Chapter Thirteen

The Mage's College was amazing, Dar'Mora feeling like she wasn't so out of place. Her control was a lot better due to Inigo's help, but having someone that understood magic was good. She was happy to help clear out a nearby tomb, finding some sort of orb and being sent by Tolfdir to let the Arch-Mage know. She was sent to the library, being given the task to find some books before broaching the subject of the Elder Scrolls. "And what do you plan to do with it?" Urag gro-Shub growled at her. "Do you even know what you're asking about, or are you just someone's errand girl? You think that even if I did have one here, I would let you see it? It would be kept under the highest security. The greatest thief in the world wouldn't be able to lay a finger on it."

"What about the Dragonborn?" she asked, watching him stare at her.

"What about...wait. Are you? Were you the one the Greybeards were calling?" he got up. "I'll bring you everything we have on them, but it's not much. So don't get your hopes up. It's mostly lies, leavened with rumor and conjecture."

He went over to a case, coming over with two books and watching her look at them, getting a confused look on her face. "I can't make any sense of this."

"Aye, that's the work of Septimus Signus. He's the world's master of the nature of Elder Scrolls, but... well. He's been gone for a long while. Too long."

"Where did he go?"

"Somewhere up north, in the ice fields. Said he found some old Dwemer artifact, but...well, that was years ago. Haven't heard from him since."

Thank you for your help Urag," the female Khajiit said politely, noticing the Thalmor that was a guest at the college was looking around. "Great, Ancano's here. I don't want to deal with him."

The old Orc grinned at her before moving off, engaging the Altmer in dialogue and catching a stealthy movement past them. Inigo grinned as they got to the Hall of the Elements, standing up. "That was close." He said.

"No kidding..." Dar' replied as they headed out. "I owe him for that."

They headed into the ice fields, finding Septimus and getting the information they needed before leaving. "That place smelled old and mad." The blue-furred Khajiit intoned, his companion shaking her head. "I know," came the reply. "I don't like it either, but we'll help him."

-*Timeskip*-

"That was a pain," Dar' said after the lift rose to the top of the shaft, the Scroll tucked in her pack safely as she opened the gate. "Come on, we should probably head back to the Throat."

Her companion nodded as they headed off. They camped northeast of the Loreius Farm, catching the carriage at Whiterun to Ivarstead before heading up the mountain again. They went through High Hrothgar, resting for a few minutes before heading up the mountain, Paarthurnax eyeing them. "You have it," he intoned. "The Kel-the Elder Scroll. Tiid kreh...qalos. Time shudders at its touch. There is no question. You are doom-driven. Kogaan Akatosh. The very bones of the earth are at your disposal. Go then. Fulfill your destiny. Take the Scroll to the Time-Wound. Do not delay. Alduin will be coming. He cannot miss the signs."

The female Khajiit went over to the area that had a strange feel to it, looking at Inigo as she took out the scroll. "Be ready trevan," she said. "I don't know what will happen with this." She watched him nod before unrolling the scroll, finding herself back in another time, seeing two figures.

"Gormlaith!" the male yelled. "We're running out of time! The battle..."

At that point a dragon landed, glaring at them. "Daar sul thur se Alduin vokrii. Today Alduin's lordship will be restored. But I honor your courage. Krif voth ahkrin. Die now, in vain."

The two people attacked, the woman killing the dragon. "Know that Gormlaith sent you down to death!" she cried, hopping off the corpse. "Hakon! A glorious day, is it not?"

"Have you no thought beyond the blooding of your blade?" The one called Hakon asked, Gormlaith laughing. "What else is there?"

"The battle below goes ill. If Alduin does not rise to our challenge, I fear all may be lost."

"You worry too much brother. Victory will be ours."

An old man came up to them, Hakon looking at him. "Why does Alduin hang back? We've staked everything on this plan of yours, old man."
"He will come." Came the reply. "He cannot ignore our defiance. And why should he fear us, even now?"
"We've bloodied him well." The Nord woman said. "Four of his kin have fallen to my blade alone this day."
"But none have yet stood against Alduin himself. Galthor, Sorri, Birkir..."
"They did not have Dragonrend. Once we bring him down, I promise I will have his head."
"You do not understand. Alduin cannot be slain like a lesser dragon. He is beyond our strength." He pulled the Scroll out. "Which is why I brought the Elder Scroll."

"Felldir!" Hakon said. "We agreed not to use it!"
"I never agreed." Felldir replied, putting it away. "And if you are right, I will not need it."
"No. We will deal with Alduin ourselves, here and now."
"We shall see soon enough." Gormlaith said. "Alduin approaches!"

They drew their weapons, Alduin landing on the word wall.

"Meyye!" Alduin said, Dar' understanding everything he was saying."Tahrodiis aanne! Him hinde pah liiv! Zu'u hin daan!"

"Let those that watch from Sovngarde envy us this day!" Gormlaith cried, the three Tongues unleashing Dragonrend, the Khajiit watching them gaining the understanding as Alduin, who had launched into the air, crashed into the ground.

"Nivahriin joorre!" he screamed."What have you done? What twisted Words have you created?! Tahrodiis Paarthurnax! My teeth to his neck! But first...dir ko maar. You will die in terror, knowing your final fate... To feed my power when I come for you in Sovngarde!"
"If I die today, it will not be in terror." The Nord woman shot back. "You feel fear for the first time, worm. I see it in your eyes. Skyrim will be free!"

The battle seemed to last a long time before the black dragon grabbed Gormlaith in his mouth, shook her, and then tossed her aside, killing her.

"No, damn you!" Hakon yelled. "It's no use! Use the Scroll, Felldir-now!"

Felldir took out the Scroll, holding it up. "Hold, Alduin on the Wing!" he cried. "Sister Hawk, grant us your sacred breath to make this contract heard! Begone, World-Eater! By words with older bones than your own we break your perch on this age and send you out! You are banished! Alduin, we shout you out from all our endings unto the last!"

"Faal Kel…?!" Alduin roared. "Nikriinne…"

He disappeared, Felldir lowering the scroll after he was gone. "You are banished!"

"It worked..." Hakon said. "You did it..."

"Yes, the World-Eater is gone," came the reply. "May the spirits have mercy on our souls."

The scene faded out, Dar' blinking several times as she came to, Alduin hovering nearby. "Bahloki nahkip sillesejoor." He said. "My belly is full of the souls of your fellow mortals, Dovahkiin. Die now and await your fate in Sovngarde!

"Lost funt." Paarthurnax roared."You are too late, Alduin! Dovahkiin! Use Dragonrend, if you know it!"

She watched the two dragons launch into the air, glaring at the black one. "Joor...Zah...Frul!" she roared, sending him to the ground before following up with Fire Breath and attacking him with Dovahfeyn, Inigo joining her as he taunted her and she yelled in the dragon tongue. "Til los nid maar ko zu'u do hi!" she screamed in the dragon's face, watching him sag for a moment, beaten but not defeated. "Meyz mul, Dovahkiin." He said, looking at her."You have become strong. But I am Al-du-in, Firstborn of Akatosh! Mulaagi zok lot! I cannot be slain here, by you or anyone else! You cannot prevail against me. I will outlast you...mortal!"

She growled as he launched into the air and flew off, Paarthurnax landing near her and looking at her in admiration as she breathed heavily, nearly falling forward. "You have done well," he said, gently using a wing to push her upright. "You truly have the Voice of a dovah. Alduin's allies will think twice after this victory."

"It was no victory," she said, "Since he fled and all."

"Ni liivrah hin moro." Came the reply. "True, this is not the final Krongrah-victory. But not even the heroes of old were able to defeat Alduin in open battle. He was always pahlok-arrogant in his power. Uznahgaar paar. He took domination as his birthright. This should shake the loyalty of the dov who serve him."

"We must find him then."

"Yes...one of his allies could tell us. Motmahus...but it will not be so easy to...convince one of them to betray him. Perhaps the Hofkahsejun-the palace in Whiterun...Dragonsreach. It was originally built to house a captive dovah. A fine place to trap one of Alduin's allies, hmm?"

"Yeah, I can just see Jarl Vignar loving that idea," Dar' said sarcastically, the dragon chuckling. "Wait," she asked, looking at him. "Dragonsreach was built to hold a dragon?"

"Yes," came the reply. "This was ages ago, you understand. "There were more of us then. Before the brunikke-the Akaviri-came and killed all my zeymah. It's been known as Dragonsreach ever since that time."

"I'll go talk to the jarl...after I rest."

Inigo took the tent, setting it up in the shadow of the Word Wall and helping her lay down before trying to start the campfire, Paarthurnax leaning down and lighting it with a blast of fire. "That took a lot out of her," the blue-furred Khajiit said quietly, noticing she was already out. "What did she scream at Alduin?"

"I believe it was 'There is no terror in me of you'-the taunt was him telling her she would die in terror." Paarthurnax watched him sit down. "She is strong Inigo," he went on. "That battle was a lun-drain on her. Rest this night under my watchful eye little Kaaz-you are safe here."

Inigo covered Dar' with a spare fur blanket before looking up at him. "Thank you Paarthurnax," he said before lowering the flap over the door, crawling into his bedroll and dozing off.

(A.N.: This one was a pain-not all of the translations were up on UESP. Luckily I found a translator at thuum (a dot org) that's a huge help.

Ta'agra translations:

Trevan=friend

Dragon translations [there's a lot here]:

Tiid kreh...qalos=time bends...touch

Kogaan Akatosh=Blessing (of) Akatosh

Daar sul thur se Alduin vokrii=this day Overlord(ship) of Alduin restore

Krif voth ahkrin=(you) fight with courage

Meyye=fools

Tahrodiis aanne! Him hinde pah liiv! Zu'u hin daan=treacherous slaves! Your hopes (are) all withered! I (am) your doom!

Nivahriin joorre=cowardly mortals

Dir ko maar=die in terror

Faal Kel=the (Elder) Scroll

Nikriinne=cowards

Bahloki nahkip sillesejoor=my hunger has been fed by mortal souls

Lost funt=you fail

Meyz mul=you've become strong

Mulaagi zok lot=my strength is the greatest

Ni liivrah hin moro=no dimishment (of) your glory

Krongrah=victory

Pahlok=arrogant

Uznahgaar paar=unbridled ambition [the first word is spelled 'g-a-r' instead of 'g-a-a-r' in-game-the word above is the proper spelling according to both the game guide and the translate site]

Motmahus=slippery, elusive

Hofkahsejun=the word actually means palace-it's not actually specific to Dragonsreach itself as that would have the word 'dovah' in it [and there seems to be no translation for the word 'reach' that I can find]

Brunikke=savages

Zeymah=brother, sibling, kin

Lun-drain

Kaaz=Khajiit

I love the dragon language and using it, but translating everything is such a pain!)