High above the world, you could see everything, the fields of grass, towns and farms and cities. But high above the world, you couldn't see anything, the people going through their lives, the creatures in brush and fauna. It was strange to be this high. Not something Skathi ever thought she would experience a month ago. She wasn't sure if it was good or not, but she found a new respect for heights.
As the sun began to set, Skuldafn was in sight. The first thing Skathi noticed was that there was no way to reach it on foot; Odahviing was necessary. The mountain face where it rested was smooth, no hand or foot could find purchase in the rock. What's more, there was no walkway or stairs built for this.
The lack of any way a mortal could enter Skuldafn was bizarre, as it seemed like it was made for them. The ancient buildings and walkways inside it made it seem like it was meant for someone was supposed to be here, but not reach here. Perhaps it was built around the portal to Sovngarde by mortals for Alduin's purposes and they were brought here by dragons, never to leave alive.
Odahviing descended to a landing seemingly made for dragons. He landed with like an earthquake to his passenger, the sudden shock being as shocking as that would imply. Skathi stumbled off his back and was glad to feel solid ground again, but almost fell off the mountain side in her clumsiness. That would've been a terrible death and a terrible ending to the song of the Dovahkiin.
Once Skathi put herself together, Odahviing chimed in. "This is as far as I can take you," he stated grimly, "Krif voth ahkrin. I will look for your return, or Alduin's."
Skathi nodded and the red dragon lifted off in the sky, leaving her without any ally to call upon again. Whatever dangers were ahead of her, they were hers and hers alone. She was scared again.
Over her packed dinner, Skathi considered what she should do. She was here, the only chance to end Alduin's threat, but her courage was leaving her. She was almost ready to throw herself off the cliff herself. She could die to any of the dangers that awaited her, so why give them the chance?
No, not now. She was too close to give up now. She may yet be afraid, she may yet be uncertain that she will reach destiny's promised day, but even if she died against what awaited her in the temple, that would only let her reach Sovngarde sooner. She would fight Alduin, regardless of what laid before her.
Skathi walked up the stairs before her and made it into the yard. There, the unliving draugr were there. They drew their ancient blades to fight, but Skathi drew her own. Iokogah, the blade of Gormlaith Golden-Hilt, the warrior who died fighting Alduin at the Throat of the World. This was all that was left of her, now reforged by Adrienne Avenicci and Eorland Gray-Mane. This was the blade Skathi intended to pierce Alduin's hide with.
The first few draugr were slain without a problem, but more appeared with bows and a dragon leading the charge. She drew her bow and loosed several arrows at the undead, but when the dragon tried to burn her, she knew who she needed to slay first.
"Yol Toor Shul!"
The Dragonborn Shouted into the dragon's face as it landed. It almost seemed to grin at the gesture but went right back to trying to kill her. She drew Iokogah and her dagger and the dragon before it took flight. In the air, her dagger found purchase in the side of its head and her sword was slung into its throat fewer times than before until it fell back to the ground. As its power was slowly left it, Skathi tumbled off its freshly exposed skeleton and she went back to slaying draugr.
Throughout the temples and yards, the Dragonborn fought many a draugr and dragon, all fallen upon her approached. She lost count of how many she'd slain. She didn't have that much faith in her combat ability, but seeing it played out made her believe she could slay Alduin. At least for now.
Her faith would be put to the test. Up a set of stairs was a pillar of energy, perhaps the doorway to Sovngarde. When she reached the top, a skeletal figure stood vigil over the pillar. A strange creature with arms but no legs, decayed gilded robes that hid secrets that didn't exist anymore, and a mask of ancient ceremony. This strange creature stood in her way and it would stand further.
The creature summoned a spear of ice and threw it at Skathi's heart, but she threw herself out of the way. She loosed an arrow back at it, but it just passed through a hole in its form. Projectiles where mostly going to be useless in this fight, weren't they?
Skathi drew Iokogah and charged the creature. It threw lightning at her, which shocked her back, but didn't kill her. It could've, but not to a doom driven Dragonborn. She charged again and slashed a hole in its robes. It was clearly wounded by its own standards, but not dead. When she tried to stab it, the sword didn't penetrate its form. It managed to turn its wounded body hard as Ebony stone.
"Yol Toor Shul!"
Her dragon breath broke its mystic armor and burned its body. Soon, it was naught but ash. It may have lived longer if the woman it was fighting wasn't Dragonborn. Well, just being able to summon fire would've done it, but the point was the same.
At the precipice of the pillar was a seal, perhaps what was keeping it open. Stood there, Skathi prepared to meet her destiny. There was truly no return from this. She could maybe survive descending the mountain, but Sovngarde didn't give that promise. But if she was going to end Alduin's threat now, she would need to fight him in his own realm.
One step forward and she was in the land of the honored dead.
Sovngarde was amazing. The sky was lit with beautiful lights you could only find in the night of northmost Skyrim. An evergreen forest dressed in snow laid before her. Through it was cut a path flanked by statues of hooded figures, braziers and bones of creatures larger than any normal creature could. It was beyond belief.
Skathi descended the path, finding a fog in her way. She Shouted it away, but it soon returned. It was thick and swarming, far from natural in that regard. And then a familiar roar pierced the air and she looked up. Alduin flew above, hopefully unaware of her presence. She couldn't chance him noticing though, so chose not to Shout while she was in the fog.
Passing through the fog, she found a Stormcloak soldier. He was frightened of something, probably the World-Eater. Or maybe he hadn't gotten used to being dead and now he was faced with more madness than he presumed. Skathi approached, sword sheathed.
The moment the soldier saw her, he cried, "Turn back, traveler! Terror waits within this mist!" he continued, "Many have braved the showed vale but vain is all courage against the peril that guards the way."
Skathi nodded. "Who are you?" she asked.
He opened his mouth to say something but found no words. He tried again. "Near Giants' Gap, in the gloom before dawn, we marched, unsuspecting into the Imperials' trap," he told, finding his voice, "Then we stood and fought, our shield-wall defending until by dawn's light the Legion's ranks wavered. But I never knew if nights-end brought victory," his eyes tightened to stop the tears welling, "a swift-flying arrow to Sovngarde carried me."
Not a happy story. "What's this mist?" Skathi asked.
"I do not know," the soldier admitted, looking around, "but none have passed through. Alduin, his hunger insatiable, hunts the lost souls snared within this shadowed valley. Can you lead the way to where Shor's hall waits, beckoning us on to welcome long sought?"
Skathi thought back to the stories told of Sovngarde and remembered what her sister taught her, of Shor's Hall and Sovngarde. "Yes, it's at the far end of the valley from here," she stated.
A forlorn look was cast over the solder's face. "I saw it fair when first I trod this long-sought path," he recounted, "The pain and fear vanished, dreamlike, and a vision beckoned to," he paused, almost not believing the words he was saying, "Shor's hall, shimmering across the clouded vale." And his terror returned to him. "But quenched was hope by the shrouding mist; darkened is my mind. I've lost the way and wander blindly. Hurry! Before Alduin your soul devours bring word to Shor's hall of our hard fate!"
Skathi put a hand on his shoulder, trying to comfort him. "Follow me," she said, "I'll lead you through this mist."
He gathered himself. "I'll try to hold to your hopeful purpose," he stated, "Quickly, before this encompassing fog once more snares me in the World-Eater's net!"
Following close behind her, the soldier and Skathi passed through the fog. It didn't take long for them to become face to face with a nightmare. Alduin stood in the path. The Dragonborn drew Iokogah in preparation, but he flew away. When Skathi turned around, the soldier was still there. She sighed in relief. Perhaps with the warriors of Shor's Hall would give her a fighting chance against him.
The two Nords followed the path as well as they could. They eventually found their way to Shor's Hall. It was magnificent. Statues flanked a skeletal bridge, perhaps the bones of a great whale. The hall itself was massive, elegant and ancient. They crossed the bridge but were face to face with a man larger than any mortal frame on the other side. Surely, this had to be Tsun, god of trials.
"What brings you, wayfarer grim," he inquired, "to wander here, in Sovngarde, souls-end, Shor's gift to honored dead?"
Skathi was frightened but maintained her composure. "I pursue Alduin, the World Eater," she proclaimed.
"A fateful errand," Tsun remarked, "No few have chafed to face the Worm since first he set his soul-snare here at Sovngarde's threshold. But Shor restrained our wrathful onslaught," he smiled, "perhaps, deep counselled, your doom he foresaw."
When Shor, the chief god of the Nords, sees your coming and believe you will do for slaying a great enemy, it is an honor. Skathi's composure was slightly breaking.
"I seek entrance to the Hall of Valor," she proclaimed.
"No shade are you, as usually here passes, but living," Tsun noted, "you dare the land of the dead. By what right do you request entry?"
"By right of birth," she explained, "I am Skathi Wolf-Runner, Dragonborn."
"Ah! It's been too long since last I faced a doom-driven hero of the dragon blood," he cheered.
A strange thought. Weren't there other Dragonborn of great distinguish. "Can I enter the Hall of Valor?" Skathi requested.
Tsun's face turned solemn "Living or dead, by decree of Shor," he proclaimed, drawing his mighty axe, "none may pass this perilous bridge 'till I judge them worthy by the warrior's test."
"Fus Ro Dah!"
Skathi Shouted and pushed the warrior-god on his back. She drew Iokogah and sent it down on his chest, but his axe blocked the blow. He pushed her back and stood up to smash his blade down. Skathi dodged it and slashed the small of his back. He cried in pain and, before he could turn, Skathi slashed again and again at him. Any mortal would be dead by now.
He laughed, hunched over and using his axe as a walking stick. "That will be enough," he grinned, "You may enter the Hall of Valor."
Skathi entered Shor's Hall, the soldier staying behind to face his own trial to hopeful passage. It was as wonderous as the rest of what she'd seen. Tables running long as the horizon. A spit roast that held enough meat to feed an army. Kegs of the greatest mead Skathi had only seen. And warriors, many who would not be recognizable if not for their likeness being well known to even the youngest Nord children.
The tallest of them, Ysgrammor for certain, raised his mug at the sight of Skathi. "Welcome, Dragonborn!" he proclaimed, "Our door has stood empty since Alduin first set his soul-snare here."
The Atmoran led Skathi through the crowd. She couldn't believe it. She was side by side with one of the greatest warriors of Nord legend. Whatever others said that showed how he was terrible, of the fate of the Snow Elves; this moment couldn't be taken away. She was so excited, she let it all out through her sleeves. She flapped her arms and jumped in place like so long ago before her parents thought they got off that. It never went away; she was just never this excited until now.
Ysgrammor smiled, but soon turned his focus to what was before them. "By Shor's command we sheathed our blades and ventured not the vale's dark mist," he explained, "But three await your word to loose their fury upon the perilous foe."
He gestured to three warriors so Skathi knew from less than a week ago. "Gormlaith the Fearless, glad-hearted in battle;" Ysgrammor proclaimed, "Hakon the Valiant, heavy-handed warrior; Felldir the Old, far-seeing and grim."
Skathi, though less excited, was still amazed by her allies here. They fought Alduin before and would now again. She felt as though she would need to give Gormlaith her sword back for the battle, but one as crisp and sharp as the day the Fearless died was on her belt. The Dragonborn smiled with a hand on her hilt. Iokogah would stay with her long enough for her to sustain the killing blow.
On Skathi's approach, Gormlaith cheered, "At long last! Alduin's doom is now ours to seal," she grinned, "just speak the word and with high hearts we'll hasten forth to smite the worm wherever he lurks."
"Hold, comrades," Felldir cautioned, "let us counsel take before battle is blindly joined. Alduin's mist is more than a snare," his eyes were filled with wariness, "its shadowy gloom is his shield and cloak. But with four voices joined, our valor combined, we can blast the mist and bring him to battle."
"Felldir speaks wisdom," Hakon grinned, "the World-Eater, coward, fears you, Dragonborn. We must drive away his mist, Shouting together, and then unsheathe our blades in desperate battle with our black-winged foe."
So, it was time to do battle with Alduin. A terrifying prospect, to be sure. It seemed to be going so fast. But it had to. Any longer would be too long for the World-Eater to stay in this realm. With these warriors three at her back, if they stood side by side, they fell this raven skinned monster.
"To battle, my friends!" Gormlaith bellowed, drawing her sword, "The fields will echo with the clamor of war, our wills undaunted."
The others drew their weapons and headed out to the hard. They marched with speed and certainty. They held their heads up to the sky, the swirling shape of colors 'round the greatest source of light, knowing they would not die today. Three had died millennia ago, but Skathi knew she wouldn't be slain alongside these warriors.
When they reached the fog, Felldir made note, "We cannot fight the foe in this mist!"
"Clear Skies," Gormlaith commanded, "combine our Shouts!"
"Lok Vah Koor!"
And at once, the fog was lifted. They saw Alduin, sneering if he had a mortal face. He Shout again and the fog cloud the grounds again.
"Again!" Gormlaith commanded.
"We can shatter his power if we Shout together!" Felldir said with certainty.
"Lok Vah Koor!"
And again, the fog parted, but the World-Eater called it again.
"Does his strength have no end?" Hakon wondered, "Is our struggle in vain?"
"Stand fast!" Gormlaith commanded, "His strength is failing! Once more, and his might will be broken!"
"His power crumbles," Felldir stated, "do not pause for breath!"
"Lok Vah Koor!"
And in the loudest Shout Skathi ever gave, the fog was gone. Alduin's sneer fell into barely contained rage. Instead, he called upon his fire and brimstone to frighten and destroy his enemies, but they didn't waver. They knew it was only as much as a parlor trick compared to his real power.
And all at once
"Joor Zah Frul!"
the four warriors gave a mighty Shout that struck the Dragon and he fell to the ground with thunder following him. He seemed not as frightened as before, a resistance building perhaps. He would never fly again if they had anything to say.
As the warriors three charged Alduin, Skathi loosed every black arrow in her quiver into his hide, breaking scales and skin, but not enough to kill him. The now pin cushioned World-Eater would face her blade, with her drawing Iokogah and charging with them. She brought her blade down on him and it broke his hide again.
The offensive on him didn't raise, as the Nords wouldn't let him an inch. That was, until he swiped his wings and threw them back. He let loose his fire breath on them, burning all but one. Dragons just won't learn, will they?
Skathi ran through the flames, barely and singed hair on her, and slashed his snout. He recoiled in pain and the Dragonborn went in for the kill. Alduin saw this and made himself big to frighten her. It worked, but it would not stop her long.
Iokogah stabbed the Dragon's underbelly, barely piercing his scales. He laughed like its wielder was just a joke. He held is mouth open and brought his jaw down to swallow her whole. She was clasped in his teeth; afraid this was her end. Of all the way to die, she didn't think it would be like this until now. But with that, she knew this was not how she died.
Skathi's dagger pierced the back of his throat. It wasn't much, but made his bite fall away. She would fall from his throat, but she wouldn't fall now. Her foot found purchase on his canine and she stabbed Iokogah into the roof of his mouth, and she could feel it pierce out the side of his head.
Now Skathi let herself fall out his mouth. He babbled incoherently and squirmed randomly before ribbons of energy burst out of him. He was roaring and gave a display of grandeur as the scales burned away, leaving only a skeleton surrounded by black energy. The blackness burned away and all that was burst into nothingness.
Alduin was slain. Skathi left relieved. Even if there was nothing after this, she had done well. Soon, Tsun was there, staring in wonder.
"This was a mighty deed!" he proclaimed with the power of the gods, "The doom of Alduin encompassed at last, and cleansed is Sovngarde of his evil snare. They will sing of this battle in Shor's hall forever." But his face became more reserved, "But your fate lies elsewhere. When you have completed your count of days, I may welcome you again, with glad friendship, and bid you join the blessed feasting. When you are ready to rejoin the living, just bid me so, and I will send you back."
Skathi smiled. "Not yet," she stated.
"Tarry not too long," Tsun warned, "the land of the dead is not meant for mortals to linger."
And so, The Dragonborn joined in the celebration of Shor's Hall. Shor himself was not there, but the warriors said he was just off on his own business. A sad state, as it was one of the greatest celebrations of the Hall. The warriors of Brodir Grove, Jurgan Windcaller, Olaf One-Eye, High King Torygg, Ysgrammor, all the heroes of Sovngarde and Skathi Wolf-Runner cheered of this great deed. There were many songs, games and other such celebrations.
Skathi was in good cheer. She knew she would have to return to the mortal world, that more enemies would rise to steal, kill and destroy. But for now, she was comfortable.