Alduin sensed Vuljotnaak's approach before the dragon had even crested the smaller mountains that encircled the great fortress that was Skuldafn. The World Eater was resting above the portal to Sovengarde, below him Nahkriin stood sentry as he had always done and always would. Alduin wished every subject was just as loyal.

His eyes remained closed as the smaller dragon circled lower and lower and then landed heavily on to the roof of the temple.

'Zu'u ov hi lost kul newwe uv los hi het fah do hin mey?' [I trust you have good news or are you here because of your own foolishness?]

Vuljotnaak shifted at the scathing voice of his master. It was unheard of between the dragons that served Alduin to disturb him as he rested at his own temple of Skuldafn, however Vuljotnaak hadn't been able to restrain himself from flying straight there after his encounter with the Dragonborn and his new charge.

'Krosis, Alduin, fin tahrodiis Maldinokdur lost alok.' [Alduin, the traitorous Maldinokdur has risen.]

If this news came as a shock or irritated Alduin in any way, he showed no signs of it. His eyes shut slowly. 'Fod daar los vahzah, hind fun, aal rek kos dreh?' [If this is true, pray tell, what might she be doing?]

Sarcasm dripped off of his every word but Vuljotnaak didn't flinch at this. He steadied himself where he stood. 'Rek los voth fin, Dovahkiin.' [She is with the Dragonborn.]

Halfway up the great staircase cut into the mountain, the greenery and mountain flowers faded away into a hard sheen of thick, dirty snow that seemed to never melt no matter how many fur covered boots trudged over them. The small town beneath the looming mountaintop, although bustling with activity, had been an uneventful stop in the pair's journey. Despite the activity within the town, Ollric had been unable to find another horse to take them up, and so they were stuck with planting one foot in front of another. Few words were exchanged between them after their talk the night before and Ollric's dreams had been full of fire, ice, and huge shadows soaring above his head.

He had found it easy to keep any dreams at bay until he met the dragon.

The Nord had become warier of the follower they had gained before the dragon attack. Although they hadn't encountered him again, Ollric could sense someone was on their tail or at the very least, watching them. The longer they stuck to the shadows, the more Ollric doubted it was the Blades – subtlety wasn't exactly their strong suit. If they had more than one group following them, he guessed they had a pretty big problem. The dragon had been quiet and obedient. She was obviously shaken up about the previous day but Ollric was hard versed in comforting others and so didn't know even where to begin. He rarely travelled with a companion and actively avoided it unless absolutely necessary. More than once he had considered just putting his blade through her chest and being done with it.

A cry dragged him away from his thoughts and he paused in his steady trudging. Beside him, the dragon had slipped on the snow and fallen onto her knees. She cursed in her native tongue and her angry glare landed upon him.

'How much further?' She hissed.

'We're over half way.' He replied and wrapped his hand around her upper arm. He ignored the way she flinched in disgust at his touch and pulled her up. 'We can't stop now.'

'I – I'm,' her voice trailed.

He quirked an eyebrow. 'You're tired?' She looked away in embarrassment and nodded. If the blood pumping through her veins hadn't been cold as ice, her face would have flushed at the admission of weakness. 'It's not much further.' He muttered and without hesitation he had slipped one arm around her shoulders and one under her legs. She shrieked in shock as he swung her up into his arms and, at first, she wriggled and fought. 'Do you want to get there or not?' Ollric snarled and she stilled.

He set off without another word. His stride barely changed even slightly, she was so light. Eventually, he felt her head flop against his shoulder and, though he loathed to admit it, it was almost comforting to him.

The unlikely pair were not far from the warmth of High Hrothgar when it happened. Darkness had taken to the skies quickly and tonight there was no guiding path lit from the lights that were usually scattered above them. The air was cold and thick with the promise of something wicked. A great thunderous vibration seemed to cut straight through the heavens as if Tamriel was a pool of water and one of the Gods had run his fingers through it. Ollric paused, his breath caught in his throat. He knew this feeling well. He had faced this foe enough times to recognise when he approached – he had failed before this foe enough times, too.

He hurried his steps, rounding a corner and spying a jutting rock above them that created a little cave in the mountain, not far from the path. Below, a shadow in the wind swooped and circled the mountain. It was as silent as the night around them but deadlier still. Ollric slung the girl from his back and down into the crevice and clambered down after her. He pulled her close to him and she stirred, murmuring words under her breath. He pressed a gloved hand over her mouth, mahogany eyes searching the blackness with baited breath.

A fell voice broke over the mountain. 'Zu'u fraan hi.' ['I feel you.']

In his arms, the girl's body struggled as if she was being pulled out of them. Her murmurings became louder and more confused. Behind closed lids, her eyes darted back and forth. Ollric held her tightly against him. In any other situation, he would have met the creature on the slopes of the Throat of the World and fought until death. But this time was different, this time he had something Alduin wanted and he wasn't going to give it up so easily.

She was a pathetic little thing. Too small, too weak. Nahkriin had always doubted why Alduin favoured her so much. Although, he would never dare to voice his opinions to his Master. However, it wasn't enough to stop him from treating the dragon with disdain each time they met.

He watched now, standing by Alduin's side, as she landed heavily in the courtyard at Labyrinthian. Her dark scales were scattered with wounds and the blood spilled off of them and blossomed onto the snow. Her head she held high and her eyes were sharp. In her jaws, she held a man and she threw him down onto the ground at their feet. He was dead and a coppery, gilded crown rolled from his head and landed at Alduin's feet.

'We have ripped the North from them.' Her voice was tinged with humour. 'Their silly little king is dead.' Her eyes slid across to Nahkriin and she almost smirked. He scowled behind his mask.

'You have done well, little one.' Alduin's voice rumbled across the temple grounds. His eyes searched the skies behind her. 'Tell me, why does my brother, Paathurnax, not return with you?'

She lowered her head. 'Master,' her voice was grave, 'he flew South with the Nord warriors. I fear he has lost his way.'

Silence had fallen across the group. Alduin's eyes flashed with flame and a low, guttural roar emerged from his chest. His whole body shook with anger and beside him, Nahkriin flinched. 'Then he will die alongside them.'

The anguish she felt ripping through her body was unbearable. She struggled and fought against Ollric as he held her fast to himself. Alduin was so close that she could feel each ripple in the air his wings made, hear the breath leave his body. She could feel an invisible string tying her to him and each time he passed he seemed to tug on it harder and harder.

After what seemed like hours of him circling the mountain, his route became wider and eventually he disappeared over the horizon. Finally, Ollric released her and she fell onto the snow, gasping and sucking for air desperately.

'Are you insane or just stupid?' He shouted and threw his sword down onto the stony ground with a shatter.

She fixed him with a fierce glare. 'Tell me you would not go to your thur [master] when he calls, Dovahkiin.' She hissed.

'I have no master to run to.'

She laughed coldly. 'You think you are not a slave to those fools down below? Running back and forth doing their bidding whenever they please.' Her words were laced thick with poison and she walked towards him slowly as she spoke. 'You pillage, you steal, you murder, all for what? Gold?' Her face was inches from his when she switched into the harsh tongue. 'Hi mindol zu'u los fin mey, Dovahkiin, nu zu'u los fin nunon gein do mu wo sahvot ko ososfin.' ['You think I am the fool, Dovahkiin, yet I am the only one of us who believes in something.']

The blade was at her throat before the last word had left her lips. Ollric grabbed the back of her head, bunching her hair in his fist and with his other hand he pressed the dagger to her throat. The blade smouldered and hissed with a red glow that singed at the hairs on her neck as it brushed them. She shrieked and twisted in his grasp, cursing his name.

'Yol!'

The ball of fire narrowly missed his head as he dived to the side and it tunnelled into the snow behind them. She sprung to her feet with a speed he hadn't seen before from her but the Nord was bigger, and faster. He caught her ankle with his fingertips and dragged her to the ground with a heavy thud. Ollric twisted her round, slammed his palm over her mouth and sat on her body. She stilled and stared up at him through those furious, reptilian eyes.

'Times up, dragon.'