As they passed through the gates to Whiterun, they felt the eerie blanket of silence that fell on the city. Evidently, the city's general populace had been moved into the tomb of Arkay after Shai'ira had left the city, as it was the only structure that provided suitable protection from a dragon attack. As Torval and Shai'ira climbed to Dragonsreach, news of the dragon's defeat began to spread, and people were slowly returning to their homes and businesses. Once they reached the Cloud district, one of the city guards rushed to meet them. "The Jarl's waiting for you, come on!" the woman ordered. Torval grumbled in response, and quickened his pace to a jog, with Shai'ira close behind.
The doors to Dragonsreach were opened for them, and they quickly found themselves before the Jarl. He bolted out of his throne as he saw the two approach. "We saw the tower collapse from here, what happened out there?" He demanded, taking note of Torvals missing arm.
Shai'ira spoke before Torval could. "We managed to kill the dragon…" Shai'ira drifted off, looking as though she were about to add something, but held her tongue.
A wave of relief passed through the Jarls face. "I knew I could count on Irileth, but somethings bothering you. What is it?"
Shai'ira cast her gaze about the hall for several seconds, uncertain of what to say, before she finally spoke up. "When the dragon died… something happened, there was… a kind of energy coming out of the dragons body… I think-" She paused, composing her thoughts. "I think I absorbed something from it." Jarl Balgruuf slowly eased himself back into his throne as he processed what the Khajiit had told him, and Shai'ira shifted uneasily as she felt the eyes of everyone present fall upon her. Before anyone could say anything however, a sudden thunderous boom sounded from the skies, and shook the foundations of the keep.
Shai'ira shifted her weight to keep her balance. As she did so, she heard a word that echoed through her skull. "Dovahkiin!" The buildings occupants shuddered, but as the rolling thunder subsided, they began to regain their composure.
Jarl Balgruuf cleared his throat, and turned his gaze back to Shai'ira. "That settles it then lass. I suspected it after what you told me about the dragon, but that confirms it. You are Dragonborn."
Shai'ira again shifted her weight uncomfortably, as she heard a wave of whispers pass through the keep among those present. "What does that mean?"
Jarl Balgruuf paused, considering how best to explain the ancient legends, before one of the many onlookers present spoke up. "My grandfather said Dragonborn can absorb the souls of dragons"
Another spoke up. "I heard they're supposed to be able to shout without training."
Before anyone else could speak up, Jarl Balgruuf raised a hand, commanding silence from those present. He turned his gaze back to Shai'ira as he addressed her. "If you want answers that are more than just repeating old stores, you'll have to speak to the Greybeards."
"The Greybeards?" Shai'ira asked.
"They're monks that live in High Hrothgar, atop the Throat of the World." Torval answered, speaking for the first time since their arrival in Dragonsreach. Balgruuf nodded.
"Aye. And it seems they'd like to speak to you as well. That thundering sound we heard? That was the Greybeards summoning you to High Hrothgar. Such a thing has not happened since Tiber Septim himself was summoned. I would advise you not to ignore their call."
Shai'ira nodded, then spoke. "I won't," She paused, then continued, "But what are we going to do about the dragon's body?"
Balgruuf clasped his hands together and rested his head atop them, looking as if he were praying, as he regarded her question. "I have a few ideas about what to do with the corpse. I'll let you know how those turn out later, for you have more important concerns right now." He paused, then continued. "I thank you for your service to our city, Dragonborn. I grant you the position of Thane of Whiterun, and I assign you Lydia as a personal housecarl, she will accompany you to High Hrothgar, and anywhere else your travels may bring you. Gods guide you, Dragonborn." Shai'ira bowed her head in thanks, and turned to leave, Torval right behind her.
He clapped his hand on her shoulder as they traversed the stairs leading outside. "Moving up in the world are we? Thane of Whiterun…" Shai'iras brow scrunched up in confusion.
"What's a Thane?"
"It's basically a noble person. The Jarl has named you a person of great value to the city. It's a thing to be proud of lass." Shai'ira nodded, a smile creeping onto her lips. When they passed by the guard barracks just before the city gates, a woman approached them.
Shai'ira and Torval came to a halt as she drew near. The woman bowed, and addressed Shai'ira. "Greetings my Thane. My name is Lydia. I've been assigned as your housecarl."
Shai'ira returned the bow. "A pleasure to meet you Lydia. Did the Jarl tell you where we were headed?"
The ebony haired woman nodded. "He did."
Shai'ira dipped her head in acknowledgment. "Well then there's no reason to hang around here any longer, let's get going." The now party of three proceeded through the gates, and hired the carriage driver outside the city to drive them to Ivarstead.
Torval retrieved a fur cloak he'd purchased on their way out of the city, and offered it to Shai'ira. "You should get some rest lass." You'll need your strength for the climb to High Hrothgar. " Shai'ira took the cloak, and hummed in thanks. She wrapped the fur around herself, and drifted off to sleep.
The journey to Ivarstead was uneventful, and the party found themselves in Ivarstead as the sun began to set. Torval reached over to Shai'ira, and gently shook her awake. The Khajiit stirred, and tried to shake off the lingering clutch of sleep as she gazed at the mountain above them, her eyes widening in disbelief. "Gods, we're supposed to climb that thing?"
Torval turned to face Shai'ira. "There's a path that leads to High Hrothgar, so we're not literally climbing the mountain. But even so, it's still going to be a difficult hike. Take it slow, and remember to breathe deeply, the air will get thinner the higher we go. But before we do, we should stop at the inn and get something to eat, we'll need the energy if we're to make the climb." Shai'ira dipped her head in acknowledgment, and the party entered the tavern, evidently named the Vilemyr inn, which was hardly an appealing name. As Torval approached the barkeep, Shai'ira and Lydia took their seats. After a minute passed, Torval rejoined the two women.
Shai'ira took a moment to absorb her surroundings. The warmth of the hearth next to them, the sound of the bard singing a sad song of lost loves and forgotten homes, and the sizzle and crackling of cooking meat all combined to make an incredibly pleasant atmosphere, and Shai'ira purred to herself as she lost herself in it. After a quarter of an hour passed, their meals were brought to them by a fair looking barmaid, and Shai'ira took her time in savoring the warmth of the meat, and crispiness of the grilled and boiled vegetables that had been brought to her. A warm meal anywhere was satisfying, but in this land of bitter cold and freezing wind, a hot meal and warm drink were heavenly. With their belly's full, the three of them paid for their meal and thanked the inkeep, then stepped outside, the frigid air quickly reasserting itself.
The trio moved towards the bridge that led to the path to High Hrothgar, Torval and Lydia following close behind Shai'ira.
As she approached, she saw two Nords conversing with each other, one had a stuffed bag lying next to his feet. The Nord with the bag looked at Shai'ira as she drew close. "Hello traveler. Tell me, are you headed up to High Hrothgar?"
"I am." The Khajiit responded.
"Could I ask something of you? The Greybeards don't come down from the mountain at all really, and we here in Ivarstead have been supplying them with food and other supplies." He gestured to the bag underneath him. "I'd take it myself, but I'm getting too old to make the climb. Would you do it for me? I'd pay you of course."
Shai'ira nodded. "Of course, we're heading up there, so we might as well." The Nord thanked Shai'ira as she hefted the bag, and threw it over her shoulder. Torval had taken point, and Lydia took up the rear as they began their ascent.
True to Torvals warning, their trek became considerably more difficult for Shai'ira as they climbed higher. The steep incline of the road, combined with the weight of the bag over her shoulder and the rapidly thinning air sapped more of Shai'ira's strength than she'd anticipated. Lydia shortened the distance between herself and the Khajiit, and offered to carry the bag for Shai'ira. The Khajiit reluctantly handed the bag over, not liking the idea of being a burden, which was only worsened when Torval gestured for them to stop and rest. Shai'ira looked at her Nord companions, and noticed that neither of them seemed winded from their trek so far.
Torval withdrew a water skin that hung from his belt, and offered it to Shai'ira. The Khajiit brought the skin to her lips, but frowned when she felt the frigidness of the water within. She stared daggers at her male companion, a hint of mirth in her eyes. "Offering me a cold drink in skyrim? On a mountain? Are you trying to kill me Torval?" The Nord chuckled lightly, and Shai'ira channeled magicka into her palm, and a small flame crackled into existence, which she used to heat the water. Shai'ira brought the water to her lips again, and purred in satisfaction at its heat. She swallowed it eagerly, and her body shivered in pleasure as she felt the warmth travel down her throat into her stomach. She took three gulps before she felt satisfied, and was glad to see that the skin still had plenty of water within.
Torval and Lydia both had several sips of the water each, and the three stood up, ready to continue their hike. "How much further do we have to go?" Shai'ira asked.
Torval scrunched up his face in thought. "We're only about a third of the way up I'd wager."
"Only a third!" Shai'ira gasped in disbelief.
Torval shrugged. "It's called the seven thousand steps for a reason lass." Lydia suppressed a snicker behind her, and Shai'ira shot the woman a glare, before she softened her gaze.
"If I collapse or twist my ankle or something, you two will carry me right?" Shai'ira said as she rolled her ankle in thought. Torval huffed.
"The whole reason we're doing this is so you can meet the Greybeards, so I suppose we'd have to." Torval turned back to face Shai'ira, and spotted the smirk on the cat's face. "But if you fake an injury, me and Lydia will just toss you over the side of the mountain."
Shai'ira scrunched up her face, and tried to look up at the peak of the mountain, which was hidden behind a thick blanket of grey clouds. "I'd almost be willing to risk it." Torval grumbled something under his breath with a smile creeping its way onto his lips, and the three of them pressed onwards.
While their hike up was interrupted by the odd, unusually aggressive wolf, and even a single frost troll that made its home in an overhang, which was easily felled thanks to Shai'ira's fire spells and the combined efforts of Torval and Lydia, the true obstacle was of course the mountain itself. By the time High Hrothgar came into view, Shai'ira was almost weezing from the exertion, and even her Nord companions had grown weak from the ascent. Shai'ira was grateful that they'd eaten something before they'd begun the climb, she was sure she'd have died of exhaustion otherwise, and her companions probably wouldn't have fared much better. Shai'ira retrieved the bag from Lydia for the final stretch, and placed it inside the empty chest that lay before them.
They traversed one final set of stairs and finally found themselves before the doors to High Hrothgar.
