Thank you so much for the kind and constructive reviews! It's been so so long since I've written and I was very nervous, haha. I hope I improve as the story develops. Also hope I'm doing Skyrim justice.
The Dragonborn didn't have much time to act before the dragon was heaving its body up onto its hind legs. With wings outstretched, it clawed and slid across the ice like a new born foal taking its first steps. In any other situation, the scene would have been comical, but it didn't take long for the beast to swing its heavy head round and settle its gaze on him, a seething glare pouring from shadowy eyes. It had managed to balance itself on the grinding ice and it drew itself up to its full height, arching its neck and blowing steam from its nostrils. The dragon was smaller than any he had come across before and the creature appeared half starved, perhaps because of the way it had been trapped beneath the ice.
Even so, a dragon was a dragon, and he could still appreciate the sheer size and brute strength of it. Especially when this one staring so intensely down at him started to beat its veined wings and rose into the snowstorm that raged above them. The Nord sheathed his sword, pulling his bow from his back and notching it with an ebony arrow all in one practiced fluid motion. It soared through the skies before him, screeching and roaring obscenities in its own language that he could only begin to imagine.
It swooped low over the snow-covered banks, its stomach almost brushing the ground as it circled the Dragonborn. Each time it seemed to move further away from him and for a moment he thought it was going to fade away completely.
'Come on.' He muttered under his breath and he raised his bow up, pulling the string back. The dragon began to circle back round again and this time it was coming closer. Its eyes slid over to where he stood and he closed one of his own as he aimed. His breath caught in his throat for one second, two. Then he loosed the arrow.
A deafening roar surrounded him, letting him know that the arrow had found its target. As the blizzard around the pair got heavier, the dragon became no more than a shadow in the sky. A shadow that was coming closer and before he could even react it was upon him. The tell-tale swell of its chest was spotted too late before a stream of flames was raining down. The Nord cried out, the stench of burning flesh filled the air, and he dived to one side. He rolled up and onto his feet, drawing his sword as he did and slashing the beast down one leg. Another pain filled shriek and it snapped its jaws, clipping his exposed arm and he stumbled back before he heard his bones crunching. The dragon took the opportunity and in one beat of its wings it was up in the air again, its chest glowing as it prepared to Shout another torrent of fire.
The Nord slid behind a rock, breathing heavily. He glanced down at his bleeding arm and winced at the sight of the torn flesh beneath ripped armour. It was closing back in on him and, small or not, he wasn't sure he could take another inferno in his already weakened state. The heavy beat of its wings, the roaring, it was all upon him. He spun out from behind his shelter.
'Joor zah frul!'
She stared up at him from where she knelt on the ground, her eyes filled with such hatred that he almost couldn't look at them, but he didn't waver and instead kept his cool gaze trained on her.
'I am not going to kill you, dragon.' He spoke slowly, unsure if she could understand him.
Her eyes narrowed and the beginnings of a growl began at the back of her throat. 'Hi lost turnaan zu'u kotin thdro sivaas.' ['You have turned me into this beast.'] She winced as she spoke and only then did he notice the blood sliding down her neck and pooling against her collarbone. She noticed it too and touched it lightly, rubbing the red substance between her fingertips. 'If you are not going to kill me,' the words were thick and slow as she spoke in his language. '-turn me back so I can oblaan hi.' ['end you.']
'I didn't do this. I don't know how to turn you back.' He picked his bow from the ice where he had dropped it and slung it back over his back. The blizzard around them had settled and the sky began to clear, the clouds parting to reveal the inky blackness.
'Dragonrend.' She snarled. She got unsteadily to her feet, never taking her eyes from him. She was so unashamedly naked and the Nord wanted to look away but settled instead on looking at her directly in the eyes.
'That Shout wasn't meant to do this.' He gestured down at her. 'If you want, I can just leave you out here,' he shrugged and started to move away, 'I wonder how long you would last in this body.'
He could see the fight she was having with herself. To be helped by him, of all people, it was killing her. 'Saraan.' [Wait.'] She pulled herself up to her full height, which wasn't much as she still only came up to just below his chin. 'If you help me, man, I will be in your debt.' The Nordic language felt like poison in her mouth but she wanted him to know she meant it.
He stopped and glanced around them. If he left her like this she would surely die, there was no way he could kill her the way she was now, and leaving her would be an easy way out. But there was something about her that was stopping him, something about this whole situation. If there was anything he had learned in the years he had been travelling Skyrim, it was to not ignore strange events when they occurred. Besides, he was curious by nature and he was certain he knew someone who could shed some light onto their problem. She wouldn't double cross him, dragons were honourable creatures by nature and to have one in his debt could be useful.
'I'll help you, dragon.' He said finally. 'I think I have an idea on who may know what has happened here. We'll have to travel far, though, and you can't go wandering about like that.' He slung his pack from his shoulder and crouched down, rummaging through it.
She looked down at him indignantly. 'Med daar?' ['Like this?'] He noted how she slipped so easily back into Dovahzul when she was angered.
'You're completely unclothed. You look strange enough as it is.' He drew out a pair of tattered breeches and a white tunic.
'Nid.' [No.'] She crossed her arms over her chest and gave him a look of complete disgust. 'I am fine, this way.'
'No, you're not.' He held the clothes out. 'Put them on, now.'
She stood there stubbornly for a few seconds but the Nord didn't move and she snatched the clothes from his grasp. While she was dressing he healed himself, wincing at the stinging of the wound on his arm as it was restored. He took a glimpse again at the wound on her neck, presumably from the arrow, but it was light and small, it must have just grazed her. She was also sporting a gash on her leg and he remembered the dark blood as it dripped from his sword. She turned to face him again and he raised an eyebrow as he looked her up and down. The clothes hung off of her but it was the best he could do in the middle of nowhere. They'd hold up until they got to civilization.
'Your leg, you're injured.' He took a step towards her. 'I can heal it, otherwise you'll slow us down.'
She nodded mutely and then looked away across the sea. He was surprised at the lack of insults or stubborn remarks. The Nord dropped to one knee and rolled up the bottom of her breeches, not missing the way she flinched at his touch. He healed her quickly and wiped the blood away before straightening out. He was met with a strange, questioning look.
'Who are you?' Her voice was calmer now and she sounded nearly interested. 'Hin sos. ['Your blood.] It is different.'
'I am Ollric.' He answered bluntly but he knew that wasn't what she meant. 'I am Dragonborn.' He searched her face for any kind of reaction but all he got was a small smirk.
'Perhaps I am the mey.' [fool.] She replied. 'I should have known, Dovahkiin.' They began to walk through the snow, she took small, uneasy steps but with each one she seemed to get more confident. He could feel her eyes boring into him. 'I will tell you my name, Dovahkiin. But this does not mean I ov hi. ['trust you.] In Dovahzul I am Maldinokdur.' [Small Death Curse.']
Ollric shifted his gaze to meet her large dark eyes, they were glinting with something he couldn't quite place. He clenched his jaw and looked away.
