Once upon a time Sky Haven Temple had been a grand fortress. The past was still there in the walls; in the tattered banners that blew gently in the breeze, crumbling pillars eroded by time, clumps of grass and crawling weeds crept across the faded flagstones. A hundred years ago, thousands of booted soldiers, Blades, crossed the same ground that Ollric was darting over now. He recalled the last time he had entered the temple, almost eager to discuss strategies with Delphine and Esbern, keen to be rid of the heavy weight being Dragonborn had placed on his shoulders.

He hadn't been back since he had failed to end the World-Eater's hold on Skyrim. The dragon crisis was growing, rapidly, yet as it got more and more threatening, Ollric had withdrew. He had happily disappeared into the shadows, the Dark Brotherhood had welcomed him with open arms and he had clung to the comfort of being unknown, of moving unbothered. They didn't ask questions, didn't care where he had come from or who he was supposed to be – what he was supposed to do. The dragon attacks were becoming more and more frequent and as Ollric flitted from city to city, job to job, he heard the suffering and the anguish. Where is he? They would cry. Where is the Dragonborn? Why won't he save us? He had abandoned his own people. Left them to burn.

He moved quickly now, bypassing the main entrance, and instead jogging up the side of the hill the temple was cut into. The cliff face here was sheer and crumbling, any wrong step would send him plummeting down to the ground below. His footsteps were light, one boot barely touching the ground before he was moving on to the next ledge. Ollric moved like a shadow, his large frame surprisingly nimble.

The sun was dipping low over the mountains as he landed silently into the courtyard that abutted the back of the temple.


Inside the temple, a dragon patiently waited. She lay on the cold concrete floor, her eyes closed and her breathing deep, however, her strange new ears remained open and listening. The bustling noises from outside her cell quietened as the sun's eyes lazily dropped across the plains outside, darkness silently taking over the watch, and with that the temple became as still as the surface of a lake. It was only at this moment did she open her eyes. She uncurled herself from the damp corner and stood. Long, dark tresses swung over her shoulders and from them she withdrew a key, thick with rust and dirt.

It hadn't been hard to steal from the Blade agent. Delphine was a proud woman, perhaps too proud; she had been unable to see past her own arrogance as the dragon had slipped slender fingers into a pocket in her breeches and deftly removed the key without so much of a rustle against fabric. She gazed down at her freedom as it lay in the centre of her palm and curled her fingers around the cool metal. For the first time, she felt a strength in her strange new body. Nothing could compare to soaring the skies on strong wings or feeling that swell of power in her chest before unleashing her Voice upon the world, but she felt a different kind of strength in being able to sneak a key undetected from beneath an enemies' nose.

It slipped into the rotting lock on the gate with ease and she released a breath of relief she didn't realise she had been holding as the lock clicked. She pushed it tentatively, the gate screeched in protest and she winced, instantly stilling. Her heart was hammering so hard against her chest she was sure every living soul in the temple would it. It stung her, to feel this frightened, to skulk about in the shadows the way she was but, despite her newfound skill in pickpocketing, this new body was too weak, the bones too brittle to go charging ahead.

Painstakingly slowly, she pulled the gate open until the gap was wide enough for her small frame to slip through. If anyone had heard the rusted old gate dragging itself across the ground, there was no sign of it. The temple lay still. She scanned the area. Two empty cells were on either side of her own, the floor scattered with straw and smatterings of a dark substance she didn't need to guess at. The only light came from the flickering of a sconce that had been hung beside the arched doorway, beyond was shrouded in darkness by a curtain of thick vines. It was these she peered through and was met with the familiar cavernous room she had been first woken up in. Tables and chairs stood empty, abandoned books lay open on them, as if everyone had suddenly up and left at once. Flames flickered and danced from the sconces bordering the room. They illuminated the huge scenes that had been carved into the rock and her eyes narrowed as she studied them, the vines dropped from her grasp and her escape plan drifted from her mind.


'You took your time.'

Delphine pushed herself off of the wall she had been leaning against and stood with her feet spread, arms folded and back straight. She materialized out of the darkness as he approached. Ollric wasn't surprised to see her; he had been quick to learn things rarely went smoothly.

'I think you have something that belongs to me.' His voice was low.

'Ah yes,' Delphine's lips twitched, 'your new dragon friend. Or is this one just a pet?'

'She's just a girl.'

'Don't take me for a fool, Ollric.' Delphine spat, her hand curled round the hilt of her sword. 'I know a dragon when I see one. I have tracked them since before you were taking your first steps. You are an insult and a disappointment to those who have come before you.'

Ollric tilted his head slightly. 'I'm sorry you feel that way, Delphine,' he said as his eyes slid to the shadows that clung to the edge of the temple courtyard, noting the shift in them as the Blades' agents surrounding them moved closer. 'You most certainly would do a better job than me, if only you had the right blood running through your veins.'

Delphine's face darkened and within seconds her sword had been drawn. She held it steadily, the tip inches from Ollric's chest. 'I cannot let you take her.' She whispered.


The carvings towered above her, glistening in the light from the flames as if they were made of oil. She approached them warily, her reptilian eyes were wide and full of doubt, and she stretched out a hand. Rock so dark it could have been obsidian made up the flames that poured from Alduin's jaws and she ran her shaking fingertips along the cool stone. A spark hit her skin sharply and she snatched her hand away. Her gaze snapped to Alduin's stony glare but the carving was still.

We've almost got him! Stand together!

The voice bellowed in her ear and she cried out in shock, stumbling back and spinning on her heel. Behind her the carven slumbered on, empty. The only sound was the pounding of her heart in her ears. She turned and looked back at the carving. With baited breath she approached the image once more and laid her palm softly onto the rock. A drumming began in her ears and beneath her hand the wall seemed to vibrate and shift.

Lokvokun, you dare to betray me? I will watch you suffer for all of eternity!

A great roaring began in her ears and the dust at her feet seemed to swirl and rush at her legs as it began to rise. She cried out in shock at the sound of her master's voice, so full of hate and rage.

Suffer, as I will suffer.

The pulsating against her hand became too much and she tore herself away, clutching it to her chest. When she turned her hand over, it had been scorched black. Her heart hammered against her ribs and she whirled on the spot, looking desperately for an escape, when a new voice caused her to still.

'Magnificent, aren't they?' Esbern approached slowly, his expression soft. He clutched a heavy, leather bound book by his side. He motioned to the carvings behind her. 'They have been here for as long as I can remember.'

'Stay away.' She hissed, her face twisting into an animalistic snarl.

Esbern stopped and held his hands up slowly. 'I mean you no harm, dragon,' his lips arched into a gentle smile, 'I doubt I could stop you even if I wanted to.'

She lifted her chin and regarded him warily. 'You are not like the other one.' Her Tamrielic was slow and jilted.

'No,' Esbern chuckled. 'Delphine will always do as her ancestors did before her. It runs through her veins just like destroying us runs through yours.'

'And what of your veins?' She asked, her tone quiet now and she cradled her wounded hand close to her chest.

Esbern looked over her shoulder and contemplated the great, black wall. 'Ah, I am old and tired now, dragon, I should fall into books the way I fell into battle so easily.'

She stared at the old man, perhaps in disbelief at the kindness being shown to her from one of her most ancient enemies. There was no malice in him, though, and she turned and gestured to the wall. 'What is this?' She asked.

'It's an account, a retelling,' Esbern 'one I'm certain you know well.'

Her brow furrowed. 'What does it say to you?'

'Say?' Esbern replied in confusion. 'It's just – just a carving. It does not speak to me at all. This wall has spoken to you?'

She opened her mouth to reply, to tell him of the hateful voice that had crept into her mind from the carving, when from above them there came a thunderous noise. The ceiling seemed to shift as if under a great strain and dust floated down where it had been unearthed. The pair stilled, both of their attention shifted to a pair of double doors that stood at the top of the mossy stairs. The doors shuddered and groaned. Esbern took a step back. Suddenly, they crashed open and two bodies spilled through in a midst of clashing weapons and cries. Between them she made out a familiar Nord as he landed deftly at the bottom of the steps, wiping his blade on his cloak, a smirk ghosting his lips.