Before I start this chapter I need to explain a few things.

First off, the reason for my absence. A number of massive disappointments had hit me in quick succession right before the summer holidays, and they caused me to lose all motivation to write anything. I am currently not where I want to be in my life and that has taken its toll on me in the last few months. I will not apologize for my absence, but I do think you guys should know that it was not planned.

Secondly, because I am currently trying to sort out a lot of things in my life, I will move writing more to the background. I will still write from time to time, but not as frequent as before. I hoped that I could finish this arc before the end of the year, but that is not going to happen unfortunately.

I will say that I will not stop writing this altogether. I fully intend to finishing this story… it will just take longer than I hoped.

Wrath of the Dragon part 3

The sun had risen to her highest point and shone brightly and unobstructed on the lands of Skyrim. The last day of spring was a beautiful one and on one of the the northern shores of lake Ilinalta two lovers lay next to each other against the trunk of a tree.

One of them was a large Nord man with dark hair and a body that was covered in scars. Some from claws, others from swords and a few burn-marks. His eyes were closed and he had a smile on his face that told all he was happy, like a massive burned had fallen off his shoulders.

The other was a Nord woman, with ivory-pale skin and hair darker than the night. She too had a smile on her face, but one that was far more intense than his. She hugged his body and pressed it tightly against herself as she breathed in his scent. One of his arms was placed on her back and his thumb absently stroked her side. Every few moments she let out a deep and satisfied sigh and a slight giggle, causing him to open his eyes and look at her.

Neither was wearing any clothes since those were used to lie on. A small backpack was placed at their feet yet was mostly ignored by them. Every once in a while, when she would reposition herself, his leg would nudge the backpack away a bit further

An hour had passed and neither had said a thing, aside from Serana uttering the odd giggle and satisfied sigh. Eventually Tarrion kissed her head and looked at her.

"Are you alright?" he asked with a smile.

"Hmmmmm," she giggled first. "I can't feel my legs."

She looked up at him with a delirious smile on her face. "You absolute animal… I can't feel my legs."

She giggled again like a young girl and hogged him more.

"I can say the same about you," he answered.

When she looked at him he showed his back, and she saw the numerous red scratches on his back, a few of which were bleeding. She quickly kissed one of the wounds, tasting the blood. This was enough to send another surge of pleasure through her body and another deep 'hmmmm' came from her.

They knew they could not spend much time there, although both of them desperately wanted it. Their bodies were dirty and covered with sweat from their hours of passion and they agreed to wash themselves in the lake. With a big smile on her face, Serana wrapped her arms around him.

"You'll have to carry me there…. I can't walk."

He chuckled and picked her up and found his own strength drained more than he thought, yet he carried her all the same.

Washing themselves, but mostly each other, was something Serana enjoyed more than ever. After more than half a year of not feeling his warmth, she felt it again all over her body. Even after their the previous few hours, she still could feel her body quiver under his touch. Whenever he would wash her back, she would turn around and press herself against him.

"You seem to want to go another round," he chuckled

"I would," she smiled at him. "but I'd like to walk again… so, I hope you can hold back until I've recovered."

He smiled at her and at himself. He kissed her nose and continued to wash her back while she buried her nose in his neck and took in his scent.

An hour later they were both dressed and Serana felt the strength in her legs returning. Both knew they would have to return to their home at Lakeview Manor, but the walk around Lake Ilinalta was a calm one. They knew a shortcut across the lake was quicker, but for the time being they were in no rush.

But as they continued to walk along the northern shore of Lake Ilinalta Tarrion noticed how Serana became more and more silent. When he asked her if something was wrong, she shook her head and quickly joked her legs were still aching.

But after a while Tarrion knew something was bothering her.

"Serana?" he looked at her. "What is wrong?"

"Nothing," she answered after a deep breath.

He took her hand and made her look at him. "What is it?" he asked kindly, yet serious. "You can tell me."

Unable to look away from him he saw her eyes tremble before she answered.

"Your transformation did not go well," she said hesitantly. "I…"

She sighed before she continued. "You were supposed to revert back at dawn…. But you didn't. "

He looked puzzled at her. "When I woke up it was dawning."

"Yes," she nodded. "on the second day. You were in Wolf-form for a full day and night."

His eyes widened as she told him this.

"You don't remember anything from what happened in the Underforge?" she asked him.

"Yes… of course I do. I drank Aela's blood and fell to the ground. I remember a sharp pain in my chest before I transformed… the next thing I knew was waking up."

She shook her head in disbelief. "A lot more happened than just that."

He looked at her and he did not understand, and this frustrated her.

"Something went terribly wrong when you drank Aela's blood. You choked on it as you fell to the ground. You could not breathe and as I turned you around you coughed black blood. You coughed more than you drank and…" she stopped before she continued and she shuddered at the memory. "I heard a voice come from within you. A terrible voice I had heard only once before."

He now looked at her in shock as she continued. "I heard Molag Bal's voice," and she looked at him with desperation in her eyes. "A word was uttered I had not heard before. I think it was in the language of the Daedra, yet I understood what was meant: 'no'. I think he did not want you to become a Werewolf. A Vampire-Dragonborn? I think it was almost a dream come true for him…"

"How do you know it was him?" he asked her yet the look on her face and the tone of her voice said she was certain enough.

"I heard the voice I heard only once before… on the night of my turning. I thought I had forgotten it… but I remember it again. But the blood that you coughed… it took an unsettling shape on the floor. It looked like Molag Bal's visage before it became formless again. I…. I was worried that…"

Tarrion stood frozen for a few moments before kissing her hand. "I am here now…. And you will never have to go through that again."

But she shook her head. "That is not a promise you can keep. We are both haunted by the Daedra… more so than others and we have both seen their power. Even if we can break free of them somehow… I doubt they will let us."

He looked at her and could not believe what he heard. "Why are you saying this? We are not their agents, nor their enforcers. Their influence on us stops after the turning. Molag Bal does not influence you today, just like I am not controlled by Hircine. The worst they can do to us now is try to scare us. They do not haunt us… or at least no more than we allow. We haven't seen anything of their 'influence' on us since Solstheim. Since I have met you, we have only had to deal with one of them-.."

"And he nearly drove us apart," she interrupted him. "I do not want that to happen again."

"Neither do I," and he squeezed her hand slightly. "And I am not about to let them influence me…. But," and he nodded. "I understand you… and I will do what I can to not let them influence us. I will do what I can to stay out of their way. I will not use either my Wolfblood or Dragonform without your permission… or when I have no other choice."

Serana knew he tried to put her at ease… and without her own experiences she would have believed him… yet she also saw that he meant it and she loved him deeply. She nodded… not only to put his mind at ease, but also because she meant it.

He kissed her hand again and smiled at her as they continued east, yet Serana was still lost in her own thoughts.

This changed after they crossed the river a few miles west of Riverwood and were reminded of the reality of what was happening in Skyrim.

A few dozen bodies lay near the road toward Falkreath. Some of them stripped of their uniforms, others of their weapons. By their uniforms Tarrion could see they were from Falkreath Hold, which was strange. Technically they were still in Whiterun and he feared Falkreath had declared war on its neighbour. But upon further examination they saw some of the bodies belonged to no faction and were clearly bandits. Some in rag-tag armour, others in fur and hide.. but there were no symbols on their clothing or shields.

Serana took a deep breath through her nose and looked at the corpses.

"This did not happen long ago," she realized with a shock. "The blood has not all dried up here. This happened this morning."

Tarrion saw that she was right. some of the wounds still looked like they were bleeding, be it barely and only a few crows had gathered.

"This seems to have been an ambush," Tarrion said and he looked at the bodies of the soldiers. Many had arrows in them, whereas the bandits had almost none. "Soldiers came here… not sure why. Bandits ambushed them, fired a volley of arrows, taking out a number of guards. Then they charged, while the archers fired a second volley."

He looked at the bodies of the guards again and shook his head. "They didn't stand a chance."

"Have bandits ever been this organized?" Serana asked.

Tarrion shook his head. "The only ones that can call themselves organized are the Forsworn. They are all part of the same group, but bandits fight for themselves and will fight each other often enough. But I agree… this was an organized ambush and bandits tend to avoid large groups of guards. This is strange."

When Tarrion was about to move on toward Falkreath Serana found tracks. Dozens of footprints lead away from the main road. Upon further examination they saw that many of the footprints seemed to have come from sturdy boots, not the kind a bandit would wear.

"This means they took a number of the guards captive," Serana suggested. "and they lead toward the hills."

The foothills of the Monahven were high and stretched out all the way to the mountains on the border with Cyrodiil, creating a massive, natural barrier between Falkreath and the Rift. Helgen lay in the middle between the Throat of the World and the mountains south of Skyrim, but many places lay hidden between the rocky outcrops and caverns. Only one path lead through those rocky hills and it was a prime place to set up ambushes and make sure the enemy could not escape easily.

One of the more dangerous places where one would find bandits almost always was Skybound Watch, a dungeon with two entrances, both of which were well defended. It was a place Tarrion had been to once before, and agreed with most people when they advised to avoid that place.

The tracks that Serana had found lead toward the higher grounds and the nearest place where bandits would make their lair was Skybound Watch. Both knew the guards would still be alive… for now, yet they did not want to tarry for long. If this was happening in Falkreath, it was likely the case everywhere in Skyrim.

"We cannot just leave them in the hands of those bandits," Serana said and Tarrion could not disagree.

He nodded and both left the road in pursuit of the bandits.

Both of them had experience with finding tracks and follow them. Tarrion from countless hunts and his renewed Lycanthropy made it possible for him to follow the smell. Serana could find everything on scent alone, as many of the guards were wounded when they were captured. The scent of blood was heavy in the air, even in the forests of Falkreath, and she could follow the trail with her eyes closed.

Falkreath was not the largest hold, but it had many different types of terrain. The beaches of Lake Ilinalta, the thick forests around the city itself, steep and rocky hills near Pinewatch and high mountains surrounding Ancestor Glade. The steep hills made it all difficult to navigate as no often-travelled path existed toward Skybound Watch and it slowed them down. At nightfall they reached the ancient ruin and saw torches above the southern entrance. A single guard tower with an entrance hewn into the rock below it. The northern entrance was a few miles further away, leading toward an impressive overlook and a small valley behind it.

Serana could see a few bandits in the watchtower, but the night still covered them and they were not spotted yet.

"I can't get there without being spotted," Tarrion whispered to her. "Can you take them out?"

She gave a simple nod and disappeared into the shadows of the last few trees around them.

It did not take long before he saw a torch passing by a window several times, and he knew it was Serana signalling him. Arriving at the entrance he saw Serana waiting for him. A few blood spatters stained her cloak, but she was unharmed as Tarrion expected.

They found the door locked tight, yet Serana sensed someone walking behind it and this gave Tarrion an idea.

"Open up!" he shouted as he rammed his fist on the door.

"Who is it?" a voice behind the door answered.

"The Jarl of Falkreath," Tarrion said sarcastically. "Who do you think? Open up, it is freezing out here."

After some mumbling a key unlocked the door and a man opened it. Immediately Tarrion grabbed his head and slammed it into the door, knocking the man unconscious.

"I can't believe he fell for that," Serana said as she followed Tarrion in and closed the door behind her.

The path was fairly straightforward with a few small corridors that lead to small quarters and ruined hallways. The few bandits that they encountered were dispatched quickly and Serana followed her nose as the scent of blood lead them to a fortified door. Behind it Serana sensed several people, some of who were weakened.

Using a key they found on one of the bandits they opened the door and found a dozen guards chained to the floor or walls. Two of them were bleeding but the rest seemed to only have a few bruises. All looked up in fear as the two appeared in the doorway and a few of them cowered in a corner. Many of them were stripped of their uniform, and a few of any and all clothing. One of them tried to stand up, but her legs gave out and she collapsed to the floor. Her chains rattled on the ground.

One bandit sat next to the door and jumped up immediately when he saw that his comrades had not entered. Serana slammed his head against the stone walls and knocked him out instantly.

"Shhh…" Tarrion whispered to the prisoners. "be quiet… we're here to help you."

"W.. wha-?" the woman asked but Tarrion gestured her to stay quiet.

"Found a key," Serana whispered as she pulled a key out of the bandits pocket and started freeing the prisoners one by one.

"Who are you?" the woman asked softly as Serana undid her chains.

"I am Serana … this is Tarrion," she answered.

"T-Tarrion?" one of the other guards asked and she looked up. "I remember that name… They said you were dead…. Does that mean-.."

"No," he stopped her. "You are not dead, and it means 'they' were wrong. But we need to get out of here first. Who is in charge?"

The woman in front of him shook her head. "Lieutenant Arryn was killed in the attack.. he was the only one in charge."

Tarrion thought quickly and looked at the woman, "What is your name?"

"… Freya…" she answered hesitantly.

"Then you are in charge, Freya," he said and he helped her to her feet. "You lead these men and women now."

It was clear she wanted to object, yet she swallowed it and nodded.

"We need our weapons and armour… they stored it somewhere else."

"Then we need to get them back."

A small room not far from the cell was filled with weapons and armour. It did not take long for all of them to be armed and armoured, and luckily they were quiet about it.

Outside they left the ruins behind them and hid in the forest about a mile away from Skybound Watch. There they rested as some of them were wounded badly. Tarrion did what he could to help them and healed the more serious wounds. Serana and a few of soldiers that were not wounded gathered lavender flowers to make a soothing paste to put on the bruises. It took a few hours but at dawn all of the soldiers were back on their feet, be it still beaten and tired, yet strong enough to continue.

"Freya," Tarrion called the leader to him. "What happened in Falkreath? Why did you enter Whiterun Hold?"

Freya sighed before she answered. "We are under orders to keep it quiet… but," and she shook her head. "You remember Jarl Siddgeir and how he deals with bandits, I presume?"

Tarrion nodded as he remembered clearly how he became Thane of Falkreath by helping Siddgeir get rid of a number of bandits who had secretly given the Jarl a share of their takings, to be left alone in return. But when Siddgeir decided that 'his share' was no longer enough, he send Tarrion after them… something Tarrion only realized after the fact.

"Well… he has continued his ways of dealing with bandits… only to 'deal with them' when he is bored with them. We were send to get rid of a handful of bandits in Skybound Watch… but it seemed they expected us and bolstered their numbers with other groups. We were to take the road through Riverwood and head north to Skybound Watch from there. They ambushed us on the road not long after we left Falkreath Hold. In hindsight… it makes sense the bandits teamed up with others to secure themselves from the Jarl."

"How often has this happened?" he asked her, yet he had a good idea of what the answer would be.

"Often enough," Frea answered with a sigh. "In the last year… about a dozen times already. I'm surprised it took the bandits this long to see a pattern."

They agreed to journey back to Falkreath but Serana and Tarrion would not travel to the city. Their plan was to go to Lakeview Manor and reconvene with Rayya. They would accompany the soldiers to Pinewatch where they would go their separate ways.

But after a few days, before they reached Pinewatch they found themselves in a hurry.

As they journeyed along the main road that lead to Falkreath, they stopped near a small stream to rest for the night. The sun was setting in the west and the tall trees of Falkreath cast large shadows over the terrain, Serana noticed two horses drinking from the stream. She decided to leave them be, but when she took another look she could not believe her eyes.

A large, dark stallion stood next to a brown-spotted mare. The thick hooves and long black manes of the stallion were dirty, yet unmistakable to Serana. The brown-spotted fur and light brown tail of the mare were one she had seen countless times before. Both had a saddle on their backs and seemed to have been ridden not too long ago.

"Tarrion," she said. First quietly, but then louder. "Tarrion! Come here!"

As he walked to her she pointed at the two horses a bit away from them who, for the time being, stayed where they were.

"What is it?" he asked but she only pointed at the horses.

At first he did not understand, yet then he too recognized the horses.

"That's Erod," he said.

"And Naela," she agreed. "How did they…"

Although both horses were unmistakably theirs, their masters were not greeted. The stallion trampled the dirt nervously as the two humans slowly neared them and the mare looked up.

Tarrion whistled once and immediately the black stallion looked up. "Erod," Tarrion said with a deep and calming voice and he held out his hands. "It is me."

As he stepped on the other side of the stream, Erod slowly walked backwards.

"Easy boy," Tarrion said and he raised his hand. "It's me… don't you remember?"

The spotted mare had stood still but now walked towards him and looked at the large Nord in front of her. Serana came standing next to him and when the mare saw her, she whinnied and walked calmly to her. Serana grabbed the reigns and softly stroked the head of her horse while softly whispering.

"It has been long, but I am glad to see you too. What are you doing here, girl?"

Erod now seemed calmer and started to recognized Tarrion and walked towards him. after carefully smelling his hand he lowered his head and let Tarrion stroke his manes.

After both master and horse were happy to be reunited, Tarrion and Serana started to wonder what their own horses were doing out here in the wilds.

"What are they doing here?" Serana asked. "Why aren't they with Rayya at Lakeview Manor? And who's saddles are these? I've never seen them."

Tarrion agreed and looked at the saddles and reigns both horses were wearing. They seemed sturdy, yet also worn and dirty and in need of repair.

"I don't know," he concluded. "But I have a bad feeling about this."

"Me too," Serana agreed and they saw Freya walking toward them who was surprised to see the horses.

"Where did you get these horses from?"

"We found them here," Tarrion answered and examined the saddle again. "But they are ours. They are supposed to be at hour home… how did they get here?"

"Maybe they got loose?" Freya suggested, but Serana shook her head.

"Doubtfully. Rayya would have kept them in check..." but then she fell silent for a moment. She looked at the saddles again and then to Tarrion. "We need to get to Lakeview Manor… quickly."

Tarrion saw what she was thinking and agreed.

"You can find your own way to Falkreath, right?" he asked Freya and she nodded as she saw both mount their horses. "Then go. We need to hurry."

Freya was left confused as the two quickly left towards the road. She heard the sounds of two horses entering full gallop and saw the glimpses of two riders heading west in all haste.

At midnight Serana and Tarrion arrived near Pinewatch. To spare the horses they followed the road at a calmer pace, yet both were still in a hurry. The strange circumstances at which they found their own horses troubled them both and neither thought it possible that Rayya accidentally let them go. Neither wanted to think about the worst, yet as the hours passed it was difficult not to think about it.

At dawn they knew they had to be near and Serana's eyes pierced between the trees. "I see lights."

But as she looked up a despair appeared on her face. "Smoke…" she said to herself. "Tarrion! I see smoke."

Needing to hear nothing else Tarrion gave his horse the spurs and raced to his home. Serana galloped right behind him and both feared what they would find.

The two riders appeared from between the trees and came to a full stop as they reigned in their mounts. Both now fell silent as they looked at what was once their home.

Small fires burned on various places on the estate. Wooden walls had collapsed and the ground was scorched black. The small stables had been reduced to a small heap of ashes and the front of the manor was destroyed beyond recognition. Serana covered her mouth in shock and all Tarrion could do was stare at the ruins of his home.

Tarrion found himself dismounting and walking towards where once the main entrance was. He remembered the cultists from Solstheim attacking Serana here, and how they defended each other. He remembered the first time he walked through those doors with Serana next to him and how he was in awe of the large mansion that was now all theirs.

The entryway was ruined beyond repair and the large doors that lead to the main hall were broken and one lay in splinters on the floor.

Serana followed Tarrion inside and she felt her throat locked at the destruction of the home she had with Tarrion. The first place she had called home in more than two thousand years. The only place in Skyrim where she would feel truly at peace. Tarrion's other houses were places she loved, yet she had always considered Lakeview Manor her true home in the world. And now, as it lay broken and burned around her she could feel tears running over her cheeks. But this stopped as soon as she walked past Tarrion who had stopped. She stared at what was in front of her and her legs gave in.

In the middle of the main hall, surrounded on all sides by broken furniture, smouldering planks and charred books they saw Rayya. Her clothes were torn and her turban lay behind her as a pile of ashes. She was placed on her knees and both her scimitars had been jammed through her chest and came out her back, their tips placed on the ground, holding her upright in a grotesque, almost sacrificial position. Her head hung backwards and her arms were spread out next to her.

Serana collapsed and Tarrion felt himself unable to move as he could not look away, petrified by the shock of seeing his friend like this.

It seemed like an eternity before either of them were able to move. Tarrion walked towards his housecarl, steward and friend and saw how her eyes stared blankly towards the smouldering remains of the ceiling behind her. Serana noticed only now more than a dozen other bodies lying scattered in the remains of the main hall. She saw burns and scorch marks on their bodies, yet also many cuts, and she knew they did not die by the fire. Behind her she heard the unsettling sound of Tarrion pulling the swords from Rayya's body. She helped him with her body. Neither spoke a word, and yet they understood each other. To Serana's surprise she saw how Rayya's body was untouched by the flames, and her torn clothes were not even charred.

An hour later they had embalmed Rayya's body from any linen and cloth they could find that was not burned. They had wondered if it would be better to send her body to Hammerfell, yet both agreed to bury her here, on the small overlook behind the garden, where it one could see Lake Ilinalta.

"This was as much her home as it was ours," Tarrion had said and Serana agreed.

When the sun had reached her highest point they had buried their friend and placed a large number of rocks on her grave. Rayya's scimitars were buried with her, along with any of her own possessions they could find in the house, although many of them were destroyed in the fire.

As the two stood there, looking at the new grave, Serana saw how tears crawled over Tarrion's face. Without hesitation she took his hand and hugged him tightly while she could not hold back her own tears.

"She deserved better," she heard him say. She didn't answer, yet hugged him tighter.

'She deserved so much more,' Serana thought to herself. 'She deserved more from us… form life. Instead she died alone, surrounded by enemies.'

There was nothing more for them to do and so they walked back to the ruined house where small fires were still burning. Neither had made an effort to put them out, as there was no point. Most of the valuables were taken away and Tarrion found his weapons and armour gone. The bandits had clearly come in force, and were able to leave with a large haul, even after Rayya had cut down more than a dozen of them. But as Serana looked around to see if anything was worth salvaging, she saw no remains of torches.

At the large doors that lead to the garden Tarrion found a number of silver plates and ornamented pieces of jewellery he had owned. He stared at them for a few moments before picking one of them up. After analysing it he turned around and looked at what was once their garden. Many footprints lead further back to a small drop to the forests below. A few septims lay scattered in the dirt, as if the robbers were running from something.

"Serana," he called out to her and she stepped from a large gap in one of the walls. "Look at this."

She saw the footprints and the few septims and she thought the same as him. "They were running from something."

"And I think I know what," she added. She beckoned him to follow and she lead him to the large hole in the wall. "This was not caused by the fire… but a fire did cause it. See the charring on the outside?"

She pointed at the surface around the hole, and all of it was blackened. Massive scorch marks, too large to come from normal or even powerful spells, had blackened almost the entire wall of the east wing.

"This could have come from an explosion," Serana suggested, "but then there should be a massive crater. Since there isn't I can think of only one thing that can cause this."

"Dragon-fire," Tarrion answered calmly, yet his voice trembled and he saw Serana nod.

"The ceiling of the entire west wing is also gone… completely destroyed."

She paused for a moment and took a deep breath before she continued. "I think the bandits who… who killed Rayya… were looting when they were interrupted by a Dragon attack. In a rush they grabbed what they could before finding shelter in the woods below."

Tarrion did not move as he stared at the scorch marks. His face showed no emotion, yet Serana could see a rage build up behind his eyes. "How many Dragons do you think attacked?"

She shook her head. "I don't know. I don't have as much experience with Dragons."

He nodded and walked into the house. She stayed outside and examined the garden. All of the plants she had grown during her years living here were gone. A few small saplings she had planted were reduced to ashes. She looked at the destruction and felt more and more empty inside as she walked over the once beautiful flowerbeds.

A short time later Tarrion emerged from the house. The sun was slowly descending towards the west and the fires were slowly growing smaller and smaller.

"Two… maybe three attacked," Tarrion said calmly, and yet his voice was still shaking.

Serana nodded as she looked at him and saw it took him great effort to stay calm. "What will we do now?"

He let out a deep breath before he answered. "We will find out what happened… and make those responsible answer for it."

He took a few steps back and looked up into the sky. He knew he had quite the mess to clean up when Mjoll had told him everything back in Riften. He knew the problems facing Skyrim were worse than expected when the Companions informed him more. But now it had become fully clear to him what was happening, and yet he suspected there was still more to come. But for bandits to kill Rayya… for Dragons to sack his home… now it was personal. The rage that he felt welling up inside of him told him to no longer try and fix Skyrim. It shouted at him to whip the Dragons back into line. To remind the Jarls he was not a mere thane. And to remind the bandits, outlaws and looters why they once feared him.

He took a deep breath and Shouted.

PAAR THUR NAX

OD AH VIING

And although he did not shout, the words that followed rumbled like the thunder.

"Bo Pah Vosaraan!"

After talking to Serana and explaining his plans to her, they waited. He said nothing for a long time, instead he walked towards the edge of the small overlook and sat on the rock. Serana watched him for a few moments as he sat there, as if meditating, yet she knew enough of him to know he had to use every bit of his training to keep himself calm.

She walked towards him and sat next to him. "How are you?" she asked, although she knew the answer.

It took him a while to answer and she saw how he forced himself to stay calm. "Not good."

She waited for him to continue and he took a deep breath.

"I keep asking myself one question… over and over… and I… I hate it."

He looked at her and behind his furrowed brow, she saw pain in his eyes. "Is the peace in Skyrim so fragile… that it hinges on one man?"

He took some time to collect his thoughts to try and put them into words. "I never agreed with it, but Elisif will tell you that I, singlehandedly, ended the Civil War. Without me, she says, it would have raged on for years and years. I often hear old friends and people that I have helped over the years tell me that they wouldn't know where they'd be without me."

He sighed before he continued with a bitter tone. "I hated hearing that. As if all of their lives would not have changed without me. As if I was the only one who could make a difference in the Civil War, and not the countless soldiers that fought and died there. As if all of Skyrim stands still when I do nothing."

"Ha!" he scoffed. "They were more wrong than they could imagine. Without me Skyrim goes backwards. Apparently I am the only one who can keep the balance of power in check. Their lives would have changed… yet clearly not for the better. Without me Skyrim would have destroyed itself in the Civil War. This …. 'peace'… is worth nothing if only one man intends to keep it."

He sighed again and a bitter venom dripped from every word he said. "If I am the only one that wants to save Skyrim…. Then Skyrim is not worth saving."

Serana stayed silent for a few moments as she looked at him. This frustration and anger she had seen from him was nothing compared to the anger he kept inside, she knew this. After a few moments she nodded.

"You don't mean that," she said calmly.

"No…. I don't," he answered. "But it felt good to say it."

"I know," and she sat closer to him. "and I will not say that you underestimate yourself…. But I will say that you sometimes forget what you are. And that is a Hero."

Tarrion said nothing and Serana could see he did not understand.

"Why are the heroes in stories and legends so exceptional you think? Because their power gives their actions influence. Throw a pebble into a lake.. and the lake remains still. Release a storm on it, and the entire lake with rage with it. You have power… more than any person alive. You can command Dragons… and even turn into one. That power gives impact to your every step."

She continued. "All those soldiers that fought in the Civil war, did all they could. Their sacrifice was no less than yours, yet they could only do so much with the powers they had. Your greater power makes your actions far-reaching. All those people you helped… their lives are changed a little by everyone they meet, yet you bring great change. People like you are rare. They exist often only one at a time and sometimes it takes hundreds of years before a true Hero is born. You are one of those Heroes, Tarrion. Just like the Nerevarine and the Hero of Kvatch, you too shape the history of the world."

She sighed. "And that sometimes comes at a terrible burden. Burdens no-one wants… yet only a few can bare."

She leaned in and pressed her shoulder against his. They both stared at lake Ilinalta in the distance for a while before Serana continued. "The common man wants peace. No less than you do. But those in power often want more of it, not satisfied with what they have. The common man cannot stand against them… but you can. Do not doom Skyrim because of power-hungry Jarls."

"Then why does the common man not stand up against their Jarls?" Tarrion asked. "They do not have the power?... One does not… one hundred?.. no. One thousand? Yes. Tosh Raka understood that. He told that all of Ka Po Tun was responsible for their decline. The leaders did wrong… and the people stood by and did nothing."

"Then teach them that," Serana said kindly. "Tell the common man that they too have a responsibility and that the peace of Skyrim should indeed not depend on one person."

Tarrion nodded. He took her hand and kissed it. "Thank you."

After several hours they heard the distant flapping of giant wings. The echoes of roars had sounded a few times, but now they came closer and closer. From the far north two Dragons appeared and Tarrion recognized the red and white scales of Odahviing and the mossy-green scales of Paarthurnax. Both circled twice above them before they could hear Odahviing roar; "Thuri!"

The two Dragons landed not far from the burned manor where only ruins with smouldering embers remained. Both were clearly surprised and delighted to see that Tarrion had returned, yet their roars of praise were silenced when Tarrion did not move. He raised a single eyebrow and both Dragons neared him. Obediently and in silence they walked towards him, and even Paarthurnax, who likely was older than any living thing on Mundus, showed nothing but obedience towards the Dragonborn in front of him. Odahviing made a slight bow with his head before speaking.

"Tarrion Thuri. You have summoned us."

It was difficult to hear, yet even in the loud and almost overwhelming rumble of his voice could Serana hear fear. She saw how Tarrion almost commanded them with his presence alone as he said nothing… willing to start the conversation, but only when he commanded it.

Finally Tarrion moved and he gestured to the ruins of their manor, and he looked at the two massive Dragons in front of him. "Does either of you know what happened here?"

His voice was calm… but all felt it was the calm before the storm. Both Dragons shook their heads, which could have looked comical, if it wasn't for the fear both felt.

"Does either of you know who might be behind it?"

Neither shook their heads and Tarrion looked at Paarthurnax. The small human stared down the old Dragon and the oldest living creature on Mundus felt compelled to answer.

"There is a Dragon called Vulthuryol. He has defied the Way of the Voice for a long time, yet has only done so openly when he thought you dead, Tarrion. He is the only one I can think of who might have done this."

"Why have you not dealt with him?" Tarrion asked with a dangerous calm.

"I… I confess I do not know where I can find him. I have met him in ancient times, yet have not seen him in millennia. He only sends emissaries, and those that follow him. But there is more than that, Tarrion. I do not know where you have been, but much has changed in Skyrim."

"Evidently," was Tarrion's answer. "But I will discuss that later, since there is much to answer for. For now… I have a task for both of you."

"I will do as you command," Odahviing started, but Tarrion interrupted him.

"Do not lick my heels, Odahviing. I am not in the mood for flattery."

Odahviing growled but stayed silent.

"I have a task for you, and you will do as I say," Tarrion continued and both Dragons listened. "You will go to every corner of Skyrim and tell every Dragon to meet me at Skuldafn, ten days from now. Spread the word; All are to come to Skuldafn. Any that refuse… will be considered an enemy, and will be rooted out without hesitation."

It seemed Paarthurnax wanted to say something, but Tarrion would not allow it. "Go now! You have ten days."

Both Dragons bowed their head and flew away with a roar.

Serana came standing next to Tarrion and looked at him. "Are you going to do what I think you're going to do?"

He calmly nodded. "That… and much more."

=End of Chapter=

=Author's Notes=

And that is it for this chapter.

When we come back next time we will get back to solving problems in Skyrim.

Leave a review if you liked the chapter, or spotted mistakes.

Dragon Language used;

Thuri: (Over)lord

Bo Pah Vosaraan: Come (with)all haste

Vur thur yol means Dark (over)lord Fire