SEASON UNENDING

The Listener

Holy shit. I didn't expect I'd ever see that. Cicero is screaming bloody murder and the other initiates can't find their heads from their asses. They're all running around as if that would bring her back.

But I marvel at it. I just saw the bitch who's been in my head for so long, topple over the edge with the black dragon. Paarthurnax takes flight to go find them. But I'm still bathing in the glory of it all. Maybe that was it. Maybe she just had to go splat on the ground and never be heard from again.

I'm still in shock and weak from the blood loss but I get up and scramble to the side with Cicero pulling on my arm and pleading. "Mother! Mother! We must help her! Why won't you help?"

"Shut the fuck up!" I snarl at him, "If you want me to do anything. I need more blood."

I see the indecision on his face. He knows I can change and fly off, so then I could go find Mother. But I could also fly away.

He calls my bluff. "The gold dragon is going, Listener." I still see the sweat and a few tears pouring off him. He is worried.

He doesn't have to be for long. A shadow soars over us. So close, I duck in time with Cicero to avoid getting clipped. The dragon tumbles to the ground, taking rock and snow with him. He screams out. On top of him is a bloodied Night Mother. She just watches him in disgust and leaps from his form.

He roars and rolls so he's on his feet once again. "You cannot prevail against me. I will outlast you…mortal!" He spits at her.

She has no quick remark or snide comment to give just, "Leave us in peace Alduin. If you know what's good for you, you will allow yourself to disappear once again. Lest you wish to be broken into pieces and scattered across the continent."

As if in answer to her statement, the dragon takes flight. Great. He's getting away and we're stuck with Mother for gods knows how long.

"Lot krongra. You truly have the Voice of a dovah. Alduin's allies will think twice after this victory." Paarthurnax says as he watches the other dragon disappear into the clouds.

"You misunderstand the definition of a victory. For that to happen I need his bones as ash against the wind." Oh boy, she's pissed alright. I can hear it in her tone.

The dragon seems shocked again at the brashness of "Dovahkiin". "Ni liivrah hin moro. True, this is not the final krongrah- victory. But not even the heroes of old were able to defeat Alduin in open battle. Alduin always was pahlok – arrogant in his power. Uznahgar paar. He took dominion as his birthright. This should shake the loyalty of the dov who serve him."

"I suppose, but it does not speak on the matter at hand. Where is Alduin?" I can hear her blood boiling from here. I give a small smile.

"I have not that knowledge. But one of his allies could tell us. Motmahus…but it will not be so easy to…convince one of them to betray him."

The Night Mother gives the dragon a look. One that I've been on the receiving end of far too often. It's the look that asks if the speaker might've taken to chewing paint as a child.

Dragon backtracks, "Perhaps the palace in Whiterun…Dragonsreach. It was originally built to house a captive dovah. A fine place to trap one of Alduin's allies, hm?"

I turn my eyes to the Night Mother. Cicero is also looking upon her with bated breath. "A fine plan. I just hope we are not running around all of Skyrim when this is over. It is becoming taxing on my people."

Paarthurnax nods his head, "A worthy sacrifice if I may say so. With Alduin here and in power, I shiver at the thought. The mortal races would be doomed where they sit."

The Night Mother only gives a small smile. I know the words she doesn't dare speak. The mortal races already are.

I tried to close my eyes the whole way down the mountain. Although, it was hard to sleep with all the arguing going on amongst the crowd. First, it was whether they chose the right place to hide out when the dragon was literally picking them off one by one. Answer to that is, no. Even I could see that was a bad idea. The other thing they argued over was whether they carry us captives or roll us down the mountain. I kept my mouth shut so they wouldn't force us to do the latter. One look at Mjoll and Aerin and I know they'd have a hard time. Good thing they're at least clothed for this journey. Although, I think Mjoll is the only one without an aversion to cold. She's the only one not shivering, but I wouldn't want to be kept under her gaze. If only looks could kill…

"Get three carriages." The Night Mother says from behind us.

"Three!" Cicero repeats. He dances his way to the front of the line. "Three carriages to get to Whiterun!" He then races off to find them.

I suppress a sigh. Without blood this ordeal has been even more miserable. I feel the ring on my hand. No luck with it.

Someone wise and brilliant starts arguing that we could just walk there but the Night Mother has his head. "If you think I will waste more time on the edge of this frozen wasteland, then you are mistaken. Should I make it clearer to you?"

The guy doesn't speak again. I keep my eyes on the ground, as if I were sleeping upright just so she doesn't approach me. I feel her shadow falling over the crowd as she rounds us to the front. I feel her hovering over me.

The sound of horses slowly drawing their carriages alerts us. "Good. They are here. Get on quickly. I want this dragon trapped my sunrise." The Night Mother commands.

The carriage ride went as good as you'd think it would. More fighting and bitching. More so than I thought these people would have. I keep an eye on the other carriages. Of course, I am with the Night Mother and Cicero. The other carriages hold the Brotherhood and the wolves. They argue over the stupidest things. I slowly see Mother's expression change the whole ride.

"What was I thinking bringing them into the Brotherhood?" She muses.

"Regretting the choice, Mother? Should I…dispose of them?" Cicero has that evil gleam in his eye.

"No." She says firmly, "We keep them, if only for the time being." And that's that.

They don't bug me at all. They might be lost in their own world, or they know I need a good rest. I just can't shake the feeling that the Night Mother's statement applies to the Brotherhood, but also to me and the wolves.

Whiterun is silent. We ghosted through the town without any problems. Random women and children who had the misfortune to be outside at this hour ran screaming all the way home. I just tried to keep up so the guy behind me would quit fucking prodding me with a stick.

I growl, once, a soft growl, when he gets me good in the back of the ribs.

"Like that, don't you?" He sneers.

"Screw off." I reply.

He jabs harder. "You do as I say. When I say. You're lucky that…"

His voice is taken from him with the severing of his head. I can only watch in horror as the Night Mother tears his throat out with one move of her hand. His head topples backwards before his body does. The Night Mother sneers down at him. "I told him not to treat my Children in such a manner. And look what he's made me do." She holds out the disgusting flesh to me. "Would you like some blood, Eve?"

It's gross. Really, really gross. All severed and freshly bleeding flesh. But I am thirsty, the ration of blood she's giving me isn't doing enough. I lean down as much as my bonds will allow me and lick all the blood off that I can.

I hear members gagging and a few cries at their friend's death. I figure now is as good a time as ever to make a statement. I rise.

"Don't touch me or the wolves again or you'll end up like this poor horker." I kick the guy at my feet.

Everyone is silent except Mother. She laughs, "Ah. Yes. You would all be wise to listen to my Child. Come now, we have the Jarl to talk to." She links her arm through mine, and we start our way up the red brick road to Dragonsreach. If only we could skip.

They weren't pleased. Everyone was up in arms when we waltzed in. Guards freaked out and surrounded their Jarl with blades drawn. The Dunmer who wouldn't quit bugging me about the dragons is at the head of it all.

"Who dare asks you to enter these halls." Her voice is sharp and clear. With only the slightest undercurrent of fear. She knows who'll win if we get into a fight.

"I'm only here to see the Jarl of Whiterun." The Night Mother says in the most innocent of voices. Her arm still has mine in a death grip.

"He will not be speaking to you, leave. Now!" Dunmer yells out.

I can feel Mother's eyes rolling. "Very well. I was sent by the Greybeards to use your castle as a means to capture a dragon. But, if you wish for the world to be plunged into quick and swift chaos, then who am I to stand in your way?"

I hear the Jarl and his people talking in the background. Saying the same damn thing would happen if she ruled. But they come to the right conclusion. "Move aside. I must speak with the Night Mother." The Jarl commands.

The older man who once held such despair for life in his eyes, still does. Although, instead of directed at his daedra-like kid, they're directed at us. "I must have misheard you. I thought you asked me to help you trap a dragon in my palace." He tells us.

I let Mother handle this. "You didn't have cotton in your ears for once." She says with a snake-like smile, "We need to capture a dragon in this castle, and we need to soon." Her arm tightens around mine, signifying how badly this needed to happen.

"Very well, what do you need?" I can feel the life being sucked out of him by the second.

The Night Mother glares at him. "I said, we need to capture a dragon in your palace."

That wakes him up. It's like he's coming out of a spell. He shoots up so he's standing up dead straight and staring us in the eyes. "No! That's- that's insane! Why would I bring a dragon into my city with the threat of war on my doorstep?"

Her arm digs into mine further, "You know what would happen to this city if we do not take down the dragon scum? Furthermore, do you know what will happen to this city if you defy me?"

Ouch, can't wait to see how this guy bumbles out of this one.

He's speechless, but he has his head about him. "I understand. I hear you. I will help you, but I need your help first."

My arm is clenched tighter, "What is it, Jarl Balgruuf?" She asks.

"Ulfric and General Tullius are both just waiting for me to make a wrong move." He confesses, "Do you think they will sit idle while a dragon is slaughtering my men and burning my city? No. I can't risk weakening the city while we are under the threat of enemy attack." He says in a shaky voice. He has a sound point, but not sure what Mother will think.

Let's see. I glance over to find her rolling her eyes in an exaggerated manner. Wonder where she learned that. "Jarl Balgruuf, would it help you, if you didn't have that threat at the moment? No Stormcloaks or Imperials going at each other's throats?"

The shaken man nods, "Then I would be glad to help you with your mad dragon trapping scheme. You will have to speak to both of their leaders, and once you do…I suppose High Hrothgar is a neutral enough territory for the peace talks?"

I get it. He doesn't want this town to be blown to kingdom come. But little does he know he is testing her patience. I wonder. How far would the Night Mother allow herself to be pushed in the name of this dragon war?

I get my answer. "Fine. I will do that. General Tullius will be kidnapped tonight and brought to High Hrothgar. I will pay Ulfric a visit myself. I need a word with him anyways." She smiles at that.

The Jarl and his guards are baffled. I see them wanting to protest at the violent means of obtainment. But she banishes those complaints with a quick tongue. "Rest assured, this is the last favor I will pay you, Jarl Balgruuf. After this, I expect either payment in the form of territory. Or I will have your head."

He nods. "Understood, Dragonborn."

"The rest of my people will stay here. I will be back in no more than three days. Be prepared." And with that, she spins me around and we waltz on out of there.

I'm literally dragged up the steps of the Palace of the Kings. It was really weird. Just thinking about seeing Ulfric again had me suffering a mini panic attack. I have no idea why. I only saw him once, and that was the day of my almost execution in Helgen. After escaping, I haven't heard a lick of him.

"Come on, Eve. He won't hurt you. I won't allow it." The Night Mother tugs on my arm again.

I reluctantly follow. I'm not really scared of him. Nope. I'm scared of what kind of power he holds for the Night Mother. A down and out underdog on the cusp of greatness, those are the people she tends to go looking for.

The dingy and weather-beaten doors are opened for us. The Night Mother gives a sly grin to the guards that hold them and drags me through the opening.

"Mother, why not go kidnap him like the Imperial leader?" Cicero asks from behind her dress, he's been trying to keep it out of the snow for her.

"Because I need a word with him." That's all she says before we hear his voice.

It's a deep Nord voice. A very weary one. He's arguing with some bear-like guy about the morality of their position in the fight and what it takes to be a true Nord, something like that. They stop dead when they see the Night Mother at the foot of the throne.

"Talos save us." Breathes the bear-man.

Ulfric gives the Night Mother his full attention. I see when he composes his shock over seeing her. Mother does too.

"What brings you to the Palace of the Kings?" He asks in a measured tone.

I can feel her glee from here. "Ulfric, dear Ulfric. Remember us?"

His orange brow furrows. His sharp features are even more prominent in the soft candlelight from those scattered around. They need to get some more in here. This city is still depressing as ever. "I don't think so. I would remember Nords like you." His gaze glances over me and I see when he captures that first memory. His hands clasp the edge of the throne tightly.

The Night Mother is all grins. "Helgen. Around the day of your attempted execution. You escaped. Remember her?" She brushes a hand through my hair.

"The sparks keeper, yes. I thought she would do something to take out the guard. Not the dragons." He keeps his face composed.

"Hm, well, escape you did. And escape we did. You know I was in her head? I saw everything." She purrs. Yet again, I have no clue where she's going with this.

"A great man you are Ulfric, to go against the High King. Kill him as you did, leave his corpse to rot on the Blue Palace steps before escaping and branded as a traitor. Furthermore, after your escape from Helgen you've gone on quite the killing spree. Sithis would be proud."

"There is no talk of Sithis here. Be gone witch!" The Bear man yells in his gravelly voice. I see him ready to draw a blade.

Ulfric holds up a hand. "I thank you for that. But it doesn't answer the question. Why are you here?"

She sighs. I feel her boredom with this all. "For many things, Ulfric. I know you are going up against many challenges and I wanted to ease the burden if necessary." She pauses, "I suppose we can talk about this at a later date. But for now, would you join General Tullius on High Hrothgar? There is a peace negotiation going on. The dragon is still on the loose and the only way to get him is for you to play nice with the other side."

"She's lying! She wants us to leave Windhlem undefended so her Brotherhood can take over! We can't allow it to fall." The Bear man nearly squeals.

"You jest." The Night Mother smiles when Cicero dances behind her. She continues, "I will be there as well. The Dragonborn is leading the negotiations. General Tullius is on his way as we speak."

Ulfric ponders this. I see the maneuvering in his head. "You won't send anyone here to take the city? I have heard of your mad tear through the northern Holds. I am not going to give this one up." He states firmly.

"Oh but of course Ulfric." She says, "I wouldn't dream of it. Come to think of it, during the negotiations we can parse out who gets what and when."

"A trap." Bear man goes again.

The Night Mother intervenes. I feel her frustration on the other side of her arm. "Does it change matters if you know Alduin is on the loose? The world eater, taker of souls?"

They sit shocked. "You are the same thing." Bear man finishes on.

Ulfric gives him a sharp look. "Galmar. Be careful what you say."

"It is not a problem, I assure you." The Night Mother replies.

"Very well, we will be at the peace treaties. I want to give General Tullius another chance to quit Skyrim with his tail between his legs." The man sounds mildly smug, "We will see you in a few days time."

Mother laughs, all tinkling bells and fairy dust. "You misheard me. We are leaving now. We need to get this done a soon as possible. General Tullius is no doubt almost there, kicking and screaming the whole way."

The other two men pale but don't say a word more. I'm happy to say they oblige and don't "follow her orders", they just set up more guards in the city and bring their own with us. Little do they know it's going to be a cold, long walk, up the peak of that damn mountain.

We got back up to the monastery when one of the Greybeards nearly had a nervous breakdown. He went on to rant about how the men of violence are now in a place dedicated to peace. I could read between the lines with him. I know he fears the Night Mother as much as anyone else. That's why he let us go.

Now, we sit in the most awkward of silences, surrounding a large table and waiting for someone to talk. But no one dares. The Dragonborn is at the head of it all and the look she's giving the crowd could melt paint.

I'm next to her, still in chains and still with Cicero watching my every move. I sigh and settle in for a long, drawn out fight. Didn't know it would start off with a bang.

Even way back in here, we hear the racket going on outside. "So, Arngeir, is it? You know why we're here. Are you going to let us in or not?" A woman snaps.

"You were not invited here. You are not welcome here." Is his gravelly reply.

"We have as much right to be at this council as all of you. More, actually, since we were the ones that put the Dragonborn on this path." The woman continues to argue.

The man says something else but I'm now listening to Mother. She whispers harshly, "Those fools. Those deceptive little bastards! It's as if they think this whole fight is about them." She composes herself before letting loose on the room.

"Arngeir." She calls out, loud enough for the mortal to hear.

The argument pauses.

"Let the Blades in." She laughs before adding, "They did ask nicely."

The blonde woman and the older man enter the room, their expressions are weary and heated. The blonde gives a sharp look to the Night Mother and sits right next to Ulfric. Mother smiles lovingly. "So sorry to leave you out Delphine. I wasn't aware you wanted to be a part of this so badly."

Oooh, she's really in for it now. Little do the Blades know they're poking a very pissed off dragon woman. Delphy is smart and holds her tongue.

The Greybeard, old as death itself but still somewhat agile, walks in to address the table. "Now that everyone is here, please take your seats so we can begin. I hope we have all come in the spirit of…"

"No. You insult us by brining her to this negotiation?" Ulfric is one of the last few standing. He only has eyes for the Thalmor woman at the other end of the table. "Your chief Talos-hunter?" He adds.

"That didn't take long." Someone grumbles.

"Hear, hear!" Another tries to control the crowd.

Cicero giggles behind me, "Oh, Listener look! Maybe they'll go after each other's throats, and we won't have to? Wouldn't the room look so pretty with their dead bodies."

I keep my mouth shut and watch the crowd. They descend into further argument over whether that woman should be here or not. Mother stops them.

"Certainly, we can set aside our differences?" Her smile is mocking.

"By Ysmir's beard, the nerve of those Imperial bastards, eh?" Ulfric looks to us. "To think that I would sit down at the same table with that…Thalmor bitch. Either she walks or I do." He seems to mean it. Guess he hasn't heard the "Witch" stories that everyone else has.

Mother ponders, "You think I would allow them to push you around Ulfric?"

He seems to break from that statement. He feels the power of her gaze. "It feels a mistake to keep her here. But if you think it won't matter, then I'll bow to your judgement on this."

He turns to the crowd. "But she is to observe, nothing more. We are not negotiating with her, is that clear?"

The Thalmor woman speaks up. "Ulfric, why so hostile? After all, it's not the Thalmor that's burning your farms and killing your sons."

"She's supposed to be on our side?" A woman on the Imperial side asks, throwing me off. There's too many voices in the mix for someone with so little blood to concentrate on.

"You know exactly…no. Not this time." Ulfric watches the Thalmor woman with sharpness and sorrow. It's almost like he feels he is losing something.

"See how much he hates her? Maybe he'll kill her." Cicero laughs behind my ear.

I ignore him, as usual. Mother cuts up the crowd. "You grate on my ears and my time. Sit. We must talk and make pleasantries before severing the dragon's head."

Everyone gives a weary look her way, but they move to the table. Ulfric looks to her then to the Greybeard. "I have something to say first."

Mother puts a hand to her forehead.

"The only reason I agreed to attend this council was to deal with the dragon menace. There's nothing else to talk about unless the Empire is finally ready to renounce its unjust claim to rule over the free people of Skyrim." Ulfric addresses the room.

General Tullyass sneers, "Dragon Menace! What about the enemy at our front door! We, the Empire have fought and died to keep the Night Mother at bay and from taking over Skyrim! And you would really sever us from this land in your time of need? In a few short months Windhelm will surely fall. Any illusion to who is High King is just that, the Night Mother intends to rule all…" He gets the good idea to shut up when he sees his fellow advisors watching him in horror. I guess I am too.

Cicero is laughing. Nearly falling over where he stands. I expect the Night Mother to say something, but she just watches him. Like a snake watches a flailing mouse.

"Alduin is who we are here for. He is the greatest threat. We must come together to defeat him." Delphine chimes in. She read the room too and is trying to keep chaos from imploding.

The Thalmor woman Ulfric hates laughs, "You really think so? The Night Mother had her people slaughter no more than seven villages so far and that is not including the surrounding area of Solitude nor does it include Dawnstar." She has the balls to look at Mother now. "My bet is, if the dragon defeats her, then we would all be better off. We can fight a dragon in another way, we need no Dragonborn."

The mood in the room changes. I feel everyone taking in that information and looking at Mother in a new light. But she came prepared. "Cicero." She says, her soft voice strong enough to carry through the room, but quiet enough to seem like she's talking about something insignificant. Like needing a drink of water or a sweetroll or two.

"Yes, Mother?" He leaps so he is at her side.

"Will you show Elenwen your tricks?"

He laughs, "AHAHA of course! Of course, Mother!" He then races to the other side of the room. Imperial side stands, everyone crowds around to keep away from the jester, no one knows what he's doing. I crane my neck to see the carnage take place.

"I swing, I slash, I give you a bash. This is Mother's will and not hers alone! You disrespect her!" He twists around with his blades drawn.

Shouting ensues. I avert my eyes when the demented jester starts screaming bloody murder. "YOU DISRESPECT HER!" He then leaps across the way and before anyone can intervene, he has the Thalmor woman impaled right through the chest. A crimson river is just beginning to weep from the wound when everyone takes notice.

More screaming. More yelling. I duck my head to keep out what I can. My hearing is too sensitive from that last round of blood.

"There is to be no violence here! None at all!" The Greybeard man is furious. Almost pointing a finger at Mother. I look up to her. She watches the room with a stony face.

Ulfric and his side are paralyzed by fear no doubt. They watch the Imperials scramble as they try to draw blades on Cicero. "I'll have his head!" The one Nord woman yells.

"Quiet." The Night Mother says.

"You can't kill me! To disrespect Mother and Sithis at the same time!" Cicero is getting backed into a corner. I watch Mother again. She is doing the bare minimum to keep them at bay. It's almost like she wants to dispose of him.

Well, I don't. He's a pain in the ass, but he can be useful. "Stop!" I shout. My voice is weak from underuse and little blood, but they hear me.

They stop, all of them panting. Cicero leaps over the table and scrambles back to our side. Mother gives me a look of mild surprise. But she won't show them.

"As you can see, I am the one running the show here. I do not hide it. I do not expect you to be ignorant of it, nor do I expect you not to speak out on it. I merely wanted to show you an example of what it would be like to go against me in such a way. Elenwen was no more than a Thalmor monkey who would dance when her higher ups wanted her to. Am I correct?"

Tullius and the others are speechless. When they finally open their mouths the Night Mother continues. "It's for the best. Sit. We have matters to discuss."

So, they do.

She pins the Greybeard with her gaze before scouring the room. "Listen well. I am someone to fear. I am someone to respect. But I am not someone who will end you. It won't be me. Contrary to what you may believe, I need you all to live for a long while more. I will not interfere with mortal ramblings and worries. I will let you two sort out your war on who is High King.

"I do not wish to be High King. I merely want to be a vessel, a ferry to the next life. I am arranging that for mortals as we speak. As of right now any concern you have over me, or over the other side, is fruitless. We have the dragon to worry about. If he gets his way, we won't even be able to discuss who owns what."

The room is still on edge. "We still need to bargain if there will be peace." Ulfric tells the Night Mother.

She nods to his request. "As I anticipated. I will say this once, if you two will not agree, it will force my hand. Take the offer, or leave it, your choice. Ulfric, you get Markarth. General Tullius…how about Winterhold?"

"A Hold that you have your Brotherhood infesting." He nearly spits.

"It is my best offer. I cannot give you anything south of that." She returns.

I take a deep breath. Good. No word on Riften in there. I have too many friends still locked up there anyways. My mind wanders to Bryn and the others before I stop it. I can't think of them now, or I won't be able to focus.

General Tully Boy looks like he wants to cry. Which, I guess I would too. He did get kidnapped and dragged all the way here against his will, with his advisors, and watch his friend get killed. "I can agree to that." He seems like he wants to say more, but keeps his mouth shut.

The Night Mother stands and smiles upon the crowd. "Very well, it was so nice having this discussion today, the arrangements will be made and soon you will both have your holds. Now, if you will excuse me, I have a dragon to catch." She glides out of the room. Cicero grabs me roughly by the arm and drags me along.

No one says a word as we leave.

The chill air hits like a ton of bricks when we make our way onto the steps. "To Whiterun Cicero. We have no time to waste." She doesn't even look at me.

"Cicero is grateful for your outburst." He whispers to me. I don't say anything back.

"Dragonborn!" Someone is at the top of the steps. Mother turns, so does Cicero with me. Delphine is just wandering down to us, it's hard to see her in the frantic flurries that are falling but I can hear her.

"I need a word."

I hear the Night Mother grinding her teeth, but she comes forwards. "What is it Delphine? I'm very busy if you have not noticed."

The blonde woman shirks back from the sharp tone. "I know. I'm sorry. I just had to tell you this. We know who you're working with. Paarthurnax is the leader of the Greybeards. A dragon. When all this mess is over who is to say he won't side with Alduin again? I know you trust him, but we, the Blades, cannot have that. If you want to work with us, we would like for Paarthurnax to be killed."

She just gets a brain-dead look from Mother. "You dare request me to kill one of the most promising and knowledgeable people to help me in this fight? Are you a lunatic?"

Delphine shrinks again. "No. It's just he's…"

"A dragon. I know. I thought you were smarter than this, Delphine. Not all dragons, as not all people are alike. If you really want me to kill him then you are as simpleminded and ignorant as some of the Nords of these lands." She glances over the woman's form. Classic bitch move. "I will let you go. The stupidity you must live with is enough punishment. I will not be killing the dragon. If you dare ask again, or try to kill him yourself, I will have you and Esbern's entrails laid out around this monastery with your heads on a spit near the entrance. Understood?"

"Yes." The woman quickly tucks tail and moves back inside.

"Mother! You should have killed her! A quick swipe to the throat would have been enough!" Cicero squeals.

"It would have, but the Greybeards would not have been happy and we may need them further. Who is not to say we can't just steal into the Blade's headquarters at night to slit their throats?"

"Oh, Mother how delicious! How adventurous! A celebratory kill after the dragon is dead!" He dances but keeps pulling on my chains. "And if Listener is good, maybe she'll get a taste of the action."

A smirk is all I get from the Night Mother. Not a flat out denial, saying that I'm dead to them when this is all over, but an open ended answer.

Back in Whiterun we quickly got the Jarl's blessing to go ahead with this. I think he probably heard what went on up on the mountain, he seemed too shifty eyed and skittish to not know. So now, me and Mother stand side by side, waiting for the dragon to arrive.

Her voice yells out again. The dragon call. She learned it while we were waiting for the Brotherhood to bring Tullius up the mountain to the negotiating table. Paarthunax was more than happy to tell her how it all worked.

The skies are still quiet, it's night here, so the stars peek out from the clouds. No dragon wings yet. "Seems like a cool party trick." I mention.

"It would be, if I had a party to attend." The Night Mother keeps her eyes on the sky. "It's a freeing feeling…"

"I'm sure." I say, then I think on my words. It might be smart to appear especially weak. "I fought a dragon a bit ago, when I was in Winterhold. He nearly charred me alive."

Her lips quirk up at that. "If I were with you then, I would not have let him try to kill you."

I stay silent. It's a tense sort of silence. "What were you there for?" She asks.

"Books." I say, immediately. She didn't need to know we were Artifact hunting.

"Is that so? It reminds me of the time we had to go scour the library, then down into that infernal pit to gain the Elder Scroll."

Wow. I completely forgot about that. "Not in the top ten of best memories I've had, but it was good."

A call sounds in the sky. Too far away. Mother yells out again.

"Memories. I remember your favorites were the times you were on the beach and in your garden. Those roses were something I've never seen before." She muses.

I don't dare tell her it was Nocturnal's bending of will that allowed those flowers to change color. In reality, mom just planted a bunch of colors and hoped some survived. I think those memories were highjacked to give me the best version of that garden. It was a close imitation, but it was never that way in person.

"My parents did a lot of unique things." I reply.

"They did, didn't they?" She whispers softly, "Your will for revenge for them was admirable, Eve. If only I had such devotion from you."

I feel her claws sinking into me again. It was a nice little chat but the longer I'm around her the more the cobwebs of my mind like to form. She's trying to underhand me, groom me back into her pet. I keep my silence.

The little glance she gives me shows me she knows what I'm doing. But right as she opens her mouth for more gaslighting and nonsense, the dragon falls from the clouds. He has dark red scales that glisten in the moonlight. His terrifying face is locked straight on us. This was Alduin's "right hand", a dragon that seemed absolutely spine-chilling and dangerous. One that would decimate villages and help plunder people for their souls. A dragon like any other but with some extra power. I've never felt so relieved to see one.

Cicero's Journal Entry

12th of Last Seed, 4E 202

AHAHA! What a laugh it was to be in the Greybeards presence and slay that scheming woman! She had it coming. Most of them do. All of them, if Cicero were to guess. But the revelry was short lived. Now, a dragon shall arrive soon and Mother and me will just…fly off! Like Mother and Child! I'm not sure if she wants to take Listener yet. Cicero will be waiting with bated breath for Mother's final verdict.