Dragonborn part 5

-Northern area of Solstheim-

In the falling snow Frea's white hair was hardly visible. The sun was slowly rising over the island and it made Serana's vision all the more blurred. The bright reflection of the sunlight in the snow was almost painful for her, despite the ring, and she held her eyes half closed. Tarrion stubbornly walked on, having ignored most of Serana's protests. His ribs hadn't fully healed after their visit to the village, and although he had gulped down at least three healing potions and had tried to heal himself, he still felt that at least two ribs were still broken.

Arriving at the village they saw how a small group of people had sat in a circle, around a few small standing stones. They all sung a deep, bellowing chant that seemed to draw energy from themselves to power a barrier that was made like a dome over the village. After Tarrion had a brief conversation with Frea's father Storn, an old man with a long grey beard and grey hair, they left the village to Searing's Watch. Storn had explained how there was a Word of Power that Tarrion needed to learn to help the village, yet Tarrion did not know what kind of Word that would be. Serana tried to make him rest for a few hours, but Frea had urged them both to make haste, much to Serana's annoyance, and now they ploughed through the snow. Walking toward Searing's Watch was draining Tarrion, and Serana noticed this, while Frea continued to walk in front of them.

"I don't like her."

Tarrion chuckled slightly, which caused him to immediately reach for his chest in pain. "That's a first," he said sarcastically.

"Not like that…" she grumbled. "I think she knows more than she is letting on… but it was something she said."

"What did she say?"

But Serana shook her head. "It was more what she meant by it…. But I don't know yet what she meant exactly."

They heard Frea's voice on the wind. "There it is, but…. Oh no."

As Tarrion and Serana reached the top of the hill and looked at a small glacier they saw Searing's Watch. It was a Nordic ruin… just like the ones Tarrion had visited before. Crumbling walls, with a few lookout towers, and further up the mountain a large, broken staircase that lead to a large curved wall with figures and imagery carved in the stone. It was there that Tarrion knew he would find the Word he needed.

But that is not what drew his attention. Right next to a few crumbling walls he saw a Dragon, lying in wait. It looked different than other Dragons that Tarrion had faced before and it almost seemed naked. It's scaly hide was grey, with a white underbelly. It had a long tail and a long supple neck, not unlike a serpent.

It had noticed the three companions, and it reared its head like it had expected them.

"Damn… a Dragon… and I can hardly Shout."

"A Dragon?" Frea asked and she drew her weapons. "A Skaal has survived worse."

As they neared the ruins the Dragon took to the skies and roared loud. Serana charged a spell in her hand and Frea seemed eager to fight. Tarrion was walking slowly toward the ruins, with his hand over his chest. The long hike had taken its toll on him and the pain had become almost unbearable. He knew that Shouting was out of the question, yet the Dragon seemed determined to repel any visitors.

With Tarrion only playing a supporting role in the fight against the serpentine Dragon, it took longer than expected, and the icy breath of the beast nearly froze him solid. Serana was now occupied with defending him and kept firing Ice spells at its wings to bring it down to the ground. Above the searing blowing of the wind and the thundering shouts of the Dragon the three warriors could almost hear it laugh at their efforts. Without any real way to force it to land, the Dragon would simply fly out of their reach, only to sweep down and freeze anything it could see.

"This is pointless!" Frea shouted. "We are not hurting it… we only make it angry. We are like playthings!"

"What do you want us to do about it?" Serana shouted back at her, angry at the fact that she also felt powerless against a Dragon. "I can't bring it down, and Tarrion is hurt badly!"

Tarrion leaned against the wall of a small alcove, still gritting his teeth in pain. But he knew that without any real help, they would be stuck here.

The Dragon roared and came down again, ready to freeze any he saw. Serana stayed behind cover, but Tarrion suddenly walked out in the open and straightened his back, ignoring the pain. He knew he only had one shot at this, and he would not miss.

JOOR ZAH FRUL

The Dragon roared in pain and crashed into the ruined buildings of the ruins. As it smashed into the rubble, what was left standing came down, trapping the Dragon under many tons of stone and rock. Frea immediately rushed to the beast. Unable to turn around the Dragon roared and breathed ice, in an effort to break free, but it only felt an axe slicing its neck, after which a sword was jammed through its throat. Serana stood under the beast and gallons of blood rushed down and the snow became red.

With a last gurgling effort to move the Dragon fell down and stopped moving. Tarrion walked near it and before long, the massive body started to burn.

"Impressive."

A deep voice echoed over the glacier and Tarrion turned around. He recognized the voice and wanted to reach for his sword, but he fell to his knees. The Shout had drained him and he could hardly stand. His chest felt like it had been shattered by the blow of a great hammer.

Miraak stood in the snow, but it was not him. It seemed like a shade of him had entered this world, half corporeal, half ethereal, and it chuckled as it saw Tarrion on his knees in the snow.

"It seems you are stubborn. A trait I myself have too… and I praise you for it. Yet you do not have the strength to back it up."

The Dragon's body was now in flames and, with the echo of a roar, its soul escaped and entered Miraak's shade.

"Ah… It has been long since I have tasted this," and he looked at Tarrion. "Have you ever wondered if it hurts? To have one's soul ripped out like that? You will… Not yet…. But soon."

A sword was jammed through Miraak's chest. Serana stood behind him and her red eyes flared with rage. "Over my dead body."

But Miraak's shade simply turned around and chuckled. "It seems that is already the case… vampire. You will soon have to find a new feeding thrall."

And with a last laugh he disappeared in thin air.

Serana dropped her sword and ran to Tarrion, who was still kneeling in the snow, but he sat motionless.

"Tarrion! Talk to me."

She felt his body shiver and she could sense that his heart was beating faster and faster, desperately trying to pump the adrenaline through his body… desperately trying to dull the pain. The three ribs that were mended, were broken again by the Shout.

"We should get up there," Frea said as she came standing next to her.

"He can hardly stand!" Serana snarled at her. "He needs time to heal."

"My people don't have time!"

"And that is not my concern!"

The two women stood in front of each other and both of them seemed ready to fly at each other.

"He is at his limit!" Serana shouted at her opponent. "He cannot go any further. Not without any healing."

"We can give him that," Frea remarked coldly. "But not without the rest of my people, and they are still enslaved. Help us, and we will help him."

"Your people can go straight to Oblivion for all I care… I am not pushing him to his death!"

"Then we all-…" but Frea stopped as Tarrion walked past them toward the staircase that led to the Word Wall.

Serana rushed to his side. "Tarrion… you must rest," but he shook his head. "Help me get up there."

The sound of his voice was terrifying to her. It was cold. No emotion, only pain and determination, like a man who knew he was walking to his doom. Tears welled up in Serana's eyes as she heard how he said it and he continued to walk toward the steps.

After an exhausting climb Tarrion could hear the word echo in his mind as he neared the Wall.

GOL

It was a word of domination… of taking control, and Tarrion hated the feeling it gave him.

"What would you have me do now?" he asked Frea.

His voice was weak and broken as he leaned on Serana. She tried to keep herself quiet as best she could by throwing glares of hate at Frea and only concern at him.

"We must go to the Wind Stone… where my people work against their will. Just like you saw at the Temple… where the Tree Stone is imprisoned, my people are building a structure around the Wind Stone, corrupting it."

After several hours, although to Serana it seemed like days, they neared the Wind Stone. It was a large standing stone, similar to the Standing Stones that dotted the land of Skyrim, yet it was much taller with a small basin around it, just like the Standing Stone near Raven Rock. And just like in Raven Rock, a few dozen people were working and mining around it, still chanting the same chant that echoed hauntingly over the snowy terrain. Tarrion could see the woman that had left the village when they arrived. She chiselled large stone blocks into shape. He knew he would have to Shout to free them from this influence.

At the Stone in Raven Rock he could not sense what he did now, but from the Stone he could feel a power. It was emanating from the earth around it and from the Stone itself and it called to him, and he heard it. He knew that if they would stay there for too long, they too would be enslaved. Maybe the knowledge of the Word of Power made him hear and understand the power that now came from the Stone, and he was repulsed by it. It was a power to enslave and corrupt… not to protect.

The pain in his chest had grown worse during the long walk, and he felt that he was at his limit. Leaning on Serana as he walked made the walk slower and painful, yet with his last strength he raised himself and took a painful and deep breath.

GOL

Out of his mouth came a wave, yet unlike any wave he had ever felt. Serana felt a chill crawling down her spine as she felt the power of his Thu'um and she knew that it was a different type of shout. But with the Shout came blood and Tarrion collapsed on the ground, the snow around him became red with the blood that now dripped from his mouth. The structure around the stone cracked and fell apart, and the last Tarrion heard before he passed out was a loud roar.

-Skaal Village-

Serana sat next to Tarrion. Her throat was locked, but her hands were shaking. Not with fear, but with anger. The last few days had drained her more than she would admit, and there had been several moments when she almost ripped Frea's throat out.

It had been three days since the Wind Stone was freed, yet Tarrion had not awakened yet. He had deliriously mumbled a few times in his sleep, but mostly he was quiet. The healers of Skaal Village had done what they could to help him and they had healed his ribs, yet it would take time for his body to mend itself.

In that time Frea had accused Serana of not feeling a thing for Tarrion, words that still echoed in her head.

"You're a Vampire! You only feed on him…. Why would you feel anything else for him?"

"HOW DARE YOU! We both went above and beyond for your damn people and-.."

"HE went above and beyond…. What did you do?"

"I helped protect you and I cared for him as best I could!"

"Oh, you can drop the act! He cannot hear you. You are a vampire that was lucky enough to find a gullible thrall. You are nothing but a bloodsucking-…"

"FREA! That is enough."

Storn had stopped her before she could do anymore harm, and told her to go back to her duties, and a good thing too. Serana's hands were already freezing with Ice spells that she charged, and Frea was ready to grab her axe. Storn's attempts at calming Serana were futile, and she had locked herself in the small house where Tarrion lay asleep.

She heard a deep breath and saw that Tarrion was waking up and immediately her anger disappeared. She took his hand and saw his eyes opening, and for the first time in days a slight smile appeared on her face.

Tarrion took another deep breath and grimaced slightly. His ribs had not fully healed yet. As he turned his head he saw the softly glowing eyes of Serana and felt her hands around his.

"Hey, you."

"Hey…. How… how do you feel?"

He grunted as he pushed himself up a bit. "Like a giant hit me with his club." He looked down to his chest and saw it covered with bandages and a soft scent of herbs came from it. "Damn…. I really need to stop waking up like this."

Serana smirked slightly and a small tear welled up in her eye, seeing that he would pull through.

"You though…" he said softly and he looked at her. "You seem like you weathered a bit. Was I that far gone?"

"No it-…" she sighed and her grip tightened a bit as her anger came back. "It's this Frea. She…. said some horrible things."

With difficulty she told him what happened between her and Frea, and a shadow came over his face as he listened.

"Did you kill her?" he asked after she stopped.

"…. Almost… her father intervened…. But it was very close. I.. I know you would probably have stopped me as well."

But he shook his head. "No I wouldn't have. Doubting the relationship between a mortal and a Vampire is one thing… but what she did… how you explained it. And after what we did for her and her people…"

Serana couldn't help but slime at the devotion that he showed her. "I see… well, I can still kill her, but I'll probably feel bad about it later."

"A touching sentiment," he chuckled.

A few hours later, with Tarrion fully dressed again, they walked out into the afternoon sun. Skaal Village was a peaceful village of a few dozen houses that were built closely together. The houses were build out of wood with roofs made from straw. All of the houses surrounded a single large house, the Great Hall, and some were built higher and others lower, yet all about the same size. It was a modest village, that had a sense of simplicity and peace… secluded from the rest of the world. It was built on the slopes of the mountains, and everything was covered in a layer of snow.

Tarrion saw that only a handful of people were up and about. One of them was Frea, but as soon as she saw them she walked behind a few houses and ignored them. A bit further up the mountain they saw a small house build against the rock and an old man sat in front of the door meditating. Tarrion recognized him to be Storn and together with Serana he walked up to the old man.

"Welcome Dragonborn," Storn said and his voice cracked almost as much as his old bones as he stood up. "I cannot thank you enough for saving our village."

Tarrion merely nodded.

"It seems we have not formerly met, given our earlier problem. I am Storn Crag-Strider. I am shaman of the Skaal and we are all greatly indebted to you… to the both of you," and he nodded at Serana. "If I or any of the Skaal can help you, we will do what we can. Just say the word."

"I will, thank you," Tarrion answered. "I do think you know why we are here."

Storn nodded. "Yes… you are here because of Miraak. You wish to stop him…. That is our wish as well."

"What can you tell us about Miraak?"

"Hmm… a difficult question," Storn answered slowly. "One that requires time to answer. But I can tell you, but let us go inside. These old bones crave a bit of warmth."

Inside a small house, which was nothing more than a dining area with a fireplace and two small bedrooms, they took a seat near the fire. It was built slightly lower than the rest of the house and as they sat on the floor boards, warming their hands and feet to the flames, Storn took a deep breath as he looked into the embers.

"You wish to know about Miraak?" he started and his voice had become softer, as if the walls had ears and he did not want anyone else to hear what he was about to say. "Hmm… his story is an old one. As old as Solstheim itself. Our legends say that when the All Maker first gave Solstheim to the Skaal, Miraak tried to claim it for himself. He built a great temple on the island, in defiance to the Dragons, his former masters."

"Miraak served the Dragons?" Serana asked surprised.

"That is what our stories say, yes."

"But… the last time the Dragons were in power was long ago. Thousands of years ago."

Storn nodded. "Yes… but the stories we have do not lie," and he turned to Tarrion. "They also say that Miraak was Dragonborn."

Serana immediately turned her head to him and widened her eyes. Tarrion had not moved, as this was not news to him. When he had met Miraak he had indeed claimed to be Dragonborn, and when his shade entered the world after the Dragon at Searing's Watch was killed, he absorbed its soul.

"What does this mean? That you are both Dragonborn?" Serana asked slowly.

"Perhaps that you are connected with him," Storn answered.

"I do not understand…" Tarrion said slowly. "Why would a Dragonborn serve the Dragons? They have never really been friends, since it is in the nature of the Dragonborn to protect mortals from the domination of Dragons."

"Our legends do not speak of his motivations," Storn answered. "But if he followed the Dragons so long ago, he must have had a reason. But he turned against his old masters… and the Dragons came to destroy him, and burn his temple to the ground…. They only succeeded in the latter, for Miraak himself somehow survived, but was pulled away from the world."

"What do you mean by that?"

But Storn shook his head. "I fear there is much that we do not yet know… perhaps it is not our destiny to know."

It was silent for a few moments, each of them occupied with their own thoughts. Tarrion knew it was of little use what Storn had told him… only legends and tales… nothing about how to stop Miraak here and now.

"This is not enough," he said. "We need to stop Miraak now… for once and for all. But he is not here… not on this world."

"This is true… but you seemed to have found a way to reach him," Storn answered. "Frea spoke of a book, and I have kept it hidden here."

He stood up and from a small chest that seemed to have been pushed far in the darkest corner of the house he pulled a book. The same Black Book that Tarrion had read, and it still looked the same, with black smoke oozing from its pages.

"I have kept it here for now," he continued. "but I will not do so anymore. I studied it and found that it is a dark and unnatural thing… not of this world. I will have nothing to do with it. It seems to be connected to Miraak… but its origin is unknown to me. It is not of the All Maker, that is certain."

Tarrion took the book from Storn and felt a strange urge to burn it and throw it away, yet also a strange urge to open it and read it. He understood it when Storn described it as dark and unnatural.

"It seems Miraak has sealed this Book, and you cannot read it to reach him again. Not until he is weakened enough."

"How are we supposed to weaken someone we cannot reach?"

Serana made a point here and Tarrion could not think of an answer.

"It seems that this is not the only Black Book on this world," Storn answered. "A short time ago a Dark Elf came to us. He asked us about Black Books, and if we have seen one or heard of one. We told him no. We use no magic of our own… as shaman it is my duty to only protect us from magic from outside."

"So this Dark Elf may know more about these Black Books?"

"If you wish to know more about them, then yes… he could be a help for you to begin your search."

"Then we will look for him," Tarrion concluded and he was about to stand up when Storn stopped him

"There is another thing we must speak of… a request that I have for you."

Tarrion sat back down and listened.

"You freed our people by destroying whatever dark magic took control of the Wind Stone. But there are other Stones on Solstheim… the Stones of Beast, Sun, Earth and Water… and these too have been corrupted. I must ask you to free those too…. Restore the Oneness of the Land, that they may no longer corrupt this island. You will find that the entire island will help you if you do. Man and Beast alike."

"One of the Stones stands in the centre of Miraak's temple," Serana mentioned and Storn nodded.

"The Tree Stone, yes. I do not think you can free it just yet… but it may be free once again when Miraak is defeated."

When Serana and Tarrion left the shaman's house they saw that the village was still empty and quiet. Only three people were up and they all leaned calmly against their houses, as if resting after a hard day's work.

"Where is everyone?" Tarrion asked. "I… I expected everyone to be happy and up and about after being freed."

Behind him Serana chuckled. "Expecting everyone to embrace you as their hero? They are resting. They could not sleep, remember? Every time they did, they would be drawn to the shrine until they would do it even when awake. Fenari… the tribe leader, told me that the Wind Stone was the first of the Stones to become corrupted. After you freed them, most of them fell asleep on the spot…. After we killed the monster that showed up."

"What?" Tarrion asked and he turned around. "A monster showed up?"

"Mhm," she nodded. "A large beast with tentacles for arms. I don't know what it was, but it attacked. But I killed it… and the bitch helped a bit too," she added mumbling. "But afterwards we helped the people get back to their houses and they fell asleep instantly. Most of them have only been awake for two hours before sleeping for the rest of the day."

"They will be fine though," she comforted him when he looked with concern at the houses. "They just need to catch up on some sleep. Give them a few days… maybe a week, and they will be back up again."

As they walked back to the small house that they were given for the time being Tarrion saw how Frea purposely avoided them and Tarrion had no intention to talk to her. Serana insisted on staying until the next day as she wanted Tarrion to take it easy for now.

"You had several broken ribs and yet you Shouted twice. Now you will listen and do as your betrothed tells you. As for you freeing the village… they cannot embrace you as their hero…. I however can and will… but not too tight," she added with a smirk. "You still need to heal."

=End of Chapter=

=Author's Notes=

So, that chapter took a bit. I had some exams so I had to study, of course.

As you noticed I added some extra conflict, between Serana and Frea. I found it weird that no-one comments on your companion in the game. Like… ever. Take an Orc to Solstheim? Sure… why not? A Dark Elf to Windhelm? Right this way…. So I'd say this was not random, but makes sense…. Sort of.

Dragon Language used:

JOOR ZAH FRUL: Mortal Finite Temporary (Dragonrend Shout)

GOL: Earth (from the Bend Will Shout)

I forgot to mention it again in the previous two chapters, but after this Arc, I plan on writing two intermission chapters. Interview with the Werewolf and Interview with the Vampiress. If you have any questions that you would like to ask Tarrion or Serana or both, please let me know.

At any rate, I hope you enjoyed and stay tuned for the next chapter. Maybe I can release it around Christmas or new year.