As the reunited Blades talked, Elana's mind wandered.

I've been away so long from the Companions. I wonder if they've forgotten me already.

"They would not forget so quickly."

I hope so. I think, I think I need to go back. I miss them all.

"Even Vilkas?"

Yes. I am the Dragonborn, someone that inspires awe. I mean, those mages who faced me after I learned TOOR, they had the same look of awe. Theirs was tinged in fear, admittedly. Was it really his fault?

"Answer for yourself, hatchling. Did you change after learning you were Dovahkiin?"

Well. I have you in my head now. I suppose I did change. I had to. Who I am, who I thought I was and who I could be, that had to change. Now I have a goal. Now I'm headed towards defeating Alduin the World-Eater, not glory to be made into song sung in mead halls for ages to come.

"So can you blame him for the shock?"

Did I in the first place? Or was it merely the realization that Elana and "Elan" could not coexist. He was just there as the target. I should apologize.

Mirmulnir growled. "Do not let him walk over you."

I'll punch him in the guts if he tries.

"Good. Do endeavor to remember these lessons all your life. Why re-learn each lesson. You already had to learn not to fight alone, and here you are."

Please don't remind me. My knees started to ache as you mentioned it.

"There will be more ruins to explore. And do you want to go this way alone? Again? And after you nearly ripped your throat apart to stay alive and absorb TOOR."

No. No I don't want to fight alone.

"Dragonborn!" Esbern's voice brought her back to the room beneath the inn. "Dragonborn, forgive us but we do not know your name."

She opened her mouth, allowed her voice to remain as it wished, and replied, "Elana."

Both stared in shock.

"But you spoke as a man last we met," began Delphine.

Esbern cut her off. "Before you say anything you regret, Delphine, remember that between us, you are the stronger fighter."

"I wasn't going to say anything like that. I question her hiding."

"I wanted to keep some privacy and way to avoid scrutiny for being alone. I still do. But I find I cannot, should not, lie to those that have fought so long the fight I now join."

Esbern nodded. "You have an alias then?"

"The people of Whiterun know me as Elan, Thane and Dragonborn."

"Creative."

"It's smart," retorted Esbern. "It sounds like her actual name. She will naturally react to that name as one who carried it their whole life."

Delphine shrugged in complacent agreement. "Fine. We still need to get her to Karthspire and Sky Haven Temple."

"What will we do there?"

Esbern looked to the Dragonborn. "We find out what the Blades left us to fight Alduin."

"Forsworn. Always where they have no rights to be."

"You have no respect for the outcast Bretons?" inquired Esbern.

Elana continued, "Not after watching them camp and walk all over ancient sites that none but the dead have claim to. If they want land 'back', perhaps they ought to stop killing any random passerby." She unstrapped her bow. "Does anyone else want first shot?"

"Have it," replied Delphine. "You've been in the area before?"

"I was a merchant, before fate stepped in." And her arrow sliced into a warrior of the Forsworn, leading all the members to turn and run towards the three.

"Now we fight for Sky Haven Temple." Delphine raced forward. Esbern's magic crackled to life and he chased after her.

"Might as well." Elana stored her bow and drew her sword.

It was hard enough work fighting off Forsworn without having to chase after two excited Blades. The two always rushed ahead, leaving Elana to polish off the surviving bitter Bretons. Would she have preferred to be at the front? Of course. There was less moral grey when the enemy charged you than when you were left to slice throats of already dying men.

"Dragons have no 'moral grey' in battle," Mirmulnir reminded her. "Survive or die."

Because if I healed them they'd come for my blood.

"Yes."

There was hardly any time to collect the loot off the dead bodies the Blades moved so fast. They plunged inside the building without a second thought to if Elana was following. She let out a sigh, and moved faster.

The puzzles were insultingly easy. The answer was always dragons, either choosing or avoiding them.

When the group finally stood before the ancient doors, the two Blades paused. Esbern, who believed the whole place to be a shrine to the Dragon Wars, suggested she leave blood on the seal on the floor as a key, a sacrifice to open the door.

"That's barbaric."

"It's ancient magic, child. What did you expect? Rainbows?"

Grumbling, Elana cut her palm and placed the open wound on the floor.

Light immediately erupted and the seal began to twist. The mighty door began to shake and rise up, turning the face etched there to gaze upon the ground.

"You go first. It's only right that the Dovahkiin be the first to step foot in the temple in hundreds of years."

Honored by Esbern's words, if still miffed about the stinging hand, Elana walked forward. "Esbern, had I pour some dragon blood on the seal, do you think that would work? That it was after the blood of dovah?"

"It's possible."

"Perhaps not as barbaric as I thought." She slipped up the curved steps and into Sky Haven Temple.