
"Now go find your sister." Merlin mumbled again as he got up and stomped down the mountain. Alduin sighed and leaned into me.
"I guess no flying lessons." She shuffled around and soon she fell limp in my arm. She was asleep. At this point a stupid idea popped up in my head. While Alduin is asleep, I use the same Shout on her and, hopefully, turn her back into HIS original self. And we'll see if the World Eater truly loves me. Because I can't live in a relationship where the other is living a lie. Besides, I could use this as a test for the real world. Maybe.
Slowly, ever so slowly, I removed myself from under her. Laying her down on the snow and backing up, I couldn't help but stare. "Maybe someday." I said to no one really. Maybe someday I'll get a true loving wife. Maybe someday I'll get that normal stay-at-home lifestyle I've always secretly wanted. Or maybe someday... I'll know what happened to my real parents. The list goes on and on, but I can't worry about that here or now. I looked at the female Alduin one last time as she grabbed the air searching for me. I Shouted. "Vuldak Tiidnu. (Change Timeless.)" It was a whisper but it got the job done. The Shout hit her softly. At first she only shivered in discomfort, then it happened. In a brilliant white light, Alduin's body burned away. I had to cover my eyes to block the light out. And when I looked again, the kind, loving, small Argonian that I actually was starting to like, was now the Alduin I remembered in the fairy tails and of what Talen-Jei told me, Inigo, and Derkeethus. A monster. Speaking of Derk, I should probably continue looking for him. I miss my brother.
I heard footfall coming up the mountain. And a few voices. I couldn't stay. If they found out that I did this... well... I don't know but I don't think it would be pretty. Acting fast, I hurried over behind Paarthurnax's word wall and peeked over. When the figures came into view my heart stopped. Merlin along with two other small dragons, assuming their Siigon and Malkoorlok, Akatosh and Keerava. When they stopped and saw Alduin... I couldn't contain the silent sobs that escaped me. But I need to know. Keerava ran to Alduin and attempted to wake him. Akatosh leaped into action and tried to get her away, aware of the possible danger. But the kids, they looked absolutely crushed. Except for Merlin. He was scanning his surroundings. Looking for me no doubt.
I was about to cast a whisper Shout but to my horror, Alduin was waking up. Everyone immediately backed up as Alduin slowly got up and shook his head. While everyone was distracted I tiptoed over behind them and ran down the hill a few feet. Once I thought I was at a good distance, I started my way back up. I'll say I followed Merlin down but I lost him so I walked back up. I pretended to be sad when I walked up. Rounding the snow bank and everyone saw me, they all had expressions of pain and grief. I put on a worried look and ran over to the now standing Alduin, eyes still closed tight. "Alduin!" I tried to sound as scared as possible. I reached up and grabbed his muzzle. A part of me thought this was weird. I shook it off. Looking at the onlookers, I could only give of a few alligator tears. "What happened to Alduin?" I cried.
Keerava burst into tears and clung onto me. I hugged her back. To be honest I was feeling kinda heart-broken about this as well. But, this needs to happen for the greater good. Akatosh was watching Alduin utterly dumbfounded. The kids were crying on each other. Even Merlin was sniffling but he tried to remain strong. Alduin grunted and finally snapping opened his eyes. Everyone remained quiet and unmoving. And it remained like that for what seemed forever. That is until Merlin walked up to him.
"Momma?" He nuzzled Alduin's leg. Alduin reeled back and kicked him a few feet back. Merlin's body lay still and no movement was seen. His brother and sister ran up to him to help. Keerava by this time was knocked to the ground and cowering against a rock. Akatosh was protecting her with a steel sword drawn. Looking fearless as ever. I slowly backed up to go and help my son. I have to keep telling myself that this is a dream. Alduin's evil crimson red eyes sleeping their way into my blue ones. It was just hard to remember.
Reaching my kids I took out a healing potion and crouched down. Merlin was barely staying awake. Examining his body, I saw three big claw marks on his underbelly. And there was a lot of blood pouring on the snow below, coloring it a dark red. I uncorked the bottle and opened his mouth and downed the spicy substance. "Hold his mouth shut and make sure he swallows." I told his brother and sister. I stood up and faced Alduin, A spell in one hand I don't remember knowing, and Keening in the other. I missed this little dagger, feels right. But what does this spell do? I aimed at the ground next to Alduin and cast it. At first nothing happened. Out on thin air, Inigo popped up right next to him. Alduin flinched at the sudden scare. I don't know how the spell works, I'm just going to roll with it. Inigo smiled, not noticing Alduin behind him.
"Oh, hey! Uh... Why are... you..." He looked around at the scene and his expression slowly changed. Slowly turning around, he could only give a short yelp before he was cut off by Alduin's teeth.
Blood spewed everywhere, gore littered the ground, Inigo's legs fell to the ground without a torso. I stood there still as a statue, still trying to comprehend what happened. Inigo's smiling face flashed before my eyes before it finally clicked. I didn't even realize I was now a dragon tackling Alduin off the mountain. "RAAAAAAAAAAA!" Everything during the battle was a blur. But once I came to my senses I was covered in blood. It was not mine. Below my paw was around Alduin's neck, he was stuttering and choking on his own blood with fear clearly visible on his eyes. He gurgled, trying to say something. Even if he could say anything it would fall on def ears. I released his neck and gave a short laugh. Stumbling away I could only let what happened sink in, soon falling to the ground from fatigue. Scanning my surroundings I saw Akatosh running up, dropping his sword and picking me up in his arms. I'm guessing I'm an Argonian again, I doubt he could pick up a full dragon by himself. His mouth was saying my name but I heard now words. I let my head roll and I let sleep take me.