Cold… So Cold…
Shivering… So hard it hurts…
Pain…
Loki's mind finally came to in time to realize he was going to freeze to death in his sleep. But why? His amulet was supposed to stave off the cold, but where was it? It wasn't around his neck anymore. He raised his hand out from under the skins of his sleeping roll and summoned a fireball to warm the tent. After several minutes that felt like hours, Loki had the tent warm enough to come out from under his covers, he cast a magelight to the top of the tent and began searching through the deerskin sleeping roll until he found his lost amulet. The clasp had popped loose in his sleep, but it was easy enough to fix. Putting it back around his neck, he could feel the relief from the cold immediately, but it did nothing to relieve the muscle pain from the violent shivering he had awoken to; so, with that, Loki got up and walked out to the edge of the camp overlooking the plains.
He could see the two moons, Masser and Secunda, high above in the night sky. From the slight ambience of the sky behind Dragon's Reach, he figured dawn would be in the next hour or so, and the moonlight had the plains well lit. Off in the distance he could make out the outline of the watchtower they had passed the day before.
How am I ever going to be able to do this? Taking on bandits is hard enough, how in the hell do I defeat a dragon in real life? If my armor is any indication, their scales are nearly impervious to arrows or blades. I don't have enough magicka to shock him completely to death.
The wings were vulnerable according to his research, but not lethally; it would be a good way to ground Mirmulnir without Dragonrend though, especially since he had absolutely no understanding of nor practice with that shout. Most of the material he had found seemed to indicate eyes, mouth, and the thinner scales on the underside of the neck as the best possibilities for critical hits.
Divines guide me, I know this is destiny, but I really have no idea what I'm about to get into.
Ma'randru-jo was standing watch and saw Loki staring out across the plains.
"This one is troubled? Lost in thought?"
"Broke my amulet and woke up shivering. Not all of us are blessed with fur coats."
"Ah yes, the fur helps with this bitter cold land, but I do not think it is the cold that has you pondering so deeply, Friend."
"Today I begin something I am not sure I am ready to face. Soon I will have to face real dragons, and I haven't had a chance yet to fully prepare myself. Once I've had a chance to perfect my potions and enchantments, I will be able to make short work of any enemy; but there will be some I have to face before i can do that. I just hope I survive long enough to do it."
"I wouldn't worry too much friend, if the way you fought for this caravan is any indication, I think you will do fine against any enemy."
"I appreciate your confidence in me, I hope you are right."
"Look at it this way friend, either you will win, or it is no longer your problem to deal with." Ma'randru-jo flashed a cheshire grin.
Loki chuckled as he replied, "You have a point, but it's more the death by burning and massive fangs that has me worried."
"Well, I don't know about the massive fangs, but perhaps this will help with the flames." Ma'randru-jo tossed a ring to Loki. "The Resist Fire enchantment should help you along with your enchantments and protect you from the burning. Consider it my thanks to you for what you did for my people yesterday."
Loki looked at the ring and then slid it on his finger. It was a simple silver band with a slightly red aura. "Thank you my friend, I appreciate this very much."
"Think nothing of it, it's the least I can do. Now, if you will excuse me, I must attend to getting the camp ready for the day of trading." and with a slight bow, Ma'randru-jo left Loki to his thoughts.
Dressed in fine Akaviri robes they had found in the temple, the three entered the city of Whiterun just after dawn. Loki had been impressed with how much bigger Riverwood and Sky Haven Temple were than he expected, but Whiterun blew his mind. Built on a mountain in the middle of the plains, the houses around the Plains District were innumerable, and proceeding up into the market square there were merchant stands of all kinds. The streets were coming to life in the early morning with people getting their fruits, vegetables, and fresh cuts of meat for their meals for the day. Loki smiled as he overheard two nord women at a stall bartering over some vegetables and realized it was Ysolda and Carlotta.
Taking note of the others around the market, Loki almost felt right at home, like he was seeing old friends again even though they had not yet met him for the first time yet. On up they went towards Dragon's Reach, coming to the Gildergreen tree in the middle of the Wind District. It was then he saw someone he knew he needed to take a moment out of his quest to speak to.
She sat on a bench under the Gildergreen looking small and helpless. Her ragged little dress weathered and torn. Loki told Ralof and Hadvar to wait a moment for him and he walked over to the bench and knelt down by the small child sitting there.
"Mister, could you spare a coin?" came the frail innocent voice from the child as she looked over at him. "I'm so hungry."
"Tell me your name child."
"I...I'm Lucia."
"Why are you out here on the street, Lucia?"
"M...my ma... she died, and my aunt and uncle took over the farm. They threw me out and said I wasn't good for nothing. I wound up here. I don't know what else to do."
"Come with me, child." Loki lead her back down to the market square. Spotting Ysolda from the stairs, he made his way to her and introduced himself and Lucia.
"Greetings Mi'lady, I am Loki of Asgard, and this is Lucia. I have a favor to ask of you, if you will."
Ysolda looked a little taken back at the approach of the random stranger in fine robes with a child in rags in tow. "A favor? I know Lucia already, but you Sir are but a stranger. What favor are you asking?"
"Mi'lady, I am an adventurer here to combat this coming dragon crisis. I have heard of your reputation as an honest and trustworthy woman and aspiring business woman and I offer you this proposal. If you would take care of this child until my return to Whiterun; feed, clothe, and house her, I will give you this pouch of gems and coins to help support the child and, upon my return, I will bring you a mammoth tusk. I understand that you have been seeking one to barter with Ri'saad. I can also put in a good word with him for you, we just arrived with him this morning."
"Ri'saad's caravan is here? Wait… how did you know about me needing a tusk?"
"Nevermind that, I know many things. Do we have a deal? This young lady desperately needs a place to sleep other than under that tree. When I return I will arrange her a more permanent living arrangement, I promise, but this is all I can do on such short notice."
"Well, ok i guess, but you promise to deliver the tusk when you return?" Ysolda looked down at Lucia whose eyes lit up with hope.
"I promise Ms. Ysolda." and Loki handed her the pouch with the money and gems.
"You mean it? You really mean it?" Lucia could barely contain herself. "Oh thank you, thank you both so much. Divines, bless your kind hearts!"
Loki knelt down in front of Lucia and she gave him the biggest hug she could possibly muster from her frail little arms.
"My dear Lucia, upon my return, I shall ensure that you are never hungry or homeless again."
Ysolda looked in the pouch and her eyes grew wide. "Um, this is a lot for food and board…"
"I may be a bit long before my return, this quest I embark on is going to be a challenge and take me all over Skyrim."
"Then may the Nine protect you, Loki of Asgard. We will look forward to your return. Well Lucia, let's look around the market and find you some decent clothes."
With that said, Loki bowed to Ysolda and Lucia, then turned and climbed back up the stairs to where his friends were waiting at the top.
"We saw the whole thing," Hadvar said, "That was one of the most selfless things I think I have ever witnessed in Skyrim."
"There are many children in Skyrim whose stories I know well. I will help every single one if I am able. Now come on before you two get all mushy on me. I want to reach the Jarl before Heimskr starts his street preaching. It will give me a headache for sure."
The guards lead Loki and his companions in to the Jarl's hall once he told them they were there about the dragon attack. As they approached the throne, Irileth stepped forward and drew her sword.
"What is the meaning of this interruption? Jarl Balgruuf is not receiving visitors."
"We bring news of the dragon attacks, we were at Helgen."
"Well, that explains why the guards let you in. Come on, the Jarl will want to speak to you personally."
Loki looked up to behold a giant of a Nord with long blonde hair and beard sitting on the throne below the skull of the legendary Numinex. Balgruuf was the very picture of a great Viking warrior. Irileth leaned over and spoke some words into Balgruuf's ear and his eyes grew wide and locked on Loki and his Nord friends. He sat up straight in the throne which seemed to make him look even larger than before.
"You were at Helgen?"
"Yes my Jarl. We were there as the dragon laid waste to the town. As far as I know, we are the only survivors besides Ulfric Stormcloak and General Tullius."
"Ulfric AND Tullius? I should have guessed they would be mixed up in this mess too. And how did you escape with your lives?"
"The tunnels under the keep my lord."
"I see, and just who are you? You don't look like a Nord, or an Imperial. In fact you don't look like any of the Tamriel people."
"You are correct my lord, I am Loki of Asgard. My companions, Ralof and Hadvar of Riverwood of the Stormcloak and Imperial armies, respectively, have laid down their political hostilities to aid me in avenging Helgen and ridding this land of the dragon menace."
"Wait, you mean to tell me that you got a stormcloak and an Imperial legionnaire to fight side by side with you against these dragons? Hadvar, Ralof, is this true?"
"Yes my lord." the Nords said in unison, nodding their heads in confirmation.
"AMAZING! And what have you come to ask of me?"
"First, for a detachment of guards to protect Riverwood. They are without walls and are closest to the only known attack."
Proventus raised an objection to this saying it would be seen as an act of war by the other holds.
"Enough!" Balgruuf slammed his fist on the armrest of the throne and faced Proventus. "I will not stand idly by while a dragon burns my hold and slaughters my people. Irileth, send a detachment to Riverwood at once."
"Yes, my Jarl." Irileth turned and ran to get her captain of the guard to form the detachment.
Proventus bowed out and said he would return to his duties.
"That would be best." Jarl Balgruuf sneered, then turning to the men in front of him, "Well done, you have done Whiterun a service, and I won't forget it, but perhaps could you do something else for me? My court wizard is doing research into the dragons and could use some help."
"Of course my lord, anything that helps us learn more about the dragons would be beneficial to us both." Loki replied, and the three men followed the Jarl from the throne room to find the court mage.
As they walked into the study, they found Farengar hunched over a table full of scrolls and books. The Jarl made introductions, explained to Farengar who the men were and that they were here about the dragons, then instructing him to detail the quest for the item he was seeking.
"So the Jarl thinks you can be of use to me? Oh yes, he must be referring to my research into the dragons. Yes, I could use someone to fetch something for me. Well, when I say fetch, I really mean delve into a dangerous ruin in search of an ancient stone tablet that may or may not actually be there."
Loki rolled his eyes remembering Farengar's character as absent-minded and pretty arrogant. "You just said a lot of words that really told me nothing I need to know. What is the tablet you need and where do I look to find it?"
"I began to search for information about dragons - where had they gone all those years ago? And where were they coming from? I ah, learned of a certain stone tablet said to be housed in Bleak Falls Barrow - a "Dragonstone," said to contain a map of dragon burial sites. Go to Bleak Falls Barrow, find this tablet - no doubt interred in the main chamber - and bring it to me. Simplicity itself."
"Oh, you mean…" Hadvar began to say, but Loki raised a hand and cut him off.
"My Riverwood companions here know that Barrow very well, considering the bandits and the draugr it should take about one full day to delve through the barrow, plus travel time, they should have that tablet here by the end of the day after tomorrow. In the mean time I need something from you as well. One moment while I speak with my men." Loki lead Hadvar and Ralof just outside the door and then continued in a hushed tone, "I'm sorry Hadvar, but I'm buying us some more time to prepare. I need to learn the alchemy and enchanting and this is a way I can get him to train me. Go get us some rooms at the Bannered Mare and wait for me there, three days should give us enough time to be ready for this fight… I hope"
The two Nords caught on quickly and understood the plan. Nodding to Loki, they turned to leave and handle business while Loki returned to get Farengar to teach him how to use the enchanting and alchemy setups. He bought some soul gems and a few enchanted items from the mage to begin his enchanting practice and learn the enchantments as well. He was particularly pleased to find that Farengar had some rings with regeneration enchantments for health, stamina, and magicka; though, at the moment, his favorite was the 'fortify alchemy' enchantment. He disenchanted each item, then, since he had nothing else to practice on, he began enchanting septims with petty soul gems.
Well, whoever gets these when I spend them might find they have a 'lucky septim'
Farengar was shocked at how quickly Loki picked up the enchanting and he quickly lost his condescending tone. When they got to the alchemy instructions, Loki found that brewing potions was going to be a bit more involved than he had hoped. It was more like chemistry class: heating the vials, dissolving the solids, distilling the liquids, then mixing the parts. It took much of the rest of the day to get that part down, since each part is a slow process.
Loki thought to himself I love how intriguing this is, but given the urgency, I do wish it were as simple as it is in the game. At least I know how to use it now, I have two days left to gather my ingredients and make a masterpiece. Gods I hope that is possible.
Loki thanked Farengar for the lessons then headed back to the inn to meet his companions, stopping along the way at the meat stand of the local hunter Anoriath to inquire if he had any small deer antlers from his hunts and to get three nice elk steaks for dinner. Happy with his purchases, Loki retired to the inn for the night, offering Saadia a nice tip and a cut of his steak to cook them for him. He knew he could never eat that much and certainly didn't want to waste it.
As the three discussed the coming events and enjoyed their evening meal, Loki made up a list of ingredients and items he was going to need to make his masterpiece enchantments.
I wonder if the 'fortify restoration' potion really will supercharge an enchantment? I'm definitely gonna try it to find out.
Ysolda came into the inn with Lucia in tow and, seeing Loki and his companions, sat down with them for some conversation to learn more about this man who seemed to be so generous to the orphans. Lucia immediately jumped up in his lap and began regaling him with everything that Ysolda had bought her today, especially her new dress, shoes, a hair brush, and ribbons for her hair. The child was beyond ecstatic about being cared for for the first time since her parents died. Ysolda, noticing the list Loki had drawn up, volunteered to show him around the market the following morning and help him barter for some of the things he needed, explaining that the vendors had a tendency to raise prices on strangers visiting the city.
Loki gave Lucia some of his steak, wondering by its size how the little Bosmer hunter had managed to lug that much meat back to the city. It must have weighed at least double his weight even after he field dressed it. That's when he realized he had gotten so focused on Lucia and Ysolda that he hadn't even noticed that his Nord friends had already finished their food and were up mingling about the inn.
Hadvar was conversing with the Redguard Saadia who had cooked their steaks, complementing her cooking to the level of outright flirting. Saadia was obviously very flattered by the attention the Nord was giving her, but also had a guarded nervousness about her. Loki just grinned, knowing they would deal with her situation when the time came, and figuring Hadvar would probably volunteer to take care of anyone threatening her all by himself.
Ralof was over in the corner drinking mead with a woman who looked like she could take on the entire Stormcloak army all by herself. By the end of their mugs, Uthgerd had challenged him to a fistfight and the two were sparring in the back of the inn with a crowd gathered around cheering them on and placing bets. The fight seemed to go on and on with neither one being able to drop the other until, at last, neither could even swing. Finally when they were both bloody and barely able to stand, Hadvar stepped in and declared it the most even fight he had ever seen. Loki blasted them both with a healing spell that stitched up their faces and gave them enough stamina to order up another round of mead and toast to the best fight either of them had had in a long time. Then Ralof looked over at his friends and got a gleam in his eye.
"We need someone like you, you should join us, help us fight for the people of Skyrim against the dragons and anyone else who would oppress them." Ralof finished his proposition and then slammed back his mug, downing it in one gulp.
Loki was shocked at the suddenness of Ralof's offer to Uthgerd, but this did set his plans for recruiting in motion and showed him that he could count on his generals to grow his dragonguard. He shook his head approvingly at Ralof's decision.
Uthgerd was definitely taken by surprise. After being rejected by the Companions at Jorrvaskr, she never expected to be recruited by anyone else. Ralof laid out the details of who they were and what they were fighting for and she ultimately agreed, stating that anyone who could fight her to a stalemate was worthy of her to fight alongside them.
The following morning Loki met with Ysolda and Lucia to fill his list, getting ingredients for his potions, soul gems, and items to enchant. He had Ralof and Hadvar lay low at the inn to keep from messing up his plan, since they were supposed to be off retrieving the Dragonstone that they already had with them. Ralof was very easy to convince of this since he was still sore as hell from his fight with Uthgerd the night before. His hangover wasn't much help either.
After gathering what he needed and taking them outside to the caravan to meet Ri'saad and the other khajiit, Loki gave Lucia a big hug and then headed up to Dragonsreach to begin work on his enchantments and potions. Donning his Alchemy ring he set to making a potion of Fortify Restoration, with Farengar giving him tips to help him get the most potency out of the mixture. Once his first one was done, he took off his ring, downed his new elixir, and then placed it back on his finger.
Loki really couldn't describe what he felt, but it was like his mind opened up to new ideas and understandings of the Alchemy process. It had worked, it really amplified the enchantment! Loki worked quickly to mix up another and another, each one exponentially more potent than the last. He had to take a few breaks, since he could only stomach so much potion at a time, but he finally got the mixture so strong that it felt like he could discern all the alchemical properties of something just by looking at it and brew it to its strongest possible potential. At this point he not only brewed himself several of the Fortify Restoration potions, but several Fortify enchanting potions as well.
With his new potions in hand he then turned to the enchanting table and began by making a new Fortify Alchemy ring who's enchantment was strong enough that he wouldn't need to use the potion with it to max out his Alchemy ability to its limits. He then turned to enchanting some small amulets with Resist Fire and Frost, and Regeneration for Health, Magicka, and Stamina.
I really can't wait to get ahold of the book to be able to do multiple enchantments. I'm gonna feel like some '90's rapper with all these amulets around my neck. Maybe I can make them into a single chain so it's less troublesome.
Farengar was too wrapped up in his notes by this point to even notice what Loki was doing behind him unless he was asked a question directly. His absent mindedness played well to help Loki keep his secret. He really didn't want this to technique to become public knowledge because if it were militarized by the wrong people, the bloodshed would be apocalyptic.
He had made enough enchanted items to protect himself and his three Blades, as well as a special necklace for Lucia. As he exited Dragonsreach, he made a detour on his way to the inn. Ducking behind a building, Loki put on his amulets that he had put all on one chain.
Time to see if I did this right.
He started by casting a fire from one hand over the other. While it felt uncomfortably warm, he was not burnt or harmed. Next came the test he was dreading, he had to actually stab himself again. Loki drew his dagger and, after hesitating for the expected burn of the blade going through his flesh, sliced his palm deep with the blade. To his absolute amazement the skin laid open, but mended back together before any but a few drops of blood escaped. To his disappointment it still hurt and burned like hell though.
Well, it's still going to hurt, but at least I am fairly confident my friends and I won't die.
Getting back to the inn, Loki summoned his three Nord companions to his room where he gave them each one of the chains of amulets he had crafted and explained the enchantments. He also told them if they wanted a demonstration they could stab eachother because he had already hurt himself enough testing them.
When Ysolda and Lucia arrived that evening, he gave Lucia the necklace he had made her. It was a simple gold chain with small gems hanging around it. Loki had enchanted each of the gems with an individual enchantment. He smiled to himself over the fact that the children in TES:V were completely invulnerable and now he had made one completely invulnerable here in real life. Lucia, on the other hand, began to bawl when Loki put the chain around her neck. Hugging him tightly and burying her face in his robes, she sobbed for several minutes before Loki and Ysolda managed to calm her down enough to talk again.
"What's wrong Sweetheart?" Ysolda asked her, gently stroking her hair.
"It's so… so… it's so beautiful… hic… No one's ever… hic… Nobody's ever been so nice to me… hic hic… Not since… Not since Mama…" and she buried her face and started bawling again. After she finally calmed down and recomposed herself, Lucia spent most of the rest of the evening looking at the gems of her new necklace, carefully examining each one in complete awe of what was the second greatest gift she had ever been given; the first being her new life of being cared for again.
After Loki had bid everyone goodnight and retired to his room, he spent the rest of the night testing his magicka regeneration with telekinesis spells and thinking about the relationships he was forging with the people he had met since arriving here. They were no longer NPC's to him, these were real people with real lives and feelings and he knew he was becoming attached to each of them. He had only been here a few weeks, but he already felt like he truly cared for the people of Skyrim, and how bad it will hurt when the time came to return home.
He must have fallen asleep with his thoughts, because he awoke to the morning light coming through the window and Ralof knocking on the door. They ate a hearty breakfast up on the balcony over the main hall of the inn while Loki went over what "the scrolls" had predicted would happen today.
"I want you three armored up and waiting for me at the stables. I will give Farengar the tablet at noon and I expect the dragon to attack soon after that. I will wear my armor, covered by my robes until I meet you. We still don't know what it's going to take to kill this beast so we need to play it cautious and not rush into a frontal assault with an immortal, fire breathing, flying lizard. OK?"
The Nords didn't really know how to respond to that last part since it was the traditional style of their people to face their foe head on in melee combat, but they agreed.
"Good, now let's get suited up. I've kept destiny waiting long enough."
They spent the majority of the morning getting their armor on and fitted just right in expectation of the fight to come. Each had their chain of amulets fixed into the padding inside their armor so it couldn't get knocked off in the battle and each covered their armor with robes so as not to be seen since Loki expected Delphine to be at Dragonsreach when he arrived but didn't know when she would pass through town and he didn't want her knowing about them yet.
Leaving the inn, the three Nords headed for the gates and the stables while Loki, with the dragonstone in hand, began the climb though the city to the keep.
The guards let Loki into the Dragonsreach and he headed straight for Farengar's study. Announcing himself, he saw a familiar face standing over the table, despite the hood she attempted to hide in.
"Nice to see you again Delphine. Farengar, here's the map you are looking for. I suggest looking at the eastern tombs to start with."
Farengar looked up as though he had forgotten what he was doing, then snapped out of it just as fast. "Ah, the Dragonstone of Bleak Falls Barrow, seems you and your crew are a cut above the usual brutes the Jarl sends my way. Of course, I think you have proven that with your studies the last few days." Then, turning to delphine, "So your information was correct after all. And we have our friend here to thank for recovering it for us."
Delphine looked at Loki, clearly miffed that her identity had been compromised. "You went into Bleak Falls Barrow and got that? Nice work." Then, turning back to Farengar, "Just send me a copy when you've deciphered it." Then she turned to make a quick exit.
"Thank you Delphine, see you again soon." Loki said with a sly smile.
Just then, as the moment Loki had been anxiously awaiting came. Irileth ran through the door nearly out of breath.
"Farengar! Farengar, you need to come at once. A dragon's been sighted nearby." Then, realizing Loki was there, "You should come, too."
Farengar looked as though this were just a grand opportunity for his research. "A dragon! How exciting! Where was it seen? What was it doing?"
Irileth didn't see it nearly as optimistically as the excited court wizard. "I'd take this a bit more seriously if I were you. If a dragon decides to attack Whiterun, I don't know if we can stop it. Let's go."
They basically sprinted to the war room by the Great-Porch, the poor mage having difficulty keeping up with the Dunmer housecarl and the young outlander.
Entering the room, Loki saw the Jarl with a guard who looked as though he had just run a 25k road race in full armor. As the guard described what had happened at the western watchtower between gasping breaths Irileth was sending another guard to muster her men at the gates. The Jarl told the soldier to go to the barracks and rest up, but the young man protested saying he should rejoin the fight.
"You are in no condition to fight a dragon, son, and you would only get yourself killed like this. You did your duty by alerting us to the attack, there is no shame in being spent on that task. Rest now, we'll take it from here." Then he turned to Loki. "There's no time to stand on ceremony now, I need your help again my friend. I want you to go with Irileth and help her fight this dragon. You survived Helgen, so you have more experience with dragons than anyone else here. I haven't forgotten the services you have already done for me and my people. You are now a citizen of Whiterun Hold, and may own property inside the city."
"Thank you my Jarl. I'll see to that as soon as I get back from this, if I survive again that is." Loki smirked as he said that last part and then turned to leave, hearing Farengar begging for the chance to go as well as he exited the war room and headed for the gates as fast as he could.
Reaching the stables and regrouping with his companions, Loki removed the robes covering his armor and retrieved his weapons that Hadvar had brought down for him.
"It's happening, western watchtower, let's go."
"We saw it circling the skies, it looks like the watchtower is destroyed." Ralof informed him.
"You guys said we were going to fight dragons, I honestly didn't expect this to happen so soon. Well, let's see what we're made of." Uthgerd seemed all too ready to take on Mirmulnir. Loki suspected she would fistfight the dragon if she got the chance.
Irileth and her men were passing the stables as Loki's group was setting out, so they fell in with them and approached together. The group stopped behind a large rock for cover to assess the situation before Irileth gave the order to fan out and search for survivors. Anticipating the moment to come, Loki conjured a bow, nocked it, and approached the door to the tower.
That's when they heard the roar. It came from the south, directly over the pass through the mountains. Loki was relieved to see that Mirmulnir was not as big as Alduin, but that didn't change the fact that he was still huge. The dragon made a pass around the west side of the tower, laying a wall of flames as he passed, then turned and did the same up the east side. It was clear he was trying to trap the soldiers inside a box of fire. Loki watched the dragons motions carefully and waited for him to fly in his direction before loosing his arrow so his target would not be moving so fast laterally. The arrow struck its target in the shoulder, just under the front of the wing, but Mirmulnir acted as if he barely noticed. He swooped suddenly and grabbed one of the city guards, then flew high in the air. Flipping the guard up above his own head, Mirmulnir roasted the guard and then caught him and swallowed him on his way back down.
Another guard saw this and was overtaken by fear. He turned and tried to run back to the road but only got burned from behind as he ran.
"Nikriin, Dir asht Faas (Coward, die in fear)" the dragon roared as he circled back, then seeing the others standing to fight him, "Thuri du hin sil ko Sovngarde! (My overlord will devour your souls in Sovngarde)"
Mirmulnir landed with a crash in front of Loki and his three companions. Spying the armor worn by Ralof and Hadvar, Mirmulnir started to laugh. "Mindin Pah Daar Eruvos, Faal Akaviri Los Nu Unt Qahnaar Zu'u? Hi Fen Funt Ol Hi Drey Us (After all these years, the Akaviri are still trying to kill me? You will fail as you did before.)" and he let out a blast of fire at the four.
Loki threw up a ward while Ralof and Hadvar ran to opposite flanks of the dragon. Uthgerd charged forward with her greatsword as soon as Mirmulnir's fire breath ran out and Loki threw lightning bolts as fast as he could charge the spells. The two Nords on the flanks cut holes though the webbing of the dragon's wings and arrows from the hold guards bounced off the upper scales while Uthgerd ran underneath and rammed her greatsword into the dragon's midsection.
Feeling the wounds inflicted by the mortals, Mirmulnir tried to lift off, but couldn't catch any air in his wings for lift. Realizing this he got pissed. Up til now, he had just been toying with these puny mortals; but now he realized it was life and death. Mirmulnir spun violently to his left, catching Hadvar with his horns, Ralof with his tail sending both flying while knocking Uthgerd to the ground and catching her in his claws.
Loki drew Dragonbane from its saya and charged, only to have the dragon spin back around and slam him with the small spikes on the side of his head. Taking the strike in the upper chest, Loki flipped halfway over and slammed into the ground head first, still holding tightly to his sword. Dazed and confused he snapped to just in time to roll to the side and avoid getting bitten. Mirmulnir came up with a mouth full of dirt and rock then shook his head violently to get it all out. Forgetting the Nord woman trapped under his claw, Mirmulnir lunged forward at Loki, who had managed to get back to his feet. Loki braced Dragonbane in front of himself to block the attack and Mirmulnir took a slice through the nose of his own doing. Mirmulnir drew back his head and inhaled.
"YOL TOOR SHUL"
Loki threw up a ward but wasn't quick enough so it didn't have time to charge to full strength. The ward shattered and the fire enveloped the young man. Everyone watching thought the worst, seeing Loki completely engulfed in fire, he had to be roasted to a crisp corpse. Irileth loosed arrows at the beast's eyes, skewering one and blinding Mirmulnir on his right side. As the flames dissipated they saw Loki on his knees, hands covering his averted face, holding Dragonbane whose blade was now glowing red. His ward had failed him, but luckily his amulets had not.
Loki iced his blade with a spell to cool it back down and keep it from bending. Others were attacking the dragon and Mirmulnir was swatting them off with his tail and wings like a horse does to flies. Loki attempted another strike from the dragon's blind side and sunk his blade into his body behind the wings. Mirmulnir spun and caught Loki with his tail and sent him flying into one of the large stones that had fell from the tower causing everything to go black for a moment. His regeneration enchantment brought him back quickly, but he soon realized he was on his back with a dragon charging at him and his sword had landed some ten meters away.
With the Mirmulnir bearing down on him, mouth wide intending to swallow him whole; Loki reached for Dragonbane with his telekinesis he had been practicing that morning. Just as Mirmulnir was about to bite down, Dragonbane was back in Loki's hand and he drove the blade through the roof of the dragon's open mouth. The tip of the blade came out the top of the beast's head and his whole body sparked with electrical power from Dragonbane's enchantment. Mirmulnir's body shook violently from the shock, then as Loki pulled the blade from his mouth. The beast roared, uttered the words "DOVAKIIN? NOO..", and fell dead.
Everyone who was still alive was picking themselves up off the ground and checking the wounded; Loki's companions were back on their feet rather quickly, their wounds healing almost instantly; Irileth was accounting for all her men, taking note of how many she had lost and were wounded; Loki stumbled over by the corpse of the dragon and dropped to his knees.
Despite the regeneration enchantments, Loki felt spent. The way you feel when you run a race and you sprint in the last stretch, leaving everything on the track. He had left it all on the field of battle. It was then that he noticed it, out of the edge of his vision. It was like a fire coming from beneath the scales, burning its way between them. Mirmulnir was burning from the inside out. The scales exploded off of the body, flying in every direction; the flesh underneath burning at ten thousand degrees, but instead of giving off smoke, it gave off a magical aura. Golden bands of energy were swirling around the body. Everyone was backstepping trying to get clear of whatever this strange magic was except Loki. Loki knew he couldn't fight it, he had to accept it for the threads of destiny to continue.
He stepped into the edge of the swirling bands of energy and felt the surge of power envelope his body. He could feel magic pouring into his very being, knowledge into his mind, and power into his very soul. His body felt like it was being electrocuted and his blood like it was boiling. Loki only thought he knew Dovazul, but he never knew it like this. He could feel every work of the language inside him, he understood the words as only a Dovah can. Mirmulnir was one of the oldest dragons in existence, being one of the very few to never have been killed by the Blades; his knowledge was so extensive it made Loki's head feel like it was going to explode taking it all in. Images began to flash before him from all through time, both the dragon's life and his own. His vision grew brighter and brighter, from the golden aura to a bright and blinding white, and then to black… nothingness…
Loki couldn't feel anything anymore, it was as if all his senses had shut down. He wasn't sure if he was conscious or not. Was he dead? Was he going home? Was he waking up from a dream?
His first sense to return was smell. Hair. Singed hair. The first thing Loki recognized was the smell of his own singed hair. Then he felt something. Someone was touching him, or rocking him, he wasn't sure. The darkness began to fade and as his eyes opened the world was a blur, then colors came, and they started to take shape. As his hearing slowly returned he realized he was groaning, then he heard someone calling his name.
Loki finally came to to find that he had been propped up against the stone that Mirmulnir had slammed him into earlier, and everyone was gathered around him in a semi-circle staring at him like he was some new wonder of the world. His first thought, however, was how singed was his long, dark hair. It had taken him years to grow.
One soldier stepped forward and stammered out "You, You're Dragonborn!"
Trying to get back to his feet, Loki groaned again. "Yes, I am Dragonborn. Now you all know."
"What happened to you just then?" Uthgerd looked very concerned. They hadn't filled her in on the dragonborn part when they recruited her last night.
"When I killed the dragon, I took his soul. With it, i took all his power and his knowledge. I think that's what knocked me out, learning all of that at once overwhelmed my senses. It was like my mind was on fire."
"But can you shout? That's how you can truly know if you are Dragonborn, if you can shout." The soldier from earlier spoke up.
"Well, there's actually a lot more to it than shouting, and others can do that too, but yes, I can." Loki turned away from the crowd and faced the stone he had been propped against.
"FUS RO DAH!"
The stone went flying through the air and skipping across the ground, coming to a stop when it struck the base of the watchtower.
Irileth stepped forward. "That's enough of this Dragonborn stuff. The Jarl needs to know what happened here, and that we can kill the damn things. My men and I will secure the area, take yours and report to the Jarl."
Walking over and pulling one of the fangs out of Mirmulnir's skull, Loki replied, "Will do. Don't let anything happen to that skeleton, I got dibs on the bones and scales."
"Dibs? What's that?" Irileth looked very confused.
"It means I killed him and I'm claiming them."
"Then why didn't you just say that in the first place?"
Loki laughed "Where's the fun in that? I'll send some of the khajiit from the caravan to collect them. I'm more than sure Ri'saad will love it if I agree to split it with him."
As the four approached the city, talking about what had just transpired, Ralof noticed Loki kept looking up to the top of the mountain nervously as if he were expecting something. Just as they turned the corner at the intersection to the stables it came. It was as if the mountain and everything beneath it shook. Four Thu'ums in unison rumbled across the land, calling to the Dragonborn, calling to Loki.
"DOVAKIIN!"
Coming to the city, Loki found Ri'saad. The caravan was packed and ready to depart, but when Loki made his proposal to the head of the Khajiit, he sent a party with some wagons to collect the bones. Loki said he could have them for half of whatever they sold for and Ri'saad said he was sure this would make them both very wealthy.
Approaching the city gates, Loki and his Blades could here the sounds of cheering from the walls. The guards opened the gates for them and they were met by a crowd gathered around the main street. They soon found out that many were watching the battle from atop the walls. The fanfare through the city was amazing, though the introvert in Loki still made him want to run and hide. As good as the cheering crowd was for making Loki feel like he had done something special, nothing compared to seeing Lucia come sprinting out of the crowd, down the street, and right into his arms for a big hug.
"You did it! You saved us all! I was so scared."
Loki couldn't stop a moment of self-doubt. I haven't saved anyone yet sweet child, Alduin is still to come.
He let her tag along to Dragonsreach to tell the Jarl the news.
"What happened at the watchtower? Did you kill it?" The Jarl was at the edge of his seat.
"The watchtower was destroyed, my Jarl, but we killed Mirmulnir."
"I knew I could count on Irileth, but there must be more to it than that."
"Also, I am the dragonborn. I took his soul when I killed him."
The Jarl's eyes grew wide and he slowly rose from his seat, carefully examining the young man standing before him in black, dragonscaled armour. "Dragonborn?! What do you know about being dragonborn?"
"Actually, my lord, I know the entire history of the dragonborn. I have already been to Sky Haven Temple, the ancient stronghold of the Blades and have begun reforming the Blades to their original purpose of being the Dragonguard. These three behind me are the beginning of that reformation. We will face not only the dragons, but anything that threatens the people of Skyrim."
"So it's true, the Greybeards really were summoning you."
"Yes, my Lord"
"You'd better get up there immediately. There is no refusing the summons of the Greybeards. You've done me a great service again Dragonborn. By my right as Jarl, I name you thane of Whiterun. It is the greatest honor I can grant. I assign you Lydia as your personal housecarl, I'll also notify my guards of your new title. Wouldn't want them to think you are part of the common rabble now, would we."
"I'm not sure what good a housecarl will do me without a house my lord. I won't have any more income until Ri'saad sells those dragonbones i consigned him." Loki cut a sly grin as he noticed the Jarl take his hint.
"Proventus, I'm sure we could forgo the usual purchacing fee and extend our new thane a line of credit for furnishings."
Proventus looked as though he were about to choke at hearing the Jarl just give away a house in the city. "Um… yes… of course my Jarl. It will be done."
"I thank you, my Jarl. I will have Lydia make the arrangements with Proventus since I am sure she knows this city far better than I do. There is one more thing I would ask of you, my Jarl, if I may be so bold."
"Oh? And what is that, Thane Loki?"
"That my blades be allowed to station here for a recruiting headquarters while I travel to High Hrothgar to meet with the Greybeards."
"Of course. I will do anything I can to assist you in your quest to fight for the people of Skyrim."
"Thank you my Jarl."
Loki turned back down the steps from the throne to find Lydia waiting for him at the bottom with Lucia and his Blades. "I heard your request that I see to your housing here in Whiterun my Thane. Breezehome is one of the nicest available at the moment. It is situated near the main gate. If it pleases you I will see to the arrangements immediately."
Loki was shocked at what he saw. Lydia was almost as tall as himself with long brown hair that was braided down both sides of her face, light blue eyes, and a pale complexion. She was lean and athletic with defined muscular arms and legs. Her cheeks and lips were blushed against the cold climate as many Nords were. When she spoke, her voice was feminine, yet strong, commanding attention.
"Thank you Lydia, that would be wonderful. Also, would you please ensure that in the furnishing a room is made special for this young lady." Taking Lucia by the hand. Lucia began to smile and giggle at the thought of having a room of her very own, not just a place people let her sleep.
"Certainly my Thane. The house should be ready by the end of the week."
Loki then addressed them all, "Now, I am very thankful for all you all have done. I may be the Dragonborn, but this would not have been possible without your help. I must go to High Hrothgar to meet the Greybeards, and I will discuss the details of what I need everyone to do while I am gone tomorrow; but for now I am going back to my room at the inn and take a nap. My senses are still messed up from everything that happened today."
Looking down at the child who was looking back up at him with pure adoration, he continued, "Come on Lucia, Ysolda should be down at the inn by now. You did tell her where you were going, right?"