Chapter 20
Sundas, the 21th of Midyear, Year 202 of the 4th Era
Daenerys was not at all surprised to find a dragon waiting for her at the summit. She had known he would be there. She had dreamed of meeting a dragon atop this mountain months ago when she was a student at the College of Winterhold. Sometimes she dreamed the dragon was the one from Helgen. The black dragon who she now believed to be Al-Du-In. He was breathtakingly powerful, ancient but not aged, beautiful but arrogant. That was not the dragon that awaited her. It was the other dragon, the one she now knew was Paar-Thur-Nax. She had seen him in her dreams as well: ancient, powerful, and scarred. Unlike Al-Du-In he had been touched and aged by the passage of time. His horns and chin spikes were chipped, his wings were torn, his scales were dull in age and even missing in some places. Yet, he radiated power and presence stronger than even that of Clavicus Vile.
Paar-Thur-Nax waited for her atop a rock, soaking up the noon sun. He shifted his position to look at her, but he did not take flight. "Drem Yol Lok, Dovahkiin." Peace Fire Sky, Dragonborn. He spoke with a rumbling voice that shook the air and the world. He wasn't Shouting, but Dovahzul was the language of power.
"Drem Yol Lok." She replied repeating his welcome and trying to put as much of the true pronunciation as possible into every word. "Paar-Thur-Nax."
"Paar-Thur-Nax," he corrected her. His Words were more than just their sounds. They vibrated with power and meaning even though he didn't Shout them.
When he said the Words she heard their deeper meaning, Ambition-Overlord-Cruelty. A part of her wanted to bow, curtsey, or tremble, but that was a human response. That was not how to act with a dragon. Prey cowered. She was not prey. She kept her eyes firmly on his as she corrected her pronunciation. "Drem Yol Lok, Paar-Thur-Nax."
"Viseim." Acceptable. "Hi Tinvaak Pruzah." You speak well. "Fah joor." For a mortal. The slight lowering of his eyelids revealed that he was pleased. "Druv Bo Dii Strunmah?" Why come my mountain?
"Hi Strunmah?" she asked in return. Your mountain? "Daar Strunmah Kaan." This is Kyne's mountain.
Paar-Thur-Nax laughed with a rumbling sound that felt like someone was tickling her soul. "Vahzah." True. "Daar Strunmah Kaanro." This is Kyne's mountain. "Ahrk Hofkiin Dii." And my home. "Daar Staad Dii!" This place mine!
She promptly agreed with him, "Daar Staad Hin." This place yours. She was not challenging his territory. She also realized she'd made a mistake. Kaan was Kyne. He used Kaanro which must mean be the possessive, Kyne's. While the language came easily to her, with the exception of a few Words of Power, she had learned Dovahzul from a book. It wasn't surprising that she was making mistakes, but she felt a deep sense of shame for not getting it right.
"Pruzh." Good. "Druv Bo Dii Hofkiin?" Why come my home?
"Dez." Destiny. She tried to keep the distaste off her face. She still was bitter at the realization that her path seemed to be predestined. "Mindah." Knowledge. "Ahrk Strunmah Kaan Lost Dii Siid Untak." And Kyne's Mountain was my third trial.
"Frolaaz Zey." Forgive me. "Prudaav Kent Kos Koriaan." Proprieties must be observed. "Fod Dov Grind." when Dov meet. "Naal Hahtaar." By Custom. "Zuwuth Tinvaak Diist." The Eldest Speaks First. Paarthurnax rose up to his full height and spread his wings. "Hon Dii Thu'um!" Hear my Shout. "Fraan Nii Ko Hin Qeth" Feel it in your bones. He arched his neck and Shouted. "Yol – Toor – Shul!" His Words caught fire, and a gout of flame spewed from his mouth searing the air.
Fire had always fascinated her. She watched raptly as the flame passed so close to her head that she could have reached out her hand and touched it. Her face flushed with the warmth of the heat of the passage and with something more. He was a dragon; she was human, but she felt the same kind of warmth she did watching a powerful man hot and sweaty from a fight. "Hin Thu'um Los Sahrot." Your Shout is mighty.
"Met Nii." Match it. "Waan Hi Vis." If you can.
Apparently, men were the same regardless of species. They always had to show off and prove they were better. Men flexed their muscles. Dragons roared their Shouts. Very well, she could play that game. She breathed in deeply and took careful aim just over his head. "Yol – Toor – Shul!" Fire – Inferno – Sun, three fundamental blocks upon which the world was built coming together as a weapon, her Thu'um. Her Shout was not as loud as his. Her fire did not burn as bright or go as far. However, it was stronger than it had been. Her Thu'um had grown since she Inhaled Lok-Nos-Dov.
"Geh." Yes. "Sossedov Los Mul." The Dragonblood is strong. "Hin Yolos Ag Hez." Your flame burns hot. Paar-Thur-Nax moved forward a little and settled down to the ground. His wings settled on his back, and his tail swung around, resting along the side of his body.
Daenerys recognized the position as one of relaxation. It was the dragon equivalent of sitting. She decided to match Paar-Thur-Nax by sinking to the ground and sitting cross-legged.
"Lingrah Lost Zu'u Lahney Naalein Nau Dii Strunmah." Long have I lived alone on my mountain. "Vos Mii Tinvaak." Let us talk. "Vir Los Hi Faan?" How are you named?
"Daenerys." She couldn't help smiling. Since Paar-Thur-Nax was the leader of the pacifistic Greybeards, she had hoped he wouldn't be too hostile, but this was a better reception than she hoped. She was tempted to immediately ask him about the Horn of Jurgen Windcaller. That was why she had climbed the mountain. To obtain his approval, so she could find the horn. However, he had mentioned proprieties that must be observed. She spent four days climbing the mountain. She could talk to him first. Making demands now just felt wrong. "Kaanro Strunmah Los Volg." Kyne's mountain is wild. "Ahrk Brit." And beautiful. "Nuz Nunt." But barren. "Druv Fey Het?" Why stay here?
"Daar Staad Dii." This place mine. "Heyv. Vahlok. Orbalaan." Duty. Guardian. Redemption.
So, he was the guardian of Kyne's sacred mountain. The last she understood far too well. "Orbalaan." Redemption. "Wundaak Voth Nid Oblaan." A journey with no end.
Paar-Thur-Nax inhaled deeply and held his breath. It reminded Daenerys of the way she Inhaled a dragon when it died. Was he literally breathing in her words? After a long while he exhaled. "Wundaak Voth Nid Oblaan." A journey with no end. "Vahzen." Truth. "Hi Tinvaak Nol Seirak?" You speak from experience? "Mal Dov?" Little dragon?
Little dragon? Was that supposed to be endearment? He was larger, older, and stronger than her both physically and in the Thu'um. However, the appellation grated upon her. It diminished everything she had achieved. It reminded her of every courtier and advisor who thought her to be nothing but a silly little girl who had stumbled into power, a fool ignorant of the ways of the world. Did Paar-Thur-Nax believe that she was too young, too innocent, to understand that redemption was never truly possible? "Geh." Yes. "Ko Dii Wund Fah Suleyk." In my quest for power. "Fah Krund Tol Lost Dii Viilut." For the throne that was my right. "Zu'u Vuth Ahst Nid" I stopped at nothing. "Nid." Nothing.
"Nid?" Nothing? "Hi Los Dov." You are Dov. "Dov Wahlaan Fah Rel." Dov are built to dominate. "Fen Wah Suleyk Los Ko Un Sos." The will to power is in our blood. "Nii Los Ko Hin Sos." It is in your blood. "Druv Yah Orbalaan?" Why seek redemption?
"Zu'u Lost Folaas!" I was wrong! "Muz." Men. "Miil." Women. "Kiir." Children. "Dilon." Dead. "Fah Dii Paar." For my ambition.
"Paar," agreed Paar-Thur-Nax with a tone laced with sadness. "Vahzen." Truth.
She copied the action she had seen from him. She breathed in as if she was trying to Inhale the word. Vahzen. Truth. It had been ambition. She told herself that she would break the wheel. That the sacrifice had to be made, but she was just doing what every noble house did – betray and kill to reach the top.
Paarthurnax made a low humming sound in his throat. "What changed?" he asked using the tongue of man for the first time.
She smiled that he spoke to her in human speech. "The same thing that always happens to those that place their ambition above all else. Treachery. Betrayal. Death. The one I loved and trusted above all others stabbed me in the heart." Jon Snow. She blinked back the tears not for the man that betrayed her, but for the crushed dream of what might have been. "I died. I awoke here in Skyrim on a bed of ashes. The gods gave me another chance, and now I seek redemption."
"Not the gods, little dov. Al-Du-In. He's calling the Dov from beyond time back to flesh. Those who served him once will serve him again. Strange. You returned as Dovahkiin instead of Dovah. How much remembrance of your life before this life?"
Al-Du-In brought her back to life? Not the gods? But that fit. The dragon burial mound they passed on the road from Windhelm to the Nightgate Inn had looked just like the stone basin where she awoke when she arrived in Skyrim. However, the gods were involved. Talos sent Grandfather, and someone sent the red comet. She shook her head slightly and focused on the question Paar-Thur-Nax had asked of her. "Zu'u Dahmaan Nii Pah." I remember it all.
"Vahzen?" Truth. "Num." Rare. "Vogaan Dov Dahmaan Ulaan Laas." Few dov remember an entire life. "Fod Ko Klur." While in the egg.
What? She thought she was unique. "Pah Dov Lahney Pogaan Lahney?" All Dov live many lives?
"Geh." Yes. "Daar Kopraan Los Qarah." These bodies are shells. "Dinok Los Stin." Death is freedom. "Vortii Buld." Beyond form. "Vortii Tiid." Beyond time.
"Ahrk Joor?" And mortals? "Vortii Buld?" Beyond form? "Fortii Tiid?" Beyond time?
Paar-Thur-Nax rumbled with laughter. "Nid." No. "Joor Los Niraat." Mortals are prey. "Ko Lein Ahrk Ko Lovok." In Lein and in Lovak.
Daenerys frowned. "Lein? Lovok?" She didn't recall seeing those in the books she read on Dovahzul.
"Mundus and Aetherius, as men say. Mortals are just chattel in this world and the next. The Aedra may be a bit more kind to their pets. The Daedra more honest. They are all bound by time. Not us. We are Dov."
Daenerys frowned. Was this the truth of reality or just dragon religion? It didn't seem to hold together. "If the Dov are free after death, then why be reborn?"
"Ahhh, that is a good question. Hard to say. I folded myself. Much of what I am does not fit in this egg, this shell. Perhaps for the pleasures of flesh. Perhaps for the freedom of choice, or at least the illusion of choice. Perhaps for the same reason that the gods made Mundus. When this egg cracks, and I fly free, then I will remember."
While this was very interesting on one level, she wasn't certain how much of it to believe. On one hand, Paar-Thur-Nax was a dragon that had lived for thousands of years. Men thought The Greybeards were wise, and they deferred to Paar-Thur-Nax. On the other hand, he had just admitted that his beliefs were based more in feeling than fact. Maybe this really was dragon religon? Then again Nirn was different from Planetos. Mages had actually been to Oblivion. Aedra and Daedra meddled in affairs of the world. Still, even if she was a potentially immortal being because she had a dragon soul, what did it really change? She had still burned King's Landing. The gods still wanted her to defeat Al-Du-In. If she didn't, then the world would end...
"So, if Dov are eternal, what happens if Al-Du-In destroys the entire world? What happens to Dovah then?"
Paar-Thur-Nax laughed again. "Al-Du-In has devoured the world before. Al-Du-In will devour the world again. You may delay him for a time, Dovahkiin, but this world will end, and a new one will begin. Another kalpa. The wheel keeps on turning on and on, never-ending."
The wheel? No, he was not talking about the great game. It was either religious babbling or something more profound than noble houses rising and falling in the game of thrones. "What is a kalpa?"
"A great cycle. From the dawn of creation until the last spark is smothered. From the start of time unto the end. That is a kalpa. Tien in Dovahzul. As you should know better than most, little dragonborn. Tell me, this life that you remember, was it here, on Nirn?"
Daenerys shook her head. "No, it could not be. Magic is different. The gods are different. The stars were different. Even the seasons were different. Here seasons are so tame. Spring, Summer, Autumn, and then Winter. Three months of each. In Vys seasons lasted for years and we never knew for how long. Kingdoms stored food in the summer and autumn against the long years of winter."
Paar-Thur-Nax shifted position and settled back down. "Fund Hi Ofun Hin Tey?" Would you share your story?" "Mal Dov." Little Dov. "Zu'u Fen Ofan." I will give you. "Hi Fos Hi Tolaan." What you desire. "Mindah." Knowledge. "Hin Zun" Your weapon. "Wah Al-du-in." Against Al-du-in. "Fah Hin Wundaak Tol Dreh Ni Oblaan." For your journey that does not end.
"Frundiin." Gladly. It was a small price to pay. Besides Paar-Thur-Nax never left the Throat of the World. Who was he going to tell?
She had told her story once before to Brelyna. Paar-Thur-Nax was a more active listener. He asked many questions. He seemed more interested in the story of her life and particularly why she had done the things she had done. He didn't care much at all about the differences in gods, magic, and even dragons. That was unimportant to him, even expected. "Vomedaas Tein." Different kalpa. "Vomedaas Thun." Different laws. "Ol Nii Fend Kos." As it should be.
Paar-Thur-Nax was amused that men and mer didn't get along any better on Planetos than they did on Nirn. "Karon Ahrk Lom." Oil and water. "Muz Ahrk Slaag." Men and mer.
It was the longest day of the year, but with all of Paar-Thur-Nax's questions, the sun was sinking low on the horizon as she neared the end of her story. "I still don't understand why I did it. I know my reason. To break the wheel. To end the cycle of one noble house after another squabbling over thrones while the people suffered. Yet, it was madness. How could anything built on a foundation of the slaughter of so many be anything but evil?"
"Nust Drey Ni Qiilaak." They did not submit. "Zu'u Drey Rinis." I did the same. "Mu Los Dov." We are Dov. "Dov Wahlaan Fah Rel." We are built to dominate. "Fen Wah Suleyk Los Ko Un Sos." The will to power is in our blood. "Nii Los Dii Faan." It is my Name. "Paar." Ambition. "Thur." Overlord. "Nax." Cruelty. "Mu Los Rinis." We are the same. "Zu'u Ahrk Aey." You and I.
He rose up and his neck arched his neck as he gathered his breath and Shouted. "Paar! Thur! Nax!"
She was standing right in front of him and the Words of his Name hit her with almost physical force. Paar-Thur-Nax. Ambition-Overlord-Cruelty. Paar. Ambition. The drive to achieve. To climb. To reach the summit. It had overtones of determination. Of sheer iron will, but the kind that made others submit. Thur. Overlord. One who stand over others. Who rules by right and might. Emperor. Empress. Ruler. Nax. Cruelty. Malice. Pain inflicted for no greater purpose than the enjoyment of causing it. Paar-Thur-Nax. That was sum and total of the dragon in front of her.
The words struggled and roiled within her. She couldn't hold them in, though she wanted to, but she had truly Heard them. She could not contain them. She had to set them free. Although she did not want to Name him thus. She surged to her own feet and Shouted back at him. "Paar-Thur-Nax!"
She covered her mouth with her hand and looked down at the ground in shame. She closed her eyes; breathed in; breathed out. She raised her eyes up to look at him and realized she had looked away. She had acted like prey, but he hadn't attacked. "That is your Name, but that is not who you choose to be. You fight your nature, and in doing so you overcome. You are eternal and endless, but not unchanging. By your choices you have become more than your Words."
"Geh!" Yes! "Ahrk Ful, Lost Hi." And so, have you.
.oOo.
Paar-Thur-Nax insisted that it was his duty as the host to provide food. He flew away and returned with the haunch of an elk. It was cooked to a crisp on the outside and a bit raw near the bone, but there was more than enough meat for her to dine upon for days. She ate her fill and saved some for the journey down. When she was done, Paar-Thur-Nax devoured what was left in a single bite.
"Praan Nu." Rest now. "Mal Dov." Little Dov. "Zos Tinvaak." More talk. "Mindinsul." Tomorrow.
"Krolurend." Agreement. "Zu'u Los Laagus." I am tired. She opened her pack and began to pitch a tent.
After watching her for a bit Paar-Thur-Nax laughed. "Nid, Mal Dov." No, little dov. "Bo Het." He lifted a wing. "Faadusiik." Warmer.
Daenerys knew it would be warmer. Despite their superficial resemblance to reptiles, dragons were warm-blooded. In fact they were hot enough to melt the snow where they slept in Winterfell. She had always felt that heat comforting. It irritated her a little that Paar-Thur-Nax treated her like a child, but compared to his thousands of years of age, she was a child. The prospect of being fully warm for the first time in days was enough to persuade her. She grabbed her bedroll and lay down by his side. Paar-Thur-Nax stretched his wing over her. For the first time in a long time, she felt truly safe.
She dreamed dragon dreams. Flying through the skies atop Drogon. The battle against the Night King and her own child. The burning of King's Landing as the bells tolled. She dreamed of the black dragon of Helgen, Al-Du-In, Destroyer-Devour-Master, flying through the skies. He Shouted and fire rained down from the sky. In her dreams she saw three Nords confront him Shouting Words of Power. She could not make out their Words, but whatever they Shouted sent him crashing to the peak. Still, that wasn't enough to defeat Al-Du-In. They tried to fight him. Then one of them pulled out something and unrolled it. Once it was unfurled, she saw something written on it. Strange symbols that she couldn't make out. It hurt her eyes to even try. Daenerys woke suddenly and sat bolt upright.
"Mal dov." Little dov. "Drem." Peace. "Hi Los Tahriik." You are safe.
Daenerys blinked her eyes. Black spots drifted across her vision, as if she had glanced at the sun. She channeled healing magic, but it didn't seem to do anything to help the spots. Although they were slowly fading on their own. She crawled away from Paar-Thur-Nax and retrieved her canteen. She poured cold water on her eyes, which helped a little. She blinked away the water. "I don't know what happened. I was dreaming a dream. A dragon dream and those are often true, but they have never hurt me before. Three Nords were here on this mountain. Two men and a woman. They were fighting Al-Du-In. They Shouted something and he crashed down to the summit."
"Dovahkroz." Dragonrend. "Mindah Hi Yah" The knowledge you seek. "Hin Zun Wah Al-Du-In." Your weapon against Al-Du-In. "Hi Hahnu Vahzah." You dream true. "Daar Staad Alduin Mah." This place Alduin fell. "Tiid Tul Luvmah Het." Time still weeps here. "Haalvut Hin Hahnu." Touched your dream.
Dragonrend? She'd come to learn about the Horn of Jurgen Windcaller, but she certainly wanted to learn about this weapon now! She moved over in front of Paar-Thur-Nax and sat back down to resume their conversation. "The three Nords that I saw, they killed Al-Du-In with Dragonrend?"
Paar-Thur-Nax settled down to talk and rested his wings. However, he did not curl up his tail. Instead it twitched behind him, a sign of agitation. "Geh Ahrk Nid." Yes and no. "Viik Nuz Ni Kron." Defeat but not conquer. "Rok Lost Daal." He has returned. "Vahzen?" Truth?
"Vahzen." Truth. Obviously, he came back. Although… "Waan Al-Du-In Drun Zek Dilon Dovah..." If Al-Du-In is bringing back the dead dovah. "…Wo Drun Zek Alduin." Who brought back Al-Du-In?
"Geh!" Yes! "Nu Hi Koraav Vokun Do Viing Avok Hi." Now you see the shadow of wings above you. "Al-Du-In Neh Dir." Al-Du-In never died.
She wasn't sure she did see the shadow. She had already known that dragons were immortal and couldn't be permanently killed. She just wanted to kill Al-Du-In for now. Some other hero could fight him when he returned. Still, what Paar-Thur-Nax was saying was important. If Alduin hadn't died, then where had he been? Also, there was a missing piece. The Nords in her dream had used another weapon besides the Shout. They had also opened the scroll. If she was understanding this correctly. "Dovahkroz Vorohah Mok Votahriik?" Dragonrend made him vulnerable?
"Geh." Yes.
Was he teasing her to answer with one word? "So, I need to learn Dragonrend. Will you teach me?" He had promised her knowledge.
"Krosis, Nid." Sorrowfully, no. "Nii Nis Kos Mindok Wah Zey." It cannot be known to me. "Uv Naan Dovah." Or any dragon. He gave a little huff of frustration. "Joor Heim Dovahkroz." Mortals forged Dragonrend. "Zun Wah Dovah." Weapon against dragons. "Un Hadrimme Nis Orin Mindoraan Niil Zaak." Our minds cannot even understand its idea.
So, it was a Shout made by mortals to hurt dragons. That opened up a whole world of questions. Could Shouts be created out of nothing? That didn't feel right at all. No, somehow the ancient Nords had managed to learn the Word starting from the concept. Which was like deciding the sun should rise now and seeing it happen. Where would you even begin? Or perhaps they had help? The gods certainly meddled enough. That honestly seemed more likely. There was another potential issue. If what she understood was true, weren't dragonborn just dragon souls in human bodies? "Vis Dovahkiin Mindos Dovahkroz?" Can a dragonborn learn dragonrend?
"Aalkos." Perhaps. "Grozah." Likely. "Hi los joor." You are mortal.
"Waan Hi Nis Mindov Zey, Ruz Wo?" If you cannot teach me, then who?
"Ni Wo." Not who. "Fos." What. "Faal Kel." The Kel.
"Kel?" That was obviously Dovahzul from the overtones and undertones. In fact the word Kel echoed with them. More than most words. The other words that echoed like that were Words of Power being whispered. "What is a Kel?"
"In mortal tongue, an Elder Scroll, but that says nothing." He paused and shifted back to Dovahzul. "Gaat." Key. "Digoliik." Enigma. "Mass Do Kiindah." Seed Of Creation. "Pah Ahrk Nid." All and nothing. "Vesey Do Ull" Kiss of Eternity." He paused and made a grumbling noise. "Thu'um Los Saadom Ofan Zul." Shouts are reality given voice. "Kel Malur Vonuntiv Wah Genun Vahzen." Kel part the veil to show the truth.
He sounded like an adult trying to explain to a child why things fall down instead of up, or a poet trying to define love with words. It sounded like something that had to be experienced to be understood. She vaguely remembered something about an Elder Scroll being mentioned somewhere at the College of Winterhold, but whether it was in a book, a lecture, or conversation she couldn't remember. However, it was a scroll. Which tied into her dream. "The Nords in my dream. They used the Elder Scroll as a weapon against Al-Du-In."
"Geh." Yes. "Kruziik Bron Gesahlo Al-Du-In Voth Dovahkroz." Ancient Nords weakened Al-Du-In with Dragonrend. "Ni Ganog." Not enough. "Ok Mul Unahzaal." His strength unending. "Nii Los Faal Kel." It was the Kel. "Fusk Mok Rokah." Cast him to drift. "Nau Ven Do Tiid. "On winds of time."
She sat there a moment just absorbing what she had heard. For the first time she actually had a plan to defeat Al-Du-In that wasn't simply gather a lot of people together and pray. This had actual steps! Learn Dragonrend. Obtain an Elder Scroll. Use Dragonrend to cripple Al-Du-In. Then use the Elder Scroll to cast him adrift on the winds of time. It sounded a little crazy, but it had actually worked in the past. Which meant it could work again. Not that she wouldn't try for the horn of Jurgen Windcaller. From what she recalled of her dream at least three Tongues had been battling Al-Du-In, and they had been losing. She wanted as many as she could get on her side.
"Mindoraan." Understanding. "Nox." Thankfulness. No, that was too weak. She owed him more than a simple thank you, even if she had shared her story. "Zu'u Fozir Hi." I owe you. "Lot Fozir." A great debt.
"Nid." No. "Lot Tey." Great story. "Num." Unique. "Nid Fozir." No debt.
"Nox." Thankfulness. If he was willing to count her story a fair trade, she would accept that. After all it was knowledge for knowledge. She still had to learn Dragonrend, find an Elder Scroll, and somehow use it to banish Al-Du-In through time. Although the two were apparently related. "Vir Kel Mindov Dovahkroz?" How can an Elder Scroll teach Dragonrend?
"Tiid Krent Daar Staad." Time broken in this place. "Waan Hi Drun Kel Het." If you bring an Elder Scroll here. "Wah Faal Tiid-Ahraan" To the Time-Wound. "Etaak Faal Kel." Read the Elder Scroll. "Hon Niist Thu'um." Hear their Shout. "Ruz Hi Vust Mindos." Then you could learn. "Nol Faal Vun Wo Heim Nii." From the Tongues who forged it.
So, all she needed was an Elder Scroll? Somehow, she didn't feel it would be easy. "Kolos Fend Zu'u Frolok?" Where should I look? "Wah Siiv Kel?" To find an Elder Scroll.
"Vomindok." I do not know. "Staad Mindos?" Places of learning?
"The College of Winterhold then." Not that the College would be too far out of her way. She already had plans to return Azura's Star to the Shrine of Azura, but it was already midsummer. She did not want to get snowed in at Winterhold again for the winter.
"Aalkos." Perhaps? "Pruzah Gon." A good start.
So, she read the Elder Scroll to learn Dragonrend. "Vir Fusk Fir Al-Du-In?" How do I cast out Al-Du-In?
"Vomindok." I do not know. "Aalkos Ko Dreh." Perhaps in doing. "Nust Aagis Mindah" They erased the knowledge. "Nol Tiid Nimaar." From time itself.
"Ruz, Zu'u Fent Siiv Kel." Then, I shall find an Elder Scroll. She sighed. Despite her feigned determination this was not a real plan. Just a vague hope that maybe if she found an Elder Scroll and brought it back here she could learn Dragonrend, and then 'somehow' use the scroll to banish Al-Du-In. As plans go it was only marginally better than the plan to defeat the Night King. Although at least she wasn't facing Al-Du-In tomorrow. She would have time to find an Elder Scroll and try to make it work. However, this did emphasize that her original plan needed to move forward as well. "Kolos Vis Zu'u Siiv Jurgen Zahk?" Where can I find Jurgen's horn?
"Jurgen Zahk?" Paar-Thur-Nax laughed loudly. "Ni Jurgen Zahk." Not Jurgen's horn. "Neh Jurgen Zahk." Never Jurgen's horn. "Kaan zahk." Kyne's horn. "Sizaan fah bok." Lost for ages. "Vomindok." I do not know.
Once again he did not know. Hopefully, the Greybeards had a clue. Arngeir at least acted like he was withholding information. She studied Paar-Thur-Nax. She had her knowledge now. At least as much of it as she could gain. Now what? "Zu'u Lost Mindah Nu." I have my knowledge now. "Wah Paagol Dii Wundaak Tol Dreh Ni Oblaan." To walk my journey that does not end. "Aal Zu'u Laan Ziin Hindah?" May I ask two favors?
"Hi Aal Laan." You may ask.
"Fund Hi Mindov Zey?" Would you teach me? "Fo-Krah-Diin?" Frost-Cold-Freeze? She felt that Shout more than any other would help her against fire dragons. "Ahrk." And "Nid Faazrot Sukah." No insult intended. "Zu'u Fund Lokaal Wah Bo Voknau Hin Zek." I would love to fly upon your back. "Ahrk Ken Lok Ontzos." And taste the sky again.