Name: Tarrion (Dovahsebrom (title rather than last name))

Sex: Male

Height: 6'6.

Age: 32

Date of Birth: 6th of Hearthfire, 4th Era 181

Place of Birth: South Eastmarch, Skyrim

Family: Father: Arron (deceased). Mother: Ellia (deceased). Siblings: (sister) Elaine, 36. (Sister)Thalia (deceased).

Relationship Status: Engaged to Serana (Vampire) (last name unknown.)

Affiliation: Companions of Jorrvaskr. College of Winterhold. Jarl's court of Haafingar, Hjaalmarch, The Reach, Falkreath, Whiterun, The Pale, Winterhold, Eastmarch, The Rift. Imperial Legion.

Also known as: The Dragonborn. Ysmir (by the Greybeards). Harbinger (by the Companions). Archmage (by the staff and students of the College of Winterhold). Hero of Skyrim. Alduin's Bane. Vän av Skaal (translates to 'Friend of the Skaal' by the Skaal). Legate Tarrion (by Imperial Soldiers). Thane (to basically all subjects in Skyrim)

NOTE: Prefers to be addressed by first name. Mostly ignores his titles himself.

Additional Details: is the Dragonborn. Also a Werewolf.

As part of my research into this living legend, I was able to have a full, uncensored and completely open interview with Tarrion.

My name is Alaysa Velira. I am a Breton from High Rock, and here follows my interview with the Dragonborn of Legend.

Sir… Tarrion, sir. Let me start this by saying what an honour it is to be able to talk to you like this. Thank you for taking this interview.

No problem at all. I'm glad to do this.

I imagine you've had people like me walking up to you before and asking all kinds of questions.

Well… no, not really. The only think people ask me is for help. *chuckles*. But sometimes people do ask me a few things, but never like this. This would be my first interview, so I am not sure how this really works.

Oh, do not worry. I will just ask you a question, and write down the answer you give. You can of course refuse to answer a question if you feel the need. Just answer honestly and you'll be fine. I'm sure an interview is nothing compared to what you have faced already.

True enough…. Let's start then.

=Background=

I will have to ask you about your background, since we do not know much about it. So what can you tell me about your youth? Your childhood?

Oof…. It has been a while since I thought about my childhood. Well…. Let's just say I grew up in a normal family. My parents were farmers… we were not rich, but not poor either. I had two sisters, both older than me… and we had to help on the farm. Milking the cows… feeding the chickens… occasionally repairing the fences. Just normal farm life. We lived near Darkwater Crossing, and we lived fairly isolated. But I can't complain about that. We lived together and hardly had any trouble… until my sisters grew up.

What do you mean?

My sisters were two opposites. Not just in personality, but also in interests. Elaine, the older sister, was more drawn to the Empire while Thalia disliked the Empire fiercely. My parents went with either of them. My father agreed with Thalia, while my mother agreed with Elaine. It tore our family apart, until we separated. My mother, Elaine and I left for Cyrodiil so Elaine could study there. My father and Thalia stayed behind.

But my mother fell sick in Cyrodiil and passed away a year later. I was, what?... Fourteen or fifteen when that happened. I could not stay in Cyrodiil… I never belonged there, yet Elaine did. A year later I returned to Skyrim, but did not find the rest of my family. I searched for them for almost four years… taking jobs anywhere I stayed, until I knew I would never find them. I returned to Darkwater Crossing one last time, but was captured by the Imperials and send to Helgen.

I have heard of the Incident at Helgen. Why were you captured? And what happened exactly at Helgen?

I still disagree with everything that happened during my capture. The Imperial soldiers apparently saw me as a Stormcloak spy. The only reason why they would think that is because I was near Ulfric Stormcloak at the time. They had just found out where he would be…. Laid an ambush… and I walked right in it. They thought I was a spy or a scout and captured me.

After almost two weeks… with very little sleep I might add…. We arrived at Helgen. First a few Stormcloak soldiers were executed, and then it was my turn. But just as I was forced on the headsman's block… Alduin attacked.

Out of nowhere? No-one saw him coming?

A Dragon is big, you mean… how could we not see him coming?

*nod's carefully*

Dragons were only legends and tales at the time. When he came flying down from the mountains, roaring loudly… bringing an entire avalanche down… we had no idea. Imagine if an Oblivion Gate opens up right here and now… how do you react? You have no idea… of course you don't… because no-one expects it. That is what happened with us that day as well.

In the confusion I managed to head-butt the executioner and I made a run for it. I entered one of the towers… jumped from the tower to the Inn… burning as it was… I found Hadvar downstairs who helped a few people take shelter in the basement. He told me to stay close to him… he was an Imperial Soldier, but I was not twenty years old, so did not care that he was part of the group that captured me. I followed him, but when we rushed to the keep, and Ralof was there too, I sided with Ralof, who was a Stormcloak.

He unbound me and together we followed the caves underneath the fort. When we reached the surface we saw the Dragon fly north, and we fled to Riverwood.

You were helped there?

Yes, by friendly people. I will not give their names, because I am afraid they will face the executioners block for helping fleeing 'Stormcloaks'. They helped both of us, and I am forever grateful for that.

=The Companions=

I have heard that you are a member, or even a leader of a few factions in Skyrim. One of them is the Companions of Jorrvaskr. What can you tell me about them and how did you join?

Well… after I left Riverwood with the request to inform Jarl Balgruuf about the Dragon attack at Helgen, I found a few of the Companions outside Whiterun that were attacking a giant. I had seen giants before, but never faced one… I was still young and inexperienced… but the bravery they showed there made a huge impact on me. Aela was there, along with Ria and Farkas. They were older than me, except for Ria, yet not much older.

After I informed the Jarl… he thanked me and he and his court wizard Farengar would concoct a plan against the Dragons… I asked the Companions if I could join. The Harbinger at the time… Kodlak Whitemane, a wise and honourable man… saw a strength in me that I did not see at the time. I sparred with Vilkas for a bit, and although he was still much stronger than I was, he took a liking to me.

I will spare you the minor details of all the adventures I had… and all the trouble I got into *he smirks*… over the course of almost four years I had become a member of the Circle and a Werewolf. It gave me an edge I did not have before. I also had many conversations with Kodlak… they grew more and more frequent as time progressed, and the subjects of the conversations became more and more difficult. In hindsight I saw that he already saw a little bit of his successor in me. But then Kodlak was killed, and Vilkas and I avenged him at Driftshade. And after we laid his soul to rest, Kodlak's spirit said that I would be the next Harbinger.

The newest recruit with not four years of experience? You were twenty-three at the time, right?

True… I thought the same…. But I did not doubt Kodlak. He was wiser than I was, and he also taught me that I should not dismiss a compliment or favour out of some… false or not… sense of modesty. The others were surprised but I had proven myself to them already, by being able to calm Vilkas at Driftshade… letting Aela see reason about curing Kodlak even in death… and being able to give advice to Ria, Athis, Njada…. I had learned more than I thought, and Kodlak saw that I had wisdom… more so than the others. I also read a journal that Kodlak made… I read that he wanted to teach me and learn from me over many years… he was indeed grooming me to be his successor, yet his untimely death complicated that.

As for my duties among them…. the Companions are managing themselves. I do not command them, neither did Kodlak, or any of the Harbingers before him… I only offer advice on certain matters. Something that is needed at times, yet not as much as one might think. Members can decide for themselves if they accept a contract or not, and if they want help or not. I am needed only when dealing with an ethic matter, or when the matter is politically sensitive… but this, especially the latter issue, happens only so often.

Speaking of the Companions… you mentioned that you became a Werewolf there. You still are one right?

Yes.

What is the appeal you see in it? What has made you keep your lycanthropy?

….. I'm not sure. I guess, so far, I have seen no real reason to get rid of it. The night I had with Serana during the Blood Moon, was one issue I had, but beyond that, I have had no problems with it. I am responsible with it, I do not take risks… so far it has been, almost wholly, a benefit to me. I am stronger than I was before… have more stamina than normal humans…...

….

…Yes *reluctantly nods, yet with a smile* also during those activities.

I wasn't saying anything…

You were thinking it. But I am also, almost, completely immune to deceases, and that especially is very useful. But to answer the underlying question; will I one day remove my Lycanthropy? I do not know… if I have good reason to, yes. What reason might that be? I have no idea…. We will see what life brings.

So what are some of the traits that you have as a Werewolf?

As I said, I am stronger, have more endurance, highly resilient to diseases. During spring however I get….. urges.

Urges?

Yea… *scratches his head uncomfortably*…. Humans do not have, what animals have, a 'mating season'... right? Well…. Wolves do… since I am part wolf... During spring I also feel similar urges. A desire to find a suitable female and have offspring.

…. Does that mean…. Any female?

No… of course not. I am still human, and I still have full control over what I do, so I still decide when and where and with whom. You can put me in a room with Aela during springtime and it will not matter. It is just that my drive becomes stronger. I do not become a mindless, horny beast looking for someone, yet I will not appreciate it if one constantly teases me, yet then denies me. If Serana for example constantly teases me, yet then says no… I would get annoyed very quickly. Luckily she doesn't do this.

And by 'annoyed' you mean…?

Imagine if you hold a piece of meat in front of a starving man, but just far enough so he can't reach it. He will likely get really angry. I feel something similar.

I understand that you have controll over what you do if you transform... So, you could transform here and i would not be in danger?

Correct, although i will not transform without reason... plus i will tear the clothes apart i am wearing now, so when i transform back, i will be naked. One of the reasons why Serana always arrives as soon as the full moon is over.

But during the full moon you transform, involuntarely. Does that cause problems?

Not really, no. I keep an eye out when it comes to the moon, and when i see it is almost a full moon, i retreat myself to a small island in Lake Ilinalta. It seems that in Wolf-form i do not like to swim, so i tend to be safe there and i will not harm anyone. I often notice it when the full moon approaches as i start to feel a more primal sense of hunger and ferocity. I tend to get grumpy a bit more... also i tend to enter a mood-swing period and start to get hungry on random moments.

*softly enough so he can't hear it* Now you know what women feel every month.

Hmm... Sorry? What did you say?

Nothing.

=College of Winterhold=

I also hear you are the Archmage of the College of Winterhold. How did you manage to do that since… pardon me for the stereotype… I hear that Nords are not too fond of magic.

Oh, *laughs* that's alright. It is true that most Nords are not fond of magic, yet I have learned not to shun it out of some nonsense reason like 'tradition' or 'other people that we don't like use it too'. Since the Elves often use it, and the Nords have a bad history with many Elves, we distrust it. But I have learned it is a useful weapon and it can make life better for so many people…. And of course it can also make life worse for other… but that is the way with all things.

But how did I start there; Well, I remember walking from Dawnstar once, not too long after I became Harbinger of the Companions, and I nearly froze to death. I hid in a cave, freezing, when a young Dark Elf found the same cave. She was able to make a fire through magic, and I learned that she was heading to Winterhold to join the College. It was Brelyna, and we became friends there. She was a few years younger than me... or she would be if she was a Nord... and she asked me for help since she was completely lost. I helped her to get to Winterhold and there it seemed I had an inherent ability to use magic. Faralda, who teaches Destruction and is now Master Wizard and runs the College in my absence, was impressed with my skills and saw that I had talent. She invited me to join as well.

After a few months there we went to the ruins of Saarthal, and I found an unexplored part of the ruins. With Tolfdir right behind me we explored until we found a massive hall with a strange orb.

The Eye of Magnus?! I have heard of rumours, yet I never believed…..

They're true. We had no idea what it really was and brought it to the College for further study. Things quickly went downwards for the College from there. Ancano, a Thalmor agent, wanted us to help him unlock the secrets of the Eye… I was busy with Tolfdir trying to figure out what it really was, while trying to avoid Ancano… then I had to find a few stolen books…. Met with someone who would know about the Eye… found the Staff of Magnus… and in the meantime Ancano had gone crazy and tried to use the Eye. It nearly destroyed the College and it killed the previous Archmage, Savos Aren, and Mirabelle Ervine, the Master Wizard.

This all took place over the course of almost two years, and I had honed my skills as a wizard… showing remarkable talent… but most of all, wisdom. I learned a lot and experienced a lot at the Companions and that experience was very useful. After Ancano was defeated, the Eye was taken away-…

By whom?

…. By people who keep it safe. Even I do not know where it is now, but I do know it is out of our reach… as it should be. Anyway, over the course of a few months there was a lot of debate who would be the new Archmage… most of the staff suggested Tolfdir, but he declined saying he was too old, and if he would be chosen 'we would need another new one within the next decade'. He actually suggested that I take the position as Archmage. According to him I was 'young, yet wiser than most old men I have met. Strong in spirit, yet not too fiery. Kind yet stern…. All the qualities an Archmage should possess.' The others thought about it and debated it for another three days, until they agreed.

So what are your daily duties as Archmage?

I only deal with the more politically sensitive matters, and matters that affect the College as a whole. Faralda runs the day-to-day operations. If something happens that does require my attention, I often send a letter… unless it is really important like new students arriving. Yet most people in Tamriel go to the Mages Guild in Cyrodiil, so we don't get too many students. From time to time about a dozen arrive, but no more than that.

=Imperial Legion=

How did you end up joining the Legion?

I joined very shortly after all that happened at the College. General Tullius asked if me being there was a statement from the College that it would join the fight against the rebels. I told him no; I was only there as a man, not as Archmage. And I would serve the Legion as just a man, not as Archmage. But with all my skills I became an undeniable asset and even the general was willing to overlook that I had a few reservations. I had made a great number of friends, and during the two years that I served in the Legion, I rose to the rank of Legate quicker than anyone ever before me. I fought battles at Solitude, Markarth, Whiterun, Dawnstar, Riften, Windhelm, and almost anywhere in between. Small forts to conquer, or large battles. The Campaign that Tullius had formed to destroy the rebels was strategically sound and brilliant, but it required people who could adapt in the heat of battle, and make good decisions under pressure.

People like you.

… Thank you… and yes. I was fundamental in ending the rebellion, and that is not arrogance talking…. That is all of Skyrim talking. According to Legate Rikke it was likely that the rebellion would have been able to continue for years if I had not helped the Empire.

So, you would support the Empire? or do you still have those 'reservations' you spoke of?

I support Skyrim, and I want wat is best for its people. Right now, that is the Empire, yet if I truly believed that Ulfric was right, I would have supported him. I do not follow the Empire because I lived in Cyrodiil for a time, if that is what you might think. I support it because right now it is the best for Skyrim and its people.

Fair enough….

=Thane hood=

I also hear that you are he Thane of all the nine holds in Skyrim. That is quite an achievement and I imagine also a heavy burden to bare.

It is… yet not as much as one might think. Every Jarl has more than one Thane, and each of those Thanes has their duties. My duties are mainly the protection of the people and the relations between the holds. For example; I live in Falkreath… mostly…. And so my duties to Jarl Balgruuf is the relationships between Whiterun hold and Falkreath, and also the protection of Riverwood. To Jarl ….. My duties include managing the relationships between Falkreath and Whiterun, and the protection of the area around Lake Illinalta. I also make a habit of journeying through Skyrim once a year… visiting all the holds, to see if anything of importance has happened. I also receive letters from the stewards of the Jarls on urgent matters.

So which hold accepted you as Thane first? And which Jarl do you like the most? Which one do you dislike the most?

My first hold was Whiterun. After it became clear that I was Dragonborn and that I killed Mirmulnir, Jarl Balgruuf of Whiterun insisted that I become Thane. I did not object… and I was given a house and Lydia as housecarl.

Which Jarl do I like the best? Hmm…. I have a hard time deciding between either Balgruuf or Brunwulf of Windhelm. Both care a lot for their people and both want to do what is right for Skyrim. Elisif I like as well, yet she is still young… younger than me… and often also a bit naïve. She often lets herself be guided too much by her Thanes… and I include myself in that… and she is often overshadowed by the experience that we bring. She sometimes thinks that we know it better than her. If she would just step out of her own shadow, and our shadow… she would be a great Jarl… and High Queen.

Which Jarl do I dislike the most? *looks around carefully* Maven Black-Briar. She is arrogant… cares for little else other than coin or her own family image, and overall is just a dislikeable person. It was not my choice that she replaced Laila. Unfortunately she supported the Stormcloaks… although not as much… and so she was sent to Solitude and imprisoned as a rebel, and Maven took over. I can think of at least a dozen others that I would prefer to have the position as Jarl rather than her… but alas it was not my decision. Perhaps that is actually for the best.

=Being the Dragonborn=

In all this, you mention little about you being Dragonborn. What does it mean to be Dragonborn? And when did you find out about it?

To answer in the proper order…. I found out about it after the events at the Southern Watchtower of Whiterun. We had heard reports of a Dragon attacking it, and Irileth and I and a large battalion of soldiers headed there to find out what happened. We arrived at a massacre. The watchtower was barely standing, and the ground was littered with charred remains of humans. Fires were still raging everywhere, and only two survivors were found. Then the Dragon attacked, Mirmulnir, and we were in for a fight for our lives. We managed to bring it down, and then it sensed that I was Dragonborn. He tried to flee, yet we killed it… and I absorbed his soul. The men called me Dragonborn, and I was able to use a simple Shout. When I returned to Whiterun I heard a sound like thunder piercing through the sky and the word 'Dovahkiin' echoed in it. Later I learned that it was the Greybeards that called me to High Hrothgar.

But what does it mean…. It is impossible to explain. And I mean that, I have tried to explain it to Serana multiple times, yet it boils down to how I feel… how I see things… she knows me better than anyone and she still will never fully understand. Not even the Greybeards can understand. I sometimes feel….. Imagine a bird born without wings. It is still a bird, yet one of the main features it should have is not there. Sometimes I feel that way. I have the Soul of a Dragon, and sometimes I look up to the sky and feel like I should fly around there as well *chuckles*. And sometimes I feel almost disconnected from normal humans, like I look like one… yet are not one.

*slow nod* I understand.

Ha! No you don't…. you understand that it must feel strange and conflicting, yet you do not know how it feels. It is a strange thing to feel this way. An immortal being in a mortal body? Does that make sense? I am half of both, and yet I am neither fully. Honestly… I don't think about it too much…. It has brought me many headaches and sleepless nights.

Does you being Dragonborn give you any other traits? Aside from the Shouts.

Hmmm…. Maybe... yes. This has to do with the Shouts, yet it is a, shall we say, side-effect. Shouting used to be incredibly difficult for me, not because I did not understand it…. it felt like breathing to me… but it felt like very heavy breathing. It was exhausting! One Shout was all I could muster at first, and then I had to rest. I trained and trained until I was able to use more than one Shout in a short time. Now I can shout whenever I want, because I trained. And my body has grown accustomed to it. When I Shout I do not just use my voice or vocal cords… but my entire body. Almost every single muscle in my body is used to Shout. A Dragon can withstand that without effort, yet I still have the body of a human. And all those muscles that I use when Shouting, are trained. I do not need to try to keep my current physique. Shouting keeps my body in shape.

So you never need to work out? No push-ups?

…. I do that less and less frequent, as Serana likes to sit on my back and she keeps telling me 'one more… one more'.

*both chuckle*

I have to ask a question that people in High Rock wanted me to ask you; You, as Dragonborn command tremendous powers. You are basically a one-man army. So… with that… and your dislike for the Thalmor… what is preventing you from wiping the Aldmeri Dominion out? Or become Emperor?

*smiles (to my surprise)* True…. Very true. I am indeed… probably… the most powerful man alive, and if I truly wanted I could become High King of Skyrim… even Emperor. Yet what would that do? I would become a tyrant…. A slaver who kills any that oppose him. What would history tell? Of a powerful Dragonborn who took his 'rightful place' as ruler of Tamriel? Or of a power-hungry Dragonborn whose arrogance and thirst for power cost the lives of countless humans and elves alike? I long for peace. I have seen plenty in the world, and many problems are created because of power-hungry men and women. I decided that the only way to counter that is by being content with what you have. For me that is Serana. I am happy with her, and I would want us to live in peace.

That is a good thing… since you are powerful, yet some wonder if you are the most powerful Dragonborn. There was one that I remember that was unable to even speak normally… that's how powerful his Voice was.

*nods* Wulfharth… I know the legend. Was he more powerful since he was unable to speak normally? Ask yourself this question; Is that power, or a lack of control? I am able to speak normally, and I only use the Thu'um when necessary. I fully control my Voice. This legend of Wulfharth suggests that he had no control over his Voice. That does not sound like power… just a lack of training. And even if it is pure power… I still would not want it. Being unable to talk normally sounds terrible.

=Serana=

But speaking of Serana… I 'have' to ask you a few questions about her, of course. It will break a lot of hearts that you are already in love and want to marry her…

*laughs*

But I have to ask about her. I know how you two met, but I have to address the mammoth in the room here. What do you, a Werewolf, see in her, a Vampire? How would you describe her?

How would I describe her? I have no idea. I think I can talk about her for the rest of the day, and still feel like I have barely scratched the surface. I can only say that she is the opposite.

The... opposite? Of what?

Of everything one might think of her. She is a Vampire, and thus she feeds on blood… but she will not hesitate to spill her own blood to defend others. Vampires care about little else other than themselves…. Serana is willing to put her own needs aside. She is a 'creature of the night'… and yet she loves the day. She is 'coldblooded'… yet her personality is warm and caring. She is technically undead…. Yet she loves life more than most. We live in Falkreath and she loves it. Because it is, especially during spring and summer, filled with life. She is…. *sighs with an obvious blush on his face* she is perfect.

What do I see in her? A woman I love. I travelled with her and experienced much with her. I have seen her when she was angry, and when she was happy. When she was sad and joyful, in pain and in love… I Know her. And I have seen that I can rely on her… and I know that she sees that she can rely on me. She treats me as an equal, she keeps me level-headed. After a day of travels, she gives me the strength to go on. After a day of negotiating between thanes, and advising the Jarls, she lets me forget about it. When I am with her, I am not Thane Tarrion Dovahsebrom… Thane of all the Holds, Harbinger etc. etc... I am just Tarrion. I know that there are women in Skyrim, and possibly beyond Skyrim *chuckles*, that are in love with me. Yet each of them loves the Dragonborn, the Thane, Harbinger and Archmage. The Hero…. Not the man. But Serana does. She knows I am all of that, and yet she doesn't care about it. She respects the titles and the legend…. Yet she loves the man, and she is singular in that.

And how do you deal with her past? Does that affect you at all? As her husband-to-be, do you find it difficult?

Hmm… a difficult question. Does it affect me? No…. or hardly, because I cannot imagine what she has been through. Her family was torn apart… so was mine, but in no way is what happened to me similar to what happened to her. I cannot imagine it, I can only help… and that is how I deal with it. By helping her. I know full well that I cannot take away what has happened to her, and I will not try to do that. I help her in giving it a place. I help her by being there for her so that she is not haunted by her past. That she can say to me, and mostly to herself; the past is in the past, and it no longer controls me. It stays in the past.

I have often asked her about her past, but I always asked one or two questions at a time. I try to let her open up about it, one part at a time. I try to let her, at her own pace, open up, one layer after the other. I have never tried to force her open immediately. And every time she opened up a little, I made sure she knew that she was safe.

I know I make her sound like she is fragile…. She is not. Yet when it comes to her past, I know I have to be careful and respect the magnitude of what happened. What happened to her are things that cannot go away, and I know I cannot make it go all away… yet I can help her give it a place.

So how would you describe your relationship with her? We know you two want to get married, yet what should I imagine with a relationship between a Vampire and a Werewolf?

I… don't think you can compare it to any other relationship between a Vampire and a Werewolf. As far as I know we're the only one. But what kind of relationship do we have? hmmm…. I would say it is as emotional as it is physical. We are very intimate with each other, and that creates a bond. We love each other, and we show that through emotional contact, like sharing memories, laughing together or crying together. We can be angry at each other sometimes and at other times we feel like nothing we ever do will fully describe how much we love each other. There are no emotional boundaries.

But physical contact is also incredibly important in our relationship. And that does not mean sex alone… it also means just being comfortable around the other. I remember a day when Rayya was out to hunt for food… something she likes to do every once in a while… and Serana and I were alone. We stayed in our room, her reading a book, me fixing a hole in my tunic… and neither was wearing any clothing. We were completely naked around each other, yet there was no sexual activity. This is something I am sure some people might find strange, yet it creates a bond. Being able to be completely exposed and naked with another, just during normal daily activities, is something I love about us.

This goes further when she... i would aptly call it 'craves'... me for physical contact. Just lying in bed together she often hugs me, even when she is asleep. I asked her about it and she apparently 'loves my warmth'. She, as a Vampire, does not have her own body-heat. In turn, she craves the warmth of others. Since i am the man she loves... and because my blood smells so much better than anyone else's... she always wants to feel my warmth. Skin-on-skin i will have to add. On travels, i tend to keep my trousers on, but when we're in one of my homes in a city... if i keep my clothes on in bed i might as well tell her that i don't love her any more. *chuckles*

I would never do that around anyone else. I know Lydia for years, and she had to patch me back up a great number of times… and thus she has seen me naked… yet I would not want to be naked around her. As much as I care about her… I love her… I am not that comfortable around her. Aela and I have shared more than just a hunt… I've slept with her a number of times, long before I met Serana, yet I would not want to be naked around her either. We've seen each other naked, sure… but only for the purpose of sex… and not just feeling comfortable around the other. It is something I only feel with Serana.

So… this comfort that you feel around her. Would you ever want that to change?

…. What do you mean?

Well… since Vampires are immortal… and you and Serana love each other so much…. Would you become a Vampire to stay with her for eternity?

…. *opens and closes his mouth a few times* …. I have no idea. I understand why some people might say that, yet I am not sure. I don't think I'll feel comfortable as a Vampire. I preferred to be partially Soul-trapped when I had to make a choice… but to stay with Serana forever? I'll say a wholehearted 'yes' to that. But as a Vampire? I don't know. I think I would prefer to be with her in Sovngarde.

So that is a 'no' to becoming a Vampire to stay with Serana forever?

… This world is beautiful. It has so much to offer. More than any of us can dream. But it is also broken by evil… bad things that come from ourselves, and others, and from beyond this world. If I have to choose between eternity here with Serana, or eternity in Sovngarde with Serana… I will choose the latter. Either way… as long as she is there.

How about feeding? She still needs blood right? Or can she also eat other things?

Ah... you will have to ask her about that, but as far as i know, she indeed needs blood to survive. But that does not mean it has to be a lot of it. A few sips is enough for her to last for the rest of the day. We often do this either in the evening... or at breakfast, when she spikes the mead with a few drops of my blood. I still feels normal for her that way... or something like that. Again... you will have to ask her about the details.

So what is your favourite memory of the two of you? Or what is something that she does that you just find adorable, or amazing or…. Something that you love.

Favourite memory? I think that will have to be when we went to Ancestor Glade again. This was after we came back from the College and we had some time off, so we went to Ancestor Glade and stayed there for three days.

*smirks* I can imagine what you two did during those three days.

*blushes* Ah, yes. That too, but it was also so beautiful there. I remember waking up and seeing her walk through the mist. The golden light all around her, her pale skin reflecting the light…. I cannot describe what I felt there. I fell in love again… completely and wholly. Unearthly beautiful she was.

As for things she does… like an adorable or cute quirk? hmmm…I would say; anything she does is cute. But if I have to pick… she sometimes bites her lip when reading a good book. Or… I just remembered… the way she takes off her tunic. I know… you probably think it is sexual again, but not that. It is the way she does that.

How so?

Well… when I take of my tunic, I grab the back of the collar and pull it over my head. But she grabs the bottom of the tunic, her arms crosswise, and pulls it over her head. That move… it does something to me… it looks almost like a dance.

…. I … think that all women do that.

? Really? Huh…. I need to pay more attention then.

I don't think it will work with armour though.

That might be the reason I haven't seen other women do it.

*both laugh*

She does sometimes try to scare me. She has this interesting ability to completely disappear in shadows, and i, in no way, will be able to find her. So i think she is about to walk in the room... i lay in bed looking at the ceiling... only to see two red eyes suddenly appear in the dark above me. Or out of nowhere i hear her whisper softly, and very scary 'goodnight, sweetheart', in my ear.

*snickers*

After that i can't sleep for an hour. And the worst part is, i cannot scare her back. She can detect me almost everywhere... except underwater. So i can only sneak into the bath... she can notice that... and try to swim underwater to het to try and scare her... but i don't think that has ever worked.

Also... i wonder. Who is stronger? You or Serana?

Wow... that is a difficult one... Hmm... I think I am. I can slow down time itself if i want, and she may be very fast and have lightning reflexes... i am still faster when i slow down time. Also purely physically? I am. She is strong... i know that, and i love it about her. Yet i also know that i am stronger... although not by a lot.

=Other relationships=

So you have… ehh… 'been with' other women before Serana?

Yes… three others. One of them was Aela… yet that was mostly physical. And also during spring. I remember during my time at the College I had to retrieve a few stolen books. As I travelled I encountered Aela who had gone on a hunt. It was during spring-time, and we are both Werewolves… so we knew what the other felt. On top of that, she is my forbearer… I received my Lycanthropy from her, and that creates a bond. It is impossible to explain, yet there is a bond between us, and we both feel that. And i had already known her for almost five years... we both liked each other and... well…. Let's just say that I nearly forgot about the books at all. *chuckles* It was not the only time I 'spend' with Aela… there have been other moments as well. But not since I met Serana, of course.

The second woman was actually a fellow soldier; Legate Rikke. It was before the Battle for Windhelm. I had just been promoted to the rank of Legate myself… we were camped in the eastern areas of Eastmarch, and she asked me to take a walk with her. I knew I was her favourite soldier, since I had done more than almost the entire camp combined, and at a nearby lake she also explained that she could treat me as an equal now. She is five years my senior, yet she is a beautiful woman…. And I did not complain when she made her advances. I felt a similar attraction... something i had noticed over the few years i worked with her.., and we returned to camp a few hours later... both with a blush on our faces. After the battle for Windhelm we both journeyed back to Solitude and when we stayed at the Nightgate Inn, we spend the night with each other. But that was the last of it. We both knew we had to stay professional, and as Legates in the Imperial Army, it could never work.

The third woman was a woman I did not know, since I only remember waking up in Riften… with a hangover like you would not believe… and a beautiful Dunmer woman lying next to me. It turns out we both got black-out drunk the night before and now both had a hangover. Neither of us really knew what happened the night before, yet the fact that our clothes were all over the room told us enough. We both apologized and thanked the other… sort of… and I have never seen her again. She was apparently on her way back to Morrowind.

It sounds like you're quite the ladies-man.

Oh… not really. With Aela and me there is a bond… an impossible to explain connection. Rikke was the one that made a move on me, and the Dunmer and I …. Well… we were both completely drunk. It is not my mission to be with as many women as possible…. Far from it. I wanted to find someone that I could love… and I have found that in Serana. No matter how many women may be interested in me… even if it was the Jarl of Solitude… my heart belongs to only Serana now.

So we know of Aela, and Legate Rikke…. Were there any other women that you may have been interested in? And if there is a bond between you and Aela… why did you never pursue that? Or did you?

There is a bond between me and Aela, true… but that is not enough. We feel a connection, yet we are very different. I care for her… I love her… yet not in a romantic way. I learned that she is very solitary. She is quick to accept a job… and she will get it done, but then she will take the long way round back to Jorrvaskr. She loves the wild and the solitude it has… and that is not how I am. I would be surprised if she rests her head for more than a week in one place. I believe that she needs someone who is as solitary as her, and that is not me. I want someone by my side… someone I see every day, and that is not Aela. I would tie her down… chain her to a single location and that would drive her insane. She needs someone who can be as solitary as her…. And that is not me.

Lydia might also be a woman that people might think I was interested in. Truth is… I almost was. I love her deeply… yet also not in a romantic way… because she, I know this, is not my equal. She never will be.

What do you mean with that?

She is my housecarl, right? And she takes those duties very seriously. More seriously than she should sometimes. She will always see me as her Thane, even should I release her from my service. Ha!... I am sure she will not accept it. But should I marry her, I know she will still see me as her Thane, and that is not what I want in a relationship. Serana keeps me honest and is willing, and capable, of also kicking me in my behind if I do something wrong. She speaks her mind… she is my equal. I have a higher status than her in the holds, true, but at home… between us, she is my wife and I am her husband. We're not married yet, I know, but we might as well be. She treats me as an equal, and I know that Lydia will never be able to do that. Her sense of duty and honour, which I respect immensely, prevents her from being my equal. She needs someone outside of that… and Azzar I believe can be her equal.

As for any other women? No. I love Jordis, Iona and Rayya all in equal measure, and I respect each of them. Yet they also know that I am not interested in them, and they are not troubled by this. We all have a mutual respect and care for each other. Honestly, I think that sometimes people make too much of a friendly relationship between a man and a woman.

*with a smirk* You are surrounded by women after all.

Ha! Tell that to Argis, Vilkas, Farkas, Gregor, Calder or Valdimar.

So you love each of them, yet not in a romantic way.

Exactly. Do you have siblings? Family?

Two younger brothers, yes.

And you love them… right?

Of course.

Yet not in a romantic way. Love knows many different forms. I love Serana… more than anything. Yet I also love Rayya… I care for her and want to see her happy as well, yet not in a romantic way. The same goes for all my housecarls. They are my friends… Lydia, Iona, Jordis, Argis… all of them. I care for them… they are like my family, and I would protect them as much as they would protect me.

What about your sister, Elaine? I heard what happened, and I know that she is in Cyrodiil. Have you any contact with her?

I have. We promised to stay in touch, and we write each other occasionally. Of course… those letters take a while to arrive, but we don't mind. At least we have something to write about. Our relationship has improved, despite all that happened. We promised that we would not ignore each other again. She still remains in Cyrodiil and helps me with any rumours she hears in the Imperial City. I in turn keep her informed about what happens in Skyrim. Of course, the letters are not only about that. It is also a way of making up for lost time. We try to reconnect again after twelve years.

So you have connections even in Cyrodiil.

*jokingly* I have connections everywhere.

=Likes=

So… with all your responsibilities and duties… what do you do for fun?

What are things I like to do? I sometimes try to invent new enchantments and spells...Hmm, what else? I am not that good with Alchemy, but Serana does teach me a lot. Ehh… hunting is something I like to do.

So your daily life in Falkreath is….?

Waking up… breakfast… washing…. If there are letters from the Jarls, Companions or the College I will answer them, but this can happen at any time during the day. I often check the herbs in the garden, although Serana does that mostly. When I go on a hunt I need the entire day for that, or sometimes more than one day.

Does Serana go with you on these hunts?

Sometimes she does… other times she doesn't. Sometimes Rayya comes along… or either of them goes alone, or together. It differs per hunt. Also when we have to buy supplies in Falkreath or Riverwood, sometimes I go alone, or Serana goes alone…. That hardly ever happens though…. And at other times Rayya goes alone… or we all go together, or only two. We tend to take turns.

It sounds like your relationship with Rayya is not really Thane-housecarl, but more between friends.

That is the relationship I have with all my housecarls, yet Rayya takes more to it than for example Lydia. She will still obey if I give her an order, but I don't really do that. She is a good friend, she speaks her mind… Especially after she had gone on a journey of her own, she came back happier than ever and she smiles a lot more.

As for any other activities I do when I have the time….sometimes the house needs fixing. After a storms hits some parts of the house need replacing or repairing. We've had it happen a few times that lightning struck the enchanting tower…. It is the highest of the three. I still need to find a way to either prevent that from happening or find a way to absorb the lighting. I still have to send a letter to Faralda about that… ask her if she has any suggestions on how to protect the tower against lightning strikes… I keep forgetting it.

I can also play the lute…. But only a little bit and I haven't touched one in years. I doubt Serana even knows about this, now that I think of it…. huh… maybe I should tell her. I learned a bit when I joined the Bard's College. *chuckles* I remember when Pantea Atia asked me if I could sing. I can't. My Shouting prevents me from singing properly.

You can't win them all, can you?

Exactly! I told her that, yet she insisted on teaching me anyway. After a week she stopped, claiming I was 'unteachable'.

=Dislikes=

So, after all these years there must be things… or people… that you do not like. What are the things that you avoid, or the people that you avoid? Do you have any fears?

Hmmm…. Things that I avoid? I guess I can deal with anything that happens in my life, but it depends on the situation. I don't like bandits, yet I have often sought out bandits… as in, to get rid of them because we needed to claim a fort. I dislike the Daedra, yet… well… I have had dealings with a few of them. Or heat! When the weather is too warm, I prefer to stay in the shade. In Skyrim only the summers get warmer, yet I have heard that there are vast deserts in Eslweyr, with scorching heat. I don't think I'll like that. Not that I prefer the freezing cold of glaciers, but… I think of it like this. When it is too cold, you can put on as many clothes as needed, until you are comfortable. When it is too warm, you can only take off so many clothes, until it becomes inappropriate.

Yet you are more used to the cold than me.

True… but I can still freeze to death. I don't mind it when it is cold, yet extreme cold is a bit too much. We Nords don't walk around in just a tunic when it is winter… or do people in High Rock think we do?

*smirks* ehh… no not that, but we've had Nords come by our settlements and they don't seem to be bothered by cold.

Ha! I think that is more Nordic stubbornness rather than us not being bothered by the cold. We just don't want to seem week to others.

But for people that I don't like. Well, I already pointed out that I don't like Maven, despite that I serve her as Thane. And I am sure she dislikes me just as much… if not more.

Why doesn't she strip you of your title then?

Being the Dragonborn carries weight. She knows that I earned my title, and that the people love me. Kicking me out would cause her to lose more support than she can afford.

Also Nazeem. He is annoying as well. He is a wealthy farmer in Whiterun. He 'advices the Jarl on many, many political matters, and his advice is invaluable of course'. Pfft…. I have seen him once talk to the Jarl, and it was mostly him sucking up. He thinks he is better than everyone else and talks down on anyone that works with his or her own hands. He has plenty of servants to do his work for him, yet I doubt he would be able to run a farm for half a day by himself.

I also do not like political drama. I prefer to be among people where one can speak their minds about anything, without risking a 'diplomatic incident'. You have a problem with someone; have a fist fight with them, and then a mug of ale to patch things up. The way I like it. *laughs* But in the Jarl's court, or when dealing with foreign ambassadors or diplomats, you have to be very careful with what you say or do. People will start a war over you refusing to shake their hand. Thousands of people can die, just because some high-born noble was offended by 'your rude behaviour', and now they start a war to prove their point. It is insane. So I try to deal with these type of matters from a distance. Thankfully there are others that can deal with things like this. Bryling can deal with these things much better than me… so I let her handle these situations.

But do I have any fears? I don't know. I guess my biggest fear is losing Serana. I love her more than anything and I'll do anything to stay with her. But for any other fears…. I don't know. The open ocean maybe?

You're afraid of the ocean?

More what can be in it. We have Dragons flying in the skies, and they are huge. We have mammoths and giants walking the lands… but what lies in the darkness of the oceans? We have no idea. I can defend myself against a mammoth or a giant, because we are both land-creatures. I can swim, but I am not a sea-creature. I don't know what lies beneath the surface of the oceans, but if I am confronted by something there, I cannot run. I am in its territory. I cannot defend myself as well, because I am out of my element.

It sounds like you're just afraid of not being able to defend yourself.

… Possible. Either way…. I am not overly fond of the open ocean. When we left for Solstheim we could see land at all times. From Solstheim we could see Red Mountain in the distance. It was very far away, but we could still see it. The open ocean… with no land in sight? No thanks.

Hmm… most people are afraid of something simpler… like spiders.

Ha! Then you came to the wrong place. Our spiders come in different shapes and sizes. Frostbite… Nightstalker… some as big as a dog, others large enough so they won't be able to fit in this room.

Please… don't… that is….

….. Oh. Eh, sorry. I didn't know. I apologize.

=Other questions=

Anyway… I have a few questions left… these are quicker questions, so just answer with the first thing that comes in your head.

Preferred sword material?

Ebony. Stronger than steel, and a bit lighter. Dragonbone for battle-axes though. A battle-axe is already heavy so that doesn't really matter. I sometimes use Dragonbone for swords, but only when really needed. Ebony is more versatile and i prefer it for journeys

Best looking Jarl?

... Serana is going to kill me for saying this; Elisif. She may be three years younger than me, but i cannot deny that the moniker 'the Fair' was aptly given to her.

Favourite season?

Winter or Spring. Either works. Spring because... ehh... Actually that is none of your buisness. And winter because of the long nights. When having a relationship with a Vampire those long nights are for... ehh... that is also none of your buisness.

*sighs thinking 'men are all the same'* You have killed Dragon Priests I have heard. How many? not including Solstheim.

All eight in Skyrim. I know this because of the masks they wear. There is a shrine where all the masks can be placed to reveal a ninth mask. This was after the Civil War ended. I had some time for myself.

*snickers* You had time off so you killed some Dragon Priests?

No… I already killed a number of them, yet I killed the last one in Skyrim after the Civil War. I'm sure there are more in the rest of Tamriel, yet they are not my problem.

Fair enough… Favourite and least favourite Hold? To visit, not to live in, so Falkreath doesn't count.

I can't pick Falkreath…. Rats. Ehh…. Whiterun. Or Eastmarch. Whiterun because of the endless flowing plains and tall grass, and Eastmarch because of the hot-springs there. So warm and so comfortable. Probably the most relaxing place in Skyrim.

As for the least favourite? Hmm... either the Pale, or Hjaalmarch. The Pale is an endless wasteland of ice and snow, and Hjaalmarch is a swamp where it is too easy to get lost. I would also say the Reach... yet ever since the Civil War ended, the Reach is saver. The Forsworn have not caused as much trouble as before, and it is a beautiful Hold.

But Falkreath is your favourite overall?

Yes… all that nature around you… Lake Ilinalta... the sun climbing over the peaks in the east, setting the sky ablaze… making the Monahven light up like a beacon. It can all be seen from Falkreath

?

Monahven… The Throat of the World. It is Dragon Tongue for 'Mother Wind'.

Ah… Speaking of that place… is there anyone you'd like to throw off the peak of the Throat of the World?

Who asks these questions? *chuckles* but, Maven…. Wow, that was an easy one. Wait! Do they have to be alive, or anyone from my past, alive or dead?

Would your answer differ then?

No… I would still say Maven first… yet Miraak as well. Ralys is another one. Ancano will be booted off next. Oh! I almost forgot…. Elenwen, from the Thalmor Embassy.

It's going to be a long line I hear.

No… not that long. For example; I dislike Nazeem, sure, but not enough to kick him off a mountain.

Alright…. Grey-Mane or Battleborn?

Ach… that gives me flashbacks…. Neither. It is a feud between two families that goes on for too long. Both families are too proud to admit that they too are wrong. Neither is willing to see that the other has legitimate views. So, neither.

Is there anything you want to do before you die? Anything specific?

The only thing that comes to mind is 'start a family'. But for a more lighthearted answer... swim in the sea near Elsweyr. It is too cold here, and i hear that the water there is warmer, but also crystal clear.

This question may be because I live in a populated city but; how do you keep yourselves clean? As in… personal hygiene. In the city we have much less to worry about, but you live in the middle of Falkreath Hold… not exactly close by a city.

Magic…. No really… a lot of problems can be solved with a few easy spells. Need clean water? Magic. Need to clean your mouth after a good meal? Magic. The Alteration School has a number of very simple and very useful cleaning-spells.

I see… maybe I need to apply to your College because sometimes…. Alright… last question. I saved this one for last since I am not sure if you will answer it or not. Alright: If you and Serana are unable to have children, will you adopt?

*after a while he answers*I cannot answer that. I will say that we both will do everything we can to have children together. I will scour every last book in Tamriel if necessary. I have no idea what will happen… but it is my greatest wish now too, and I will do everything I can to make that wish come true. Will we adopt? If we have exhausted every last possibility… we will have to think about it. But for now…. I do not know.

=End of Interview=

=Author's Notes=

That was a lot longer than I expected. Including all that backstory, I might have added a bit too much. But I hope there is more to the character now that you did not know before. To point out a few things:

His age: yes, he is 32… so not old, and yet not young. I figured this should be his age, considering all he has been through already. The Companions, College of Winterhold, Thanehoods and the Civil War…. He did not do all of that in a few years. If you look up the Timeline of Tamriel, it says that all those things happened in one year. Ehh, no.

His age at these main events would be:

- Finding out he was Dragonborn: 19-20

- Harbinger of the Companions: 23

- Archmage of the College of Winterhold: 25

- Defeating Alduin: 26

- Ending the Civil War: 27 (he did this after killing Alduin, but he did go through the whole Season Unending quest... the negotiations at High Hrothgar)

- Meeting Serana: 28

His discretion: a few things he did not say, like who helped him after he escaped Helgen. I figured this would be lore-friendly since if he would say it was Gerdur and Hod, they would likely be jailed. Same goes for the Eye of Magnus. It is safe… that is all the world should know :).

The 'other' ladies: Yes… Tarrion was not a virgin before Serana. I had one PM from someone that thought he should be, yet I think not really. He was not in a committed relationship before this so it is, in my opinion, not crazy to say that he has been with other women. Not since he met Serana of course. What matters is that he is now completely and fully committed to Serana.

Elisif's Age: in the final area you see that she is three years younger than him. Calculate that back to when he was captured at the age of 19. Elisif was 16 then... yet already married to Torygg. This is (admittedly, not in every culture) a very young, and even illegal, age to get married. Yet this is still a medieval setting. Women at that time could be married off as soon as they could have children, which was often around the age of 13 or even 12. This also explains her inexperience, and i have a few plans with that in upcoming Arcs... *spoiler alert :)*

Vän av Skaal: Yea.. that is Swedish for Friend of Skaal. I thought that the Skaal deserve a bit of a seperate language, and since it is all Nordic here... Swedish. Why not :)

I'm sure I missed a few things… but the interview with Serana will also cover a lot of other stuff.

Until then.