Chapter 24:
"That's the one thing I didn't miss about you two," Aela gagged as we approached the gates of Whiterun. The sun was setting behind us, basking the sky in shades of pink and purple.
"You missed us being together?" I laughed, reaching up on my tip toes to kiss Vilkas's cheek, mainly to piss Aela off.
She just grumbled in response, shoving her way through the gates. She had been in a bad mood the whole trip since leaving Winterhold. I gathered that Lockan had said something or she had attachment issues.
Before we left, Lockan had pulled me aside and warned me to be careful with whatever else I had to do with defeating Alduin.
"Please, look out for yourself Hana. I don't want a carrier to tell me that I've lost my only other family in Skyrim," he had warned me.
I just shrugged him off and walked out of the college, before giving him a sisterly hug.
Shops were closing when we reached the plains district, Eorland's wife closed up her shop. I smiled and waved at her as we passed. I had grown fairly close to the city; many who passed would wave or thank me endlessly for something I can't remember helping them with.
"Do you think Jorrvaskrr is trashed when we walk inside?" Farkas said from behind.
"Tilma probably gave up trying to clean up after those whelps," Aela laughed.
"They are going to get a rude shock with Vilkas in charge," I smiled, elbowing him in the side.
He smirked slightly, wrapping an arm around my waist.
Aela held the door open for us as we strode inside our home. Surprisingly, the place was spotless, and of course, Torvar was passed out on his bench. I chuckled slightly as I took in the rest of Jorrvaskrr, basked in orange light.
"Bout dam time you all got back!" A ringing voice cried out. I winced slightly, knowing who exactly it was.
"Missed you too," I rolled my eyes at the Breton. Grace just snickered and bounced over to Farkas, giving him a hug. "And you think that Vilkas and I are bad Aela?"
Aela just scowled and walked down the stairs towards our rooms. I turned back towards my friend, placing my ebony hands on my hip. "So, you going to join the Companions or not?" I smirked.
"I said that I will only join if you become Harbinger," Grace sassed, her voiced muffled by Farkas's armour.
I looked at Vilkas and laughed. "Kodlak chose me to be Harbinger." Grace insantly peeled off Farkas and stared me down, eyes wide.
"You cant be serious?" She argued.
"Dead serious. So you joining?"
"I guess I have to now," she rolled her eyes.
I laughed again, confusing her more. "I didn't say I was actually Harbinger, you joined at the wrong time Grace. Vilkas is now the Harbinger of the Companions."
Even Vilkas laughed as Grace stood there, gaping like gold fish. "You bloody bitch!" she swore at me, a small laugh following. "If it means I can drink every night, and kill people then fine," Grace shrugged, backing up to Farkas.
"Farkas, looks like you have more authority over Grace now, or Whelp," Vilkas snickered next to me.
"Watch it, Grumps," Grace warned.
I laughed at the two before pulling away from Vilkas and heading down stairs to drop my gear off. I was glad to be back in Jorrvaskrr. The smell of mead and sweat wafted around me as I made my way to my room. I was just stripping off my armour when someone knocked on the door. The smell of smoke and honey drove itself into my senses, making me smile. "Come in," I yelled over my shoulder, unclasping the ebony gauntlets.
Vilkas stood in the door way, a smirk on his face. "I could have waited until you have changed."
I scoffed at him. "You've seen me naked more times than anyone else, I'm sure I'll manage."
He just laughed, his smirk increasing. "Are you trying to make my life living hell? Grace in the Companions, I can barely deal with her being sober."
"For someone who brags he's killed one of everything in Skyrim, you are afraid of Grace?" I raised an eyebrow at him, undoing the final clasp on my breast plate, letting it fall to the ground.
"I never said I was afraid of her, she just," he trailed off as I bent over, undoing the straps on my legs.
"Get's annoying, is ignorant, thinks highly of herself and is a smart ass. Did I mention annoying," I shrugged, stepping out of my boots.
I looked up, catching Vilkas roaming his eyes all over my body like I was a feast on a long table. I just smirked at him, and walked over to him in just my under garments. "You're turn," I purred at him, pulling him down for a kiss. He gladly accepted and walked into my room, slamming the door shut behind him.
0o0
Eventually, we made our way back up to the mead hall, greeted by the others. Everyone was congratulating Vilkas on being the new Harbinger, Torvar drinking for not only him, but for me as well.
I sipped from my tankard of honeyed milk while listening to Farkas telling the story of how we got attacked. Grace was perched right by his side, her long hair covering the majority of her face. I chuckled slightly, seeing everyone like this was something I had not seen since Kodlak's death.
The Companions had a new Harbinger, everything was as it should be.
"Oh Hana, I forgot. A courier gave me this, saying it was for you, no idea who it was from though," Grace shrugged, handing over a letter.
"Why didn't you hand this to me earlier? Like when I arrived?" I narrowed my eyes at her.
"It slipped my mind, besides I had to finish reading it first," She laughed. I flipped her off before opening the letter.
Hana,
It was that one time I chased that fox, and if I hadn't, you wouldn't have seen that ghost!
I forgot to mention that I was in Solstiem, my bad but you figured it out.
I hope that you are able to join us when you can, the people in the masks have quit roaming around the town but people have gone missing and found at weird shrine things.
I think they are shrines, who would know I'm just a crazy mage.
Funny story that, I'm actually with some sassy dark elf thing that's letting me be one of his apprentices! I haven't blown anything up just yet. There's still hope.
I don't know how you managed to piss off Alduin but I hope you give that bastard an ass whooping.
Why do you hunt mud crabs? Why not trolls or something with a little more ingredients that I can use, like a daedra. That also remind me, send me any lockpicks you can, I may have ran out…
Any, please try to get over here when you can.
Preferably when I'm still alive, or you are. Whatever works.
Ta
~M'Keenz
I smiled at the letter before placing it back down on the table. I would have to write back to her, and let her know my plans first, before I can head over there, after Alduin is defeated.
"Wait so none of you got a dagger thrown at you this time?" Grace laughed, her hair bobbing with her.
"Why does that surprise you?" I countered.
"Because usually you get pissed at someone," She cooed.
"Careful, you might be the next," I warned her. She just poked her tongue out at me and went back to talking with Farkas. I kept darting my eyes back to the letter. I felt bad for not being over helping M'keenz but I just needed some time after all this business is finished. I still had to tell the others, Vilkas most likely to have the worst reaction. I frowned at the thought, putting down my tankard.
As the night carried on, everyone was drunk, the only completely sober person was me. Grace had too much to drink, she had managed to get into a small fight with Njada, Farkas cheering her on from the side.
Eventually, everyone started heading down to their rooms, leaving Vilkas, Farkas, Grace and I in the hall. The only sound in the room was that of the fire crackling, it's own music filling my ears.
"So let me get this straight," Grace slurred, barely able to hold her mug up, "you and Vilkas snogged each other in a tomb and now you're back to normal?" Grace smiled lazily, alcohol on her breath. The boys were having an arm wrestle just next to us.
"Not quite but yes, and if you mean by snogged, no we did not have sex in the tomb, afterwards yes," I laughed. Grace had told me what she had been doing since she left. Apparently she returned the key she had been needing to return for a few months, and becoming head of the Thieves Guild, none of which she wanted.
"You player you," She winked, and went to take a swig from her mug, soon realising it was empty. A frown formed on her face, puppy eyes glaring my way. "Did you drink all my mead?"
I shook my head at my friend, "I don't drink remember."
"Nope," She shrugged and walked over to Farkas, stealing his mug from him and drinking it all.
"Woman! That's mine," he growled at her. He had lost to his brother some how, probably taken off guard from Grace.
"Well you aren't getting it back," She fussed, placing a hand on her hip. I turned towards Vilkas, his face lit with amusement.
Farkas smirked at Grace before picking her up off her feet and kissed her. I instantly felt sick and turned away from the two. "Go down stairs!" Vilkas growled at the two of them. Without a word said, Farkas carried Grace down stairs with him. As soon as they walked through the doors, I sighed in relief. "Think they missed each other?" Vilkas laughed.
"No, I don't think so," I giggled, walking over and sitting down on Vilkas's lap. "I honestly hope he trips."
Vilkas raised an eyebrow at me, while playing with the ends of my hair. "What, like he did with you?"
I groaned in disgust and hid my face in the crook of his neck. "Please don't remind me."
He let out a small chuckle, pulling me closer to him. "So who was the letter from?"
"M'keenz, one of my old friends I met while travelling. She's a bit looney," I said.
"And?"
"She wants me to go to Solsteim, help her out, but I won't be able to go. Not for a little while yet." I tried to bite back my words, but winced as I saw Vilkas's face change from happiness to confusion.
"Why won't you be able to help her? Is something wrong?" he asked, taking my hand in his.
I avoided his eyes. "As soon as I defeat Alduin, if I make it that far, I'm going away for a bit. I just want to travel Skyrim a bit, get away from everything." He didn't say anything, but the pressure on my hand only increased. "I just need time to myself, away from everything. I've been running around doing things I'm forced to do, and nothing I want to do. I need a break."
He finally spoke, "How long?"
"I don't know, it could be for a week, a month or two, maybe even a year. I don't know," I met his gaze, hurt flooding through them. "You didn't do anything, no one did. I just need time to myself."
The pressure on my hand ceased, his thumb making small circles on my hand. "There's going to be no point in arguing for you not to go. Aye, if that's what you need to do, but you're home is here. In Jorrvaksrr, don't forget that."
I smiled lazily at him. "Trust me, I won't forget it, and definitely not you."
He smiled back at me and leaned in for a kiss. I smiled into it, but he soon pulled away. "I think Farkas and Grace had the right idea," he smirked.
"Oh?" I rose an eyebrow at him, the sides of my lips pulling upwards. In one swift motion, he pulled me up and held me in his arms, carrying me back downstairs.
0o0
The city was rubble.
The plains turned to ashes.
No trees stood tall.
Everything was dead.
The walls had long collapsed. Black smoke swam around the sky, swallowing the sun.
I walked through the piles of dead bodies, each their faces filled with horror and pain. Hoping that the Dragonborn could have saved them, but I didn't. No one lifted a finger to save them. Empty shells of armour and untouched weapons littered the ground, resting next to were their owners should have been.
I continued to stalk on, looking around the lifeless landscape. Ashes of the fallen swept the ground as I placed each foot down, stirring in a black mist
. This was the end… The end I couldn't stop.
The ashes around me began to float, spinning around me, coming back to life. Their dullness and death turned to white and grey. As I stepped further away, the familiar sound of snow crunched underneath my feet.
I looked around. Snow caped rocks surrounded me, their glassy form shining in the now bright light.
Just a head of me was a golden case, a single amethyst in the centre. The urge to open the case increased as I walked closer to it, curious as to what it was.
I slowly opened the lid, soon wishing I hadn't. Screams periced the once piece mountain top. I stumbled back, clutching my ears, hoping the screams would stop.
When they disappeared, I looked up. Everyone was there. Aela, Grace, Farkas and Vilkas, all standing in front of me, their faces wiped of any expression. Their eyes turned to ice, churning like that in the frozen sea.
I ran to up them, violently shaking them, screaming at them to snap out of it. I slammed my fists on Vilkas's chest, begging him to wake up from whatever had taken over him.
They didn't even blink my way.
Thunder echoed above me, forcing me to look up. A single, dark shadow soared above me, landing on a rock. It's red eyes staring me down, into my soul.
"You did not listen girl. You could have saved them all. You think you can defeat me," The voiced echoed around me, drowning out any thoughts inside my head. "You killed them. All of them."
"You did this to us," they all spoke in unison. "You did this to all of us." Their blank eyes shifting towards me. "Why didn't you save us? Save me?" Vilkas spoke, his voice rumbling over the wind.
I could feel tears streaming down my face. "You did this to us. You killed us. You didn't save us. You are not worthy!" they screamed at me. My knees buckled in pain, trying to block out the screams. By the time I looked up, everything went black.
Slowly, I stood up, allowing the darkness to flow with me with each movement. I closed my eyes, my whole body shivering from sobs. I wanted the darkness to take me , take me away from this mess. To a place where I was no longer Dragonborn. Where I was a nobody, where people didn't need me.
I opened them again and saw the scroll, its casing shining bright in the dark.
"Hana," It seemed to call me. It's voice wisping around me, leaking through a small slit in the case.
. "Hana," it repeated, my name growing louder as I walked closer.
0o0
"Hana!" Vilkas shouted at me. I shot straight out of the bed, my face wet from tears. "Oh thank gods," Vilkas sighed, pulling me into a hug. I didn't do anything. I couldn't think, couldn't speak.
The dream, it felt so real. "Hana?" Vilkas repeated my name again, pulling away from the embrace
I slowly lifted my eyes to meet his in the dim light. "Yeah, I'm here," I blubbered.
"What was all that about," he asked, holding my hands, his warmth soothing my shaking hands.
"Alduin. Haunting my dreams." I stammered, I looked past him and over to the scroll leaning against the wall, its case shining brighter in the dark. My hands released from his grasp and helped me shift out of the bed. I wiped away the remainding tears and walked over to my armour. I had to leave, right now.
"What are you doing?" Vilkas asked, his voiced laced with worry and sleep.
"I'm leaving for High Hrothgar," I said, shaking away the screams still ringing in my head.
"We just got back, can't you leave in the morning?" He jumped out from the bed, making me face him. He raised his hand to my cheek, his thumb brushing over my skin.
"I'm sorry, I have to go," I sighed, "If you could have seen what I saw, you would too."
I strapped the last part of my armour together and reached for my weapon and shield. I hauled my pack over my shoulder and faced Vilkas. In the small amount of light in the room, his face was written with fear and grief.
"Then let me go with you," he tried to persuade me.
I shook my head. "No, your staying here, and I'm leaving. Now." I opened the door but was pulled back, Vilkas's lips crushed against mine. I sighed into the kiss, resting a hand on his chest. By the time I pulled away, I couldn't meet his eyes. "Please come back," He sighed.
"I will, I love you," I said, pulling him down for a final kiss before leaving my room, the scroll attached to my back. Guilt welled in my stomach as I left the hall as quietly as I could, not wanting to disturb the others, not bothering to explain with a note for them.
Cold wind bit at my face as I walked through the empty streets of Whiterun, on my way to the stables. It was just past midnight. If I left now on horseback, I would reach the Throat of the World by mid-morning. My mind kept flickering back to my nightmare. It had felt so real, but I didn't want it too. Seeing all of their faces, robbed of expression, emotion. I pushed the memory away, trying to focus on the present.
A single horse stood in the stable, saddled. I dropped five hundred gold at the door of the stables and rode away on the bay mare, to the place I would learn how to defeat Alduin. The dreams had become reoccurring, each different then the last but not as bad as this. It was like my other vision when I was in a coma, it looked and felt so real. Maybe the divines really wanted me to put back that shield.
I pushed and pushed the horse to Ivarstead, up the stairs towards High Hrothgar, the star lit sky still above me, only allowing a for more hours left of night. I do not know how I managed to make it to High Hrothgar as quickly as I did, but I did not complain. I rushed through the keep and outside to the path winding its way up to the Throat of the World.
I did not bother waking the Grey Beards, they needed as much sleep as I did. By the time I reached the top, my throat was burning from shouting away the killing wind. My face red raw from the furious winds.
Apart from the distant howl of wind, the whole of Skyrim was sleeping. Although I knew all the remaining circle members would be awake, waiting for me to return.
The mountain was not how I saw it in my dream, fresh, crisp white snow covered the tip of the mountain. And jewelled on the highest peak, was Paarthurnax. He soared down from his resting point, landing on the word wall, beaten and battered from the snow and other dragons.
"Dovahkiin, you have the scroll. Quick, take the scroll to the time wound," The ancient being chanted, flaring his torn wings. "Alduin is coming, he knows of the scroll. He will not miss the signs."
I had to force my hands not to shake as I reached for the scroll, walking towards the time wound. The air in front of me wavered, specks of what I thought to be snow, held still in the air. I prayed that Alduin would not come while I read the scroll.
I grabbed for the golden encased scroll and lifted it infront of me, the weight of it in my arms causing them to tire. I steadied my breath. Shut my eyes and let a breath out, shaking in the process.
Then I opened the scroll. Blinding light flashed before me, then a oval map of sorts clouding my vision. I looked around the mountain, thinking that nothing had changed. But it had.
Instead of the dark blue night sky and blinding white snow, a red hazed sky shifted around me, stained crimson snow under my feet. I was in the past.
The roar of dragons echoed above me as I swivelled on the spot, looking around me.
A dragon landed not far from me, didn't stir at my presence.
Voices shouted behind me. I whirled around and saw two Nords, female and male, clad in armour and weapons. "Gormlaith! We're running out of time! The battle…" The male Nord trailed off as the dragon began to speak.
"Darr sul thur se Alduin vakrii. Todaw Alduin's lordship will be restored. But I honour your courage. Krid vith ahkrin. Die now, in vain."
The female Nord, who I presumed to be Gormlaith, shouted, running towards the dragon, no fear lurking in their eyes.
They slayed the beast within minutes, fair quicker than what I have been able to.
"Hakon!" Gormlaith shouted to her companion, "A glorious day, is it not!"
"Have you no thought beyond the blooding of your blade?" Hakon pushed.
The two spoke on, talking of the war raging above and below them.
An old man appeared next to them, wearing what looked like the attire of the Grey Beards. He talked of Alduin coming, coming for them. And that of a shout, able to bring down any dragon, and an elder scroll.
A defeaning roar bellowed above, the familiar shape of the darkest of night dragon landing on the same stone Paarthunax had moments ago.
"Meyye! Tahrodiis anne! Him hinde pa liiv! Zu'u hin daan!" Alduin shouted in dragon tongue, none of which I could gather.
"Let those that watch from Sovngarde envy us this day!" Gormlaith shouted, raising her sword in triumph.
The three quickly joined each other and faced the dragon. "Joor… Zah… Frul!" they shouted, their Thu'um shaking the mountain. Blinding blue light raced towards the god made beast.
He screamed out in pain, the light shifting around him, attacking his very soul, binding him to the ground.
He cursed at them, flairing his wings in rage. The three Nords launched for Alduin, hoping to make the killing blow. They all attacked with what would be death blowing strike to the beast but did little to nothing.
Alduin snapped for Gormlaith, snapping down on her body and throwing her aside, dead.
The old man, Felldir, stood back and opened the scroll, identical to one that had been on my back.
"Hold, Alduin on the wing!. Sister Hawk, grant us your sacred breath to mae this contract heard! Begone, World-Eater! By the words with older bones than your own we break your perch on this age and send you out! You are banished Alduin, we shout you out from all our endings unto the last!"
Alduin screamed in rage again, throwing words of the Dovah into the air.
"You are banished!" The old man screamed again. The magic from the scroll unleashed itself on the dragon, wrapping him in blinding white light. When the light cleared away, there nothing but prints in the snow where Alduin had been.
They had done it, banished Alduin.
0o0
My eyes screamed in pain as the vision faded into nothing, leaving on the mountain. The new shout ringed through my ears, beckoning me to use my Thu'um.
Before I could even register what was going on, a roar of unnatural thunder boomed ahead. A dark mass be lining straight towards me.
I ducked to the frozen ground, narrowly missing Alduin as he perched himself on the highest rock he could find. Damned dragons and their rocks.
"Bahloki nahkip sillesejoor. My belly is full of the souls of your fellow mortals, Dovahkiin. Die now and await your fate in Sovngarde!" Alduin roared down at me. My breat hitched, hoping Kodlak was not one of those souls.
"Lost funt. You are too late Alduin!" Paarthurnax bellowed to his dragon brother.
"Suleyki mulagg, Paarthurnax. My power has waxed, while yours has waned."
"Dovahkinn!," Paarthurnax shouted to me, his eyes still focused on Alduin, "Use Dragonrend, if you know it!"
I steadied my feet, raising my weapon and shield, ready for the onslaught to begin. Thunderous clouds slithered through the sky as I recalled the shout. Any anger that dwelled in my stomach and in my heart boiled in my throat as I face Alduin. He looked like the day I had seen him in Helgen. The black scales twisted and fused together forming horrid spikes along his body and the only other colour was his crimson eyes.
"Joor Zah Frul!"I shouted, letting all that welled in me into the shout. It darted straight for Alduin as it had in the vison. I stumbled back slightly from my own force and glanced towards Alduin. The light warped around him, his eyes now burning with rage, hotter than the flames at Helgen.
"You will pay for your defiance!" Alduin roared to Paarthurnax, what I would have presumed to be a scowl on the dragons jaws.
"Dovahkiin, vosaraan! Use Dragonrend before Alduin consumes you!" Paarthurnax warned me.
I looked back at Alduin, hoping that he was still bound to the earth.
He was not.
I coiled backwards as he lashed at me with his ancient lethal jaws. Snow melted in the wake of the fire that he unleashed upon me. I had barely enough time to roll to the side before I could be engulfed in heat.
He rose from the ground, soaring high above, shouting unknown words of power into the sky. The slithering clouds boomed, unleashing an army of falling rocks, covered in flames.
With quick feet, I dodge them, barely. I had to get Alduin back on the ground if I wanted to live through this. He would bank again, close enough to me to use Dragonrend. I hadn't even laid a blow to him yet.
As I predicted, he banked towards me. I crooked smile appeared on my face as I shouted again, the same light making its way to the dragons soul.
Just as he landed, I launched for him.
I thrusted my axe down on his scalp, a deafening roar of pain escaped him, his bright eyes flaring. I ducked to the side, avoided his jaws once again, in time to rip one of his wings with my axe.
Alduin spun around, his tail heading straight towards me. My body met the snow as I fell to the ground, narrowly avoiding the blow. I was getting sick of his games, as he was of mine.
I shouted at him again, making sure he stayed grounded. The beast roared again, a warning for me to stop my foolish actions.
I didn't let my mind slip, only focusing on the battle in front of me. My wolf spirit howling for it to help, but I gritted my teeth and carried on.
"You foolish mortal! You think those nightmares were fake? You will join your friends in Oblivion while the all of Tamriel rots away!" He bellowed at me.
I pushed aside the nightmare, its constant nagging to be acknowledged like that of a pup. I mustered most of my strength and threw my axe, wedging itself in the side of the dragons neck. He screamed in pain, his wings flaring.
I was too caught up with avoiding the falling rocks to realise one of his wings heading my way.
All the air inside of me vanished as I was lashed against one of the rocks. I screamed in pain as his wing ripped into my armour, in the flesh. My vision blurred, red soaking my left eye. I could feel the blood flowing down from my temples and brow. My cheek sliced from the impact of the rocks.
I grunted in pain, holding an hand to my open wound, the blood soaking through the gaps in my armour.
I started to see red as Alduin crawled towards me. My axe was strewn too far away from me to reach. I was not going to die, not tonight. I had a family to return to. I made a promise.
And I would keep it.
With the strength that I had, hell swimming inside my head, I snarled at Alduin. "FUS RO DAH!" I shouted at him.
He stumbled, taken back from the force I propelled behind it. Before he had time to recover I shouted again. "Yol Toor Shul!" Fire wrapped around his form, the orange glow radiating from his spiked scales.
I was going home, whether he wanted me to or not. He flailed in pain. The only way I wanted him to be in. Pain. For all the suffering he had put me through in those dreams, at Helgen, the hell I had to go through to get this far.
I rushed forward, dodging his attacks for my axe. I screamed at him, no shout, but a scream of hate and anger. "WULD!" I shouted as I clutched the ebony axe on my hand, straight towards Alduin. I leapt into the air at the last second. Ignoring the pain in my side and head, I mustered what strength I could and slammed my axe down on the joint of his neck and head.
He reared back in pain as I tumbled to the ground, clutching my side. My vision cut from clear to a blur, making it harder to see Alduin.
"Meyz mul, Dovahkiin. You have become strong. But I am AL-DU-IN, first born of Akatosh. Mulaagi zok lot! I cannot be slain here, by you or anyone else! You cannot prevail against me. I will outlast you mortal!" He snarled at me, flaring his now injured wings.
I scowled at him. "Try you're fucking best Alduin, but I'm not dying from a fucking lizard," I spat at him. My blood leaked from my hand and onto the snow.
The coward he was, Alduin flapped his mighty wings and soared off, away from me before I could kill him. In an instant, my knees buckles out before me, making me fall to the ground in a groaning heap. My hand still covering my side. I gazed up from were I was laying and saw Paarthurnax land on the rocks above me. "That could have gone better," I cough, letting the blood ripple down my face.
I could have sworn I heard the old dragon chuckle. "Lot kronghrah. You truly have the Voice of a dovah. Alduin's allies will think twice after this victory." He declared, his dragon tongue slipping.
"It wasn't really a victory, since Alduin escape," I coughed again, bile rising in my throat.
"True, this is not the final victory," he spoke, "If you want to seek out Alduin, one of his allies could tell us. Motmahus… But it will not be easy to convince any of them to betray him. Perhaps the palace," he paused. I grimaced as I realised what he was going to say. "The palace in Whiterun. Dragonsreach. It was originally built to house a captive dovah." Paarthurnax spoke of a dragon that could be possible to trap, but I was hardly listening, only able to catch the dragons name.
If it wasn't for the pain in my side and face, I could have thrown any weapon I could at the dragon for even mentioning trapping a dragon in my city. I laid there thinking. "I am in high doubt," I paused, pushing myself up from the ground, gritting my teeth at the pain, "That the Yarl will agree."
"I do not doubt that you can convince him," Paarthurnax ensured. "Go, find a way to catch another Dovah."
I scowled his way, slowly pushing myself onto my feet. I grabbed for my axe and shield and stumbled away from the dragon and back towards the keep. Each step was worse then the next. I was sure if I would make it back. The pain in my side jolted as though lightning was constanty striking me, sending shivers of pain over my body.
I was half blinded and falling over my own body by the time I reached the keep, stumbling in and falling in the foyer of the keep. I could hear the hushed voices and sweeping of robes around me.
Arngeir stood in front of me as I tried to pull myself up. "Alduin… We heard the Dragonrend Shout from here… You defeated him?" He asked, rushing over to a table and fetching me a well needed potion.
Before I answered, I snatched the potion away from him and skulled the contents. I wave of warmth spread over my battered cold body, the wound in my side residing to a trickle. "Aye it was that bastard but he escaped and I have no fucking idea where he went," I growled, throwing the bottle against the wall, shattering on impact .
"The old tales say that he is able to travel into Sovngarde to devour the souls of the dead. But they don't say how he does this."
"Trust the old monk to do that," I hissed, flexing my hand, "One of his allies could tell us…"
"Yes of course! But how to force a dragon to talk to you.." The old monk trailed off.
I pushed myself upright and leaned against one of the pillars, careful not to reopen the wound. "Dragons Reach," I panted, " It can hold a dragon and I know which one."
"Then you must return back to Whiterun, get the Jarl to help you and catch that dragon," he nodded, before leaving me alone in the room.
If I didn't have any respect for these monks and in my condition, I would have trashed their hall and maybe killed one of them.
I slowly rose to my feet and limped towards the door, hoping my horse was still outside. Some how it was.
I didn't have the time to realise while fighting that the sky had turned from night into beautiful morning colours, each one bouncing off the clouds that had rained down on me.
I pushed the horse forward, but not on the road, over the edge. Rocks skidded bellows the horses hooves as we made a straight line for Whiterun. I could see Dragon Reach from horse back, its mighty roof glimmering from the light.
The injury in my side began to ache and sting as we continued down. Any more sudden shifts my the horse would cause the wound to reopen, and I did not think I would be able to make it to the healer in time.
I doubted that everyone near the mountain heard Alduin and the shouting that commenced as I fought him, knowing exactly who was up there.
Exhaustion racked over my body as the horse continued to go down the mountain. I could barely keep my eyes open as we reached the plains, the horse trotting towards its home.
We were less than an ten minutes away, until I heard the familiar howl. Wolves. My horse bucked in fear as the wolves ran closer to us, foam building around their mouths. I was thrown back, another shockwave of pain flooding my body. My horse ran, leading the wolves away.
I clutched my side, fresh blood trickling from the wound. I had to get to the healer, back inside those gates.
I stumbled to my feet and dragged myself closer to the stables, then to the main gates of the city. The cuts on my face had started to leak again. My head was spinning and my eyes blurred. No one was at the gate. I presumed the gaurds were changing shifts.
I bit back a scream of pain as I hauled the gates open, letting the blood trickle down my ebony black armour and onto the cobbled streets of the city.
No one was outside in the first light of the day. The divines, I swear, were forcing this upon me. I groaned as I tried to walk up the stairs towards the wind district, but couldn't make it up them. With trembling hands, I undone the straps of the shield and my axe, letting them drop to the ground in an effort to help me.
I hobbled up the stairs and towards Jorrvaskrr, knowing I couldn't make it to the healer without passing out.
I was barely hanging onto reality as I pushed open the doors to the mead hall. I didn't bother letting them know I was there, as the Circle members swarmed around me, looking at my battered and bloody body.
"Fuck," I heared grace curse, running out of the hall.
I caught glimpse of Silver eyes and I smiled, more of a grimace than an actual smile. "By the divines Hana! Things cant go back to normal for one day without you trying to get killed." He swore at me, reaching for my bloodied hand.
"I thought that was normal," I croaked, my eyes fluttering shut.
"Come on Hana, stay with us for a few more seconds," Vilkas stammered. My vision cleared for long enough to see his face. His eyes hollow, and face a pale as the snow on the mountain. Lack of sleep clouded his eyes.
The doors to the hall opened and Danica walked through, her hands already glowing a warm orange. A warm sensation welled over me. Everything blurred and every noise became muffled for a few seconds.
I stifled a groan as Aela and Grace started undoing the straps of my ebony armour. So much for it being dragon resistant. They removed the chest piece, after tugs constant tugs and a mouth full of swearing at them.
"This is why you need someone to go with you, you stubborn Nord," Grace scowled down at me, her hair falling over her face. "You better have a good explanation for this."
"Don't worry," I breathed as Danica pulled her hands away from my wound, "I'll tell you, all of you." The bleeding had stopped, and my skin healed over the wound, leaving it red and swollen like a large scratch mark.
"You're going to have a pretty bad scar," Danica sighed, wiping away the sweat from her for head, "same goes for the scar on your cheek."
I could not care less of the scars, the one on my cheek I could just hide with war paint. The other, it won't be visible for anyone to see anyway.
My vision still wouldn't focus as the twins lifted me up from the ground and into a chair, cursing at them all the way.
"Thank you so much Danica, again," I winced, pain still rippling from my side.
"Please, no more killing or attacking anything in the next few days. Other wise the scar could bust open again," She eyed at me, her short hair stuck to her face. With a nod towards the other companions, she left the hall without another word.
I stripped my hands of my gauntlets and boots, sitting there with my rough tunic and teared pants.
"I think I speak for everyone here." Grace paused, sitting down on the table in front of me, "What the hell happened to you?"
I skimmed my cheek, searching for the new scar on my freckled face. I forced my eyes to focus on Grace, then on everyone else. "Alduin," I breathed shakily, "I battled with Alduin."
Even the fire seemed to go quiet as I spoke, everyone, even Grace, held their breath.
"And I was hoping troll or bandit got lucky," Farkas said, wrapping an arm around Grace.
"That would explain the storm on top of mountain. And the thunder," Vilkas started, grabbing a chair and sitting down next to me, gripping onto my hand.
"Trust me, it was not thunder," I sighed, my vision sharpening again.
"So the monk on top of the mountain, he didn't help? And what of the scroll?" Aela spoke.
"Alduin knew that I possessed the scroll. I don't know for how long but he knew. If I hadn't left sooner, he may have killed us all in our sleep…" I stammered. My dream. That would have happened if I didn't leave when I did. The scroll was a giant target on my back.
"That's comforting," Grace snorted, "What of the monk?"
I paused, I did not know if I should tell them or not about Paarthurnax or not, but considering they have all been with me the whole time, it was worth it. "His name is Paarthurnax, he isn't exactly a Grey Beard like the others."
"How so?" Aela said.
I gripped onto Vilkas's hand a little but tighter. "Because he is one of them, a dragon. He was Alduin's second."
"Any other secrets you want to tell us while we are here?" Grace hissed.
"One last thing, I need to capture a dragon."
The grip on my hand tightened. I titled my head towards Vilkas, his eyes darker than usual. "How are you going to do that?"
I let out a shaky breath. "In Dragons Reach. It's built to hold a captive dragon. So I have to lure one in and hope he will cooperate."
The pressure on my hand ceased instantly, felling Vilkas shift from beside me.
"You want to bring a dragon, into our city. Our home?" He scowled down at me.
I put my attention somewhere else. Grace scowled as well, her eyes flashing bright. Farkas had gone pale and Aela, she must have left.
"Are you crazy? If you mess up, it will destroy this whole city!" Grace snarled.
"Don't you think I know that!" I shouted at her, "If you have any other idea to get a dragon, by all means let me know."
"There as to be another way than that. Your going to get us killed!" Grace bit back.
"We will all be killed if I don't do this Grace!" I screamed back, rising to my feet, pain throbbing in my side. Warm hands gripped mine. I quickly glanced back my lover, his face filled with worry. I snapped my head back to my stubborn friend. "I don't want to do this either but I have to."
"There has to be. I don't want this place burnt to rubble like Helgen."
The pain in my side and face numbed as I stared down at my friend in rage. If I had known she was going to kick up such a storm about this, I wouldn't have said anything. And to bring up Helgen, I thought she would have known better. "What do you care of this place? You only come here to see Farkas and that's it! So I don't understand why you're having a whole fuss about it. I didn't come back here to be arguing with you."
Hurt shifted on her face, her icy green eyes flaring. Farkas stepped back from her, as though she was dying flame atronarch. "You have some nerve Hana. You leave us because of some dream and come back bruised and blooded. This is my home too and I don't want it destroyed because you fucked up."
"It's all about you isn't it?" I asked her as I let go of Vilkas, limping over to her. " If I wanted this place burning, I would have stayed last night. Then we all would be dead." I loomed over her, ignoring the pain in my sides. In an instant, my fist collided with her jaw. "If you don't want to see this go through, then leave. Run back to your guild like the thief you are."
Grace stumbled back, holding her jaw with her hand. Farkas just stood there behind her shocked. I could feel Vilkas stiffen behind me.
Grace straightened her back and darted her eyes towards me. "Fine I will. Good luck with killing everyone here!" She hissed and stormed out of the mead hall.
Whatever had been helping me support my own weight crumbled, letting me fall. If Vilkas wasn't behind me, I would have knocked myself out on the floor. His arms caught me, pulling myself close to him.
I glanced up at Farkas, his face sick with sorrow and anger. "Sorry Farkas, I didn't mean to say anything to offend you." I mumbled, my vision fading in and out.
"I'm going after Grace," he huffed and left the hall after her. I sighed and wished I hadn't snapped. She should know that I can't do anything about it and let alone want to go through with it. Now I had one upset twin and an angry Breton bound to send an assassin after me.
"She had that coming for her," Vilkas grumbled, pulling me tighter into his embrace. I barely even made a sound of acknowledgement.
He slowly pulled me down with him until we sat in front of the fire, sitting on his lap. "I for one don't care that you have to capture a dragon in there. Just let us help you."
"Fine," I grumbled, "Do you think Farkas hates me now? That I told Grace to leave?"
Vilkas paused for a while, his hand playing with my chocolate hair. "No. He may just take some time to understand why you sent Grace away but he will come around. Besides she will come back I'm sure."
"I hope you are right. You're already fitting into your new title." I giggled, planting a small kiss on his cheek.
He chuckled and wrapped his arms tighter around me. We stayed wrapped in each others arms for a while, everyone still asleep downstairs. I would have to speak with the Jarl, but that could wait. Who knows when I could be like this with Vilkas again.