Chapter 45
Dragons in the Rift
Bishop found Rona sitting by the fire telling everyone about the first dragon she'd ever killed outside Whiterun. They listened quietly and intently, taking in every piece of information she gave, trying to absorb it for their own looming battle against the dragons.
When she finished Kodlak spoke to everyone, "Fend for yourselves with your meals tonight, you all know where the supplies are. When you're finished eating get right to sleep. We need everyone to be well rested tomorrow as we'll definitely be killing dragons. But before that we're meeting with the Jarl, I expect you all to be on your best behaviors as well. Save the fist fights for the Mead Hall when we return victorious."
Everyone nodded and mumbled agreements and the group dispersed going around putting together their meals, some cooking over the fire while others stuck with cold slabs of meat and bread. Bishop fixed a pair of sandwiches for him and Rona and muttered to her, "Hey, come walk with me for a minute?"
She got up following him a short ways from the camp, out of earshot of the others. She was just staring down at the food he'd given her and he asked, "Nerves?" She nodded and he said, "Force it down, Ladyship. Don't want you to sleep on an empty stomach."
She sighed and took a bite. He was working up the courage to ask her the one thing she probably didn't want to think about. But it had almost been four weeks and he had to know. "Sooo..." he leaned into it and she glanced up at him, cheeks puffed out with a mouthful of food. It threw him off and he chuckled at her face.
She covered her mouth, swallowing her bite and said, "Yes, I'm very funny when I force food down, I know. I have to take big bites or I'll never get it down though," she sighed, "I haven't been this nervous about fighting dragons in a long time."
He knit his brows together and put a hand to her shoulder, "We'll get through it. I mean we've got all of the Companions with us, can't go wrong there right?"
She just nodded, slowly and feebly. He pressed his lips together. Maybe he shouldn't ask her yet, he didn't want to make her feel any worse. Then she brought it up, answering his question for him, "I still haven't started my period."
His stomach dropped and he was suddenly feeling less hungry himself, "Nothing huh?"
"It could just be the stress," she said looking up at him, "Back in the Mage's Guild, every time I had a big test coming up on destruction magic I was always late. It just threw my entire cycle off because I'd be so stressed out over it."
So there was still hope. A light at the end of this narrowing tunnel. He took a breath and wrapped his arms around her, "Well, let's worry about it later then. I guess in two months if we don't see anything then... hmm..."
Rona finished her food and yawned. Bishop started forcing his own down as they walked back. Half the group had already curled up on their bedrolls, while the other stayed up sitting around the fire and prodding it quietly while feeling anxious themselves. He laid down next to her and she fell asleep pretty quickly. He was having a lot of trouble dozing off though. He couldn't stop thinking about dragons and babies. Dragons and babies. If he had a child with the Dragonborn... A dragonbaby? Gods, he needed to just close his eyes and shut off his brain already.
His mind wandered off to a time when his own mother seemed to birth a new one every nine months. He was just a boy himself at the time, between the ages of eight and twelve, he was so naive, thinking he could help them and save them. His mother relied on him and his older brother Jack a lot.
She breastfed the infants but that seemed to be the only thing she'd offered any of them and only to stop their incessant wailing. Bishop and Jack often took care of their changings, made sure they were bathed and looked after them when they'd started crawling around. Always making sure they didn't crawl off a cliff, or get picked off by a bear, or some other predator, it all depended on where they were holding up for the night of course.
He shook his head, trying to throw off those bad memories as his eyelids started drooping and he looked over the beautiful woman sleeping peacefully at his side. He ran a hand over her perfectly flat abdomen and pressed his face to her hair. He'd never put a child in a situation like that. He'd make sure they were well cared for with a proper roof over their heads. He'd keep both her and their child safe from anything and everything, dragons included.
Finally he started to drift off into a dreamless sleep.
He couldn't have been sleeping for too long before her piercing screams and writhing snapped him awake, let alone everyone else in the camp. Some of them covered their ears, she was being so loud. Everyone started asking what was going on and looking around perplexed. It was very dark, someone had put out the fire for the night.
Aela shouted, "What happened!? Is she hurt!?"
"Was there an attack!?" Skjor called.
Bishop pulled Rona into his arms as she cried out and clawed at him. She was trapped in another nightmare. She only had them that bad when... Suddenly they heard the low roars of more than one dragon carrying over them and the ground rumbled.
"Smother her!" Aela hissed furiously, as they all took cover. Bishop threw a hand to her mouth, trying to quiet her without depriving her of oxygen. Though the roars - or rather the talking of the dragons was so loud they probably couldn't hear her anyways. Everyone watched as at least five dragons flew over them. And as Bishop's eyes adjusted to the darkness, he saw the one leading them was the black dragon. The one from her nightmares. That explained her terror. Every time that beast was nearby she dreamt of him.
One of them strayed from the others suddenly, growling low as he circled nearby and said, "Zu'u haalvut fin dovahkiin."
The other four stopped for a moment, circling back. The black dragon hovered nearby and replied, "Zu'u dreh ni haalvut ek Drogaavlok."
Another said, "Rek los sahlo. Ful hi nis haalvut drog Alduin."
The black dragon hissed at him, "Dreh ni ney. Mu lost pogaas wah tinvaak. Nosvaat bex fin miiraak wah Sovngarde."
"Vazah?" The fifth said.
"Geh... Zu'u fen lost pah suleyk. Ruz zu'u fen krii fin dovahkiin," the black dragon spoke quickly with his deep and booming voice, "Zu'u fen du vahdin do sot yol mahfaeraak... Meyz mu bo!"
Four of them took off including the black dragon, flying higher into the sky but the first one that had stopped to circle, searched low on the ground for a moment and shouted fire against a dead tree, blasting it to pieces. Thankfully it was far in the distance from them and the beast quickly gave up the search and flew off with the others.
Rona calmed as the dragons flew further away from them.
"Good gods," Vilkas muttered.
"I counted five," Aela said with awe, "What about you Skjor?"
"Five, definitely," he replied as he stared off after the beasts.
Bishop's chest was heaving as he tried to wake Rona. His hair was standing on end and he knew what they just saw was bad news. Rona's eyes fluttered as she took a breath and he looked down at her with deep concern etched all over his face. Tears started to stream down her cheeks and she embraced him. She must have had another nightmare of him being killed by Alduin. He could tell by the way she clung to him so desperately, thankful he was still alive.
"Are you alright pup?" Kodlak came over and looked down at her with worry.
She tried to hide it and said, "Just... just a dream."
"Just a dream?" Aela scoffed, "You were shrieking so loud you woke everyone in camp! Probably for the best though since five blasted dragons just flew overhead."
Rona's eyes widened and her lip trembled, she looked into Bishop's face, seeking answers and he knit his brows together and confirmed her fears, "It was Alduin."
She looked terrified and wrapped her arms back around him.
"Who is Alduin?" Kodlak asked.
Bishop looked up at the Harbinger and said, "We're in for the fight of our lives."
They explained everything to them, all about the return of Alduin the World Eater and the fact that he was the one resurrecting the dragons. They didn't get much sleep after that, everyone was far too worried about what they were facing now. They decided to wait for morning and packed up their camp early while it was still dark.
When the sun broke the night they got on their horses and finished their trip to Riften, arriving midday. They left their horses with the stable master and approached the gloomy, old hold.
Rona had never visited there. Bishop didn't seem to care a whole lot for the place, said it was overrun by the Thieves Guild and if they liked keeping their coin purses they should avoid it.
The group stepped into a dreary town, though there were plenty of townsfolk, travelers, working men and merchants bustling about. A lot of people stood by watching as the entire Companion's guild passed through along the cobblestone path making their way towards the Jarl's Keep.
They heard people whispering and spreading the gossip immediately.
"Those are the Companions," a blonde nord woman whispered to a young man, "I thought about joining them once."
"They look like a bunch of brutes," a sad looking red headed woman remarked.
The busty blonde next to her bit her lip and ogled them and moaned, "Mmm, wouldn't mind getting a few of them in my bed... especially that handsome fellow with the golden eyes." The red haired woman just looked at her friend with disgust.
A dunmer woman said, "I heard they're here to put a stop to the dragon menace."
"I hope so," an old farmer replied, "I lost three cows to those blasted things already,"
A dark elf muttered, "Brynjolf was telling me one of them's the Dragonborn."
"Oh please," an Argonian scoffed at him, "Like we can believe a word he's said."
"I dunno," a gruff nord woman commented, "That big guy there looks pretty tough, maybe it's him."
Aela threw her arm around Rona's shoulder, "Can't wait to see the looks on their faces when they find out it's you! Hah!"
Rona looked over at her, knitting her brows together, "I'd rather keep it to myself. I prefer it when people don't know who I am."
Bishop scoffed, throwing his hands behind his head, "And yet every day you go around town introducing yourself as the Dragonborn and then taking on everyone's problems," he glanced at her, smirking, "eh Ladyship?"
She scowled at him, "That's different! I just like helping people. And it's easier if they trust me right away."
"Yeah sure," Vilkas chuckled, "Couldn't be all the nice things they're always giving you."
"Or all that gold!" Aela laughed.
Rona blushed furiously as they continued to tease her and made their way around a wooden landing, surrounding a dirty river. She looked over at it and held her nose, "Is that - Is that a sewer?"
Bishop laughed, "Might as well be considering they never clean the river."
She gagged, "It's vile... why would they leave it like that?" She noticed all the little doorways dotting the area below, "Do people actually live down there!? Eugh!"
"That they do Sweetness," Bishop leaned close to her, "Say hello to Riften's Ratway, home of the Thieves Guild."
She cringed up at him, "They live in a sewer? Really?"
"Now you know why we never came here," he grasped her arm tugging her along.
As they approached the front steps of the Jarl's Keep she noticed a group of children standing on a brick wall, clinging to a fence all gawking at them and talking excitedly.
"Those are the Companions!"
"No way! They're huge! - Look at that big guy there!"
"Wow! There's even a bunch of girls! I want to be a Companion too!"
"Yeah, if we get big and strong like them then old Grelod might think twice before messing with us!"
The kids all started pointing out their favorites and who they wanted to be like and which weapons they wanted to try. Rona smiled brightly and waved at them which made a few of them giggle excitedly and they waved back shouting, "Hi!" and "Hey!"
She turned her attention to the top of the stairs however as three women and one man came down. The first woman, standing center to them all was obviously the Jarl herself, wearing typical Jarl's garb. The second woman was an altmer, who Rona speculated was her steward because she was also dressed in finery and the nord man standing by was heavily armed meaning he was most likely the housecarl.
The third woman appeared to be in her late forties, mid fifties. She had thick black hair and very fine clothes on. She almost turned her nose up at them with the way she held herself and had an extremely conceited expression etched all over her face. She was no doubt the wealthy financier of their expedition. As the four came down approaching the Companions, everyone immediately put on their best manners and held their tongues. They'd definitely be gossiping about this later, though for the time being they stayed professional.
The Jarl approached Kodlak and they shook hands and she smiled, "It is good to see you again Kodlak, it has been a long time my friend."
"Indeed it has Jarl Laila."
"I'm glad to see my summons reached you so quickly. To be honest I wasn't expecting you all for another few days, though I admit I'm thoroughly pleased about your speedy arrival."
Kodlak nodded and said, "Yes. When we'd heard you were having trouble with dragons we came as quickly as we could."
The Jarl looked them all over and said, "I've heard the Dragonborn is in your midst. Please don't leave us guessing as to which powerful Companion they are."
"Yes," the haughty woman snapped, "I'd like some proof that you brought the Dragonborn, before I present you with your deposit."
Kodlak looked back to Rona and she groaned inwardly. The others smirked at her chuckling at her sour face. She noticed that everyone in town had gathered as well, all watching the group intently from a distance.
"Well?" The rude woman snapped again, "Come along then, which one of you is the Dragonborn?"
Rona weaved her way through the others and heard the murmurs of the onlookers growing wild. She stood as tall as her tiny frame would allow and faced the rude woman and said, "I am the Dragonborn."
The woman just raised her brows at her and scoffed, "You must be joking."
It took less than a minute of interacting with this stuck-up woman and already she was reminded of a certain Thalmor bitch and how much she hated her. Rona rolled her eyes at her and turned on the step, then looked to the sky. She laughed to herself, thinking, might as well give them a show. She shouted in succession, "FO KRAH DIIN!" Blasting a curling jet of ice through the air, then, "LOK VAH KOOR!" parting the heavy clouds in the sky and finally, "YOL TOOR SHUL!" sending a raging inferno into the air.
The Companions all grinned broadly at her while the townsfolk stared on astonished and their wild whisperings turned into loud chatter. The few kids looking over the gate cried, "YEAH! DO IT AGAIN!"
"Wow! It's really the Dragonborn!"
"The Dragonborn's a girl! I knew it!"
Then a nasty old woman came out and ordered them all to get back inside to their complete disappointment and they mumbled, "Aww... yes Grelod."
The little girl waved and Rona smiled at her which seemed to cheer her up somewhat.
She turned back to face the rude woman who had her arms crossed and said, "That will do," then she stepped around Rona, down the stairs and gave Kodlak a slip of paper, "Your deposit will be delivered to Jorrvaskr. And upon completing your task you will receive full payment in a month's time."
"Thank you Mrs. Black-Briar," Kodlak said taking the slip, "I assure we will not disappoint."
Her frown only seemed to deepen when she said curtly, "You'd best not."
He chuckled, "Always a pleasure to work with you Maven."
She turned away with a light, "Hmph," and sauntered up the stairs leaving them.
Kodlak continued discussing some of the finer details with the Jarl, getting as much information as he could out of her about the dragons and what she knew.
Rona stepped back into the middle of the group and let Bishop catch her by the waist and he said, "You prefer people don't know who you are huh?"
She smirked up at him, "Well if they're all going to find out anyways I might as well show off a little."
Skjor chuckled lightly and said, "You always were a flashy one."
"Yeah, what a show-off our little dragon is," Ria teased.
Rona laughed with them, letting them pick on her. She'd do anything at that point to take the edge off her nerves and make her forget that she might see Alduin again very soon. She was incredibly worried for their safety. She knew she wasn't strong enough to take on the black beast yet. She hadn't even learned any new Words of Power. Though she did have the new shout the Greybeards gave her, Slow Time. She hadn't tried it yet, not sure what it would do exactly. She suspected she might need it soon though.
After Kodlak finished up with the Jarl he led them off down a pathway leading out to the other side of Riften. Not wanting to risk the wellbeing of the horses, they all headed to Autumnwatch Tower on foot. The group kept up the pace, walking swiftly while it was still daylight. It would be a few hours before they made it there.
Shortly after leaving the hold Bishop said, "How many of you are good with your bows?"
They all glanced at him and many of them averted their eyes and shrugged their shoulders. He scoffed loudly, "Are you serious!? Alright, get your bows out, the least we can do is get some practice in before we get there. I don't want you all being completely useless."
Kodlak nodded, "I agree. I suppose I'll have to brush up on my own skills with the bow as well. It's been a long time."
"Hmph," Skjor smirked, "I practiced plenty before my trip up to Eldersblood."
Aela held her bow up proudly, "I enjoy a good hunt! I'll help you whip the whelps into shape Bishop. Rona can show them what's what too. I've seen her on a bow, now that's some fancy fighting."
Rona smirked and pulled hers from her back. She loved her bow. She made it herself years ago in the Fighter's Guild. Charissa had taught her how to make one from steel and refined moonstone, so it shimmered beautifully and was quite strong.
As they moved along the path Bishop made each of them take their bows out and start training. He, Aela and Rona each showed them the correct way to hold it and demonstrated how much weight to put into it without snapping the string but still be able to fire a forceful shot. Skjor did fine for the most part, though he was no expert. A couple others just had no talent for it though. Farkas managed to break his string twice and Rona gave up restringing it for him, while Njada simply didn't have the patience for it and said, "Just bring 'em down for me and I'll cut 'em to pieces with my blade!"
Kodlak faired just fine with his bow, demonstrating a few superior techniques which surprised even Aela who didn't seem to know he had a knack for it.
Soon they arrived to a split in the road and headed westward. At one point they left the path altogether and slowly approached Autumnwatch Tower which was actually two towers set against the mountain. Bishop grasped Rona's arm as the others continued upward and said, "The path to Arcwind Point is near here."
She looked up at him, "We could find -"
"My brother's sword yeah," he actually seemed kind of excited at the idea and said, "After we take down whatever dragons are out here, will you go with me to look for it?"
She smiled at him, "Of course. You said it fell down a cliff, so I think I can help with that."
He smirked, "Yeah I hate the feeling of falling, but... if it means getting it back, I'd gladly jump off a cliff with you Ladyship."
She laughed and then the ground shuddered startling them all. A dragon flew over them, roaring loudly and landed on the tallest tower, perching on it looking down at them all curiously.
"Bows ready!" Kodlak called. Everyone who was capable drew and nocked their arrows, "Aim for the neck and the belly, if it takes flight get it in the wings!"
Rona ran forward, surprising Kodlak, but she wanted to make sure it came to them and didn't fly away so she shouted, "ZUL MEY GUT!" Her insulting shout bounced off the beast and it hissed at her before taking flight and soaring down after her. She cried, "FO KRAH DIIN" to meet its fiery roar with her icy breath. Everyone unleashed a flurry of arrows into its hide as it soared over them all.
It hissed furiously before crashing into a tree and falling to the ground. Kodlak instructed them to launch their arrows once more, before Farkas and Njada bravely ran in and started hacking at the creature with their weapons. The dragon gave a final cry before it slumped over and its body burned up. Its soul washed over Rona and though she was grateful they'd killed the thing she had a feeling that their visit to The Rift wasn't over.
Aela laughed, "That was easy!"
"Too easy," Skjor sounded unsure.
Bishop looked over the bones thoughtfully and said, "It was a lookout. A weaker dragon." He turned his attention to the path leading to Arcwind Point. He pointed to it and said, "We should check the old ruins."
Rona had a gut feeling that her worst nightmare was up that hill. But Kodlak said, "I agree, let's head up the mountain and see what we find. Keep your bows at the ready."
They trudged up the path and Rona shivered from the cold, she hadn't brought her cloak with her, it was back with Karinda. Bishop stood by her side and said, "Don't freeze on me up there."
She gave him a half-hearted smile and cast her pathetic resist cold spell over herself. The two of them followed the group up the winding and wintry trail. They came up to a long and narrow path that lead through the mountains. She looked around, it was quite familiar. The same path from her shared dream with Bishop. She looked up at him, he seemed to be lost in thought, probably recalling the day he was forced to kill his brother. But he forged onward, a stronger man now, one who'd found control of his anger by freeing his pain.
She wrapped her arm around his waist, drawing herself closer to him, giving him some comfort. He smiled down at her and rubbed her back affectionately. As they neared the edge of the path they heard loud roaring. Guttural dragon tongue carried through the winding pass to them. Kodlak held out a hand, indicating everyone get down and edge slowly forward.
They did so, coming close to the edge of a steep stairway covered in snow. Down below there was a strange arced structure with three curving points meeting in the middle over a stone sarcophagus. To her horror Alduin was indeed there among five other dragons, making six total. He was perched on top of a Word Wall, which she could hear the faint chanting from. The others were all perched along the mountains and one sat atop the strange arcing structure in the center.
They were all speaking in dragon tongue, like they were having a meeting of some kind. One of them spoke directly to Alduin, "[Master, I do not trust that young one. He is a fool, like the others.]"
"[It is why he serves as our sentry]," Alduin replied.
Another hissed, "[We cannot trust him to watch! He will go off to fight with the other young ones, picking off prey and disturbing the mortals.]"
"[I felt the presence of the Dragonborn last night,]" a third growled, "[She was near. The mortals are becoming all too aware of our presence. The Maiden of Dragon Flame has come hunting at their beck and call.]"
"[Yes, she has already destroyed Mirmulnir, Sahloknir and Vuljotnaak.]"
"[You must put the young ones in their place Lord Alduin. They are too concerned with fighting for territory and filling their bellies. They draw the attention of the mortals.]"
"[They will learn their place in due time,]" Alduin spoke low and sharp, daring them to question him again, "[For now I have news. Nosvaat has opened the way to Sovngarde. With this I will return to full strength and easily crush the Maiden of Dragon Flame.]"
A fifth smaller dragon snarled, "[And why should we not all enter? I have seen the mortals warring. There are enough souls for us all to consume.]"
The others looked on at him as though he'd just suggested mutiny.
Alduin growled, guttural, long and low, his jaws quivering as he did so. Then he flew up and crashed down upon the small beast. It hissed at him and Alduin cocked his head and said, "[It is my birthright as the firstborn of Akatosh. The souls of Sovngarde are for me to feast upon alone. Do you dare challenge me young one?]"
The small dragon raised hackle and shouted, "[And why should we follow you!? We've heard of your weakness in Haafingar! How you cowered behind the wings of your brethren!]" The smaller dragon looked to the others, "[Alduin has fallen once before! Why should we continue to follow him!?]"
Alduin growled low again and snapped his jaws at the smaller dragon. It tried to defend itself and they fought. Alduin was so much bigger though and the small one stood no chance against him as he tore enormous chunks from its flesh and ripped its wings.
The Companions all stared on, perplexed, but amazed as the two beasts fought. Bishop leaned close to Rona and whispered, "What's happening?"
She swallowed and shook her head. There was no way to explain it, it was just too much information and as Alduin managed to sink his teeth into the small one's neck Bishop again looked at her with alarm. "Ladyship!" he whispered frantically. Her eyes widened too, the second Alduin killed that dragon its soul would wash over her and her presence would be revealed.
(The songs are first The Silent Force Intro and then See Who I Am by Within Temptation)
Alduin snapped its neck, nearly tearing its head off as his jaws closed. The others roared in approval and then it happened, the body of the small one burned up and its soul rushed up to her. Alduin released the bony neck and looked to the top of the stairs, growling, "[It seems your sense was correct Drogaavlok. Aahh... Jillian.]"
Alduin growled a laugh as Jillian appeared at the top of the stairs, her greatsword in hand and a choir singing around her.
Jillian sang loud and proud, releasing her powerful voice into the air as all of the dragons eyed her murderously. And then a thundering rumble of drums as Rona leapt to her feet with Bishop trying to stop her. She didn't know why he kept bothering, he knew she had to do this. This was her destiny. She had to face the black beast sooner or later.
Her blood was absolutely boiling at the sight of them all, she could sense their desire to destroy her and she returned it with the power of her voice as Bishop shouted to the others over her roaring thu'um. "Follow our lead and don't die!"
Rona drew her swords shouting, "SU GRAH DUN!" before racing swiftly down the steps and leaping off of them, intending to come down hard on Alduin himself.
She spun through the air and missed him, landing in the snow instead as he flew backward, laughing at her and then crying, "YOL TOOR SHUL!"
She broke his shout with her own, "FO KRAH DIIN!"
The explosion of their shouts gave her some cover and she raced in. He saw her and snapped his jaws as she swung wildly, cutting him sharply across the face. Another dragon stomped down behind her, pinning her between the two of them. Bishop lobbed a flurry of arrows along with the other Companions at the one at her back. She turned sharply to the right, leaping off a platform and rolling through the snow as Alduin came after her.
She spun instinctively, swiping at his mouth once again. He roared and reeled back, twisting his head as he looked her over. He growled and spoke directly to her then, "[You are quick like Eira, but fearless like Jillian.]"
She didn't know what to think. This murderous creature was... complimenting her?
"[You are also small and weak like them. Your impudence will be your death mortal. I will enjoy crushing your tiny body.]" He snapped at her again and she leapt backward swiftly only to meet with a wall. He'd distracted her, cornered her.
Alduin opened his jaws, preparing to shout when she heard, "RONA!" She looked up, and quickly grasped Bishop's outstretched hand, he yanked her upward just as Alduin belched a raging fire, which smashed against the wall.
His pupils turned to slits as he looked up at them and she shuddered when he cocked his head and his jowls pulled into a malicious grin. Bishop pulled her along with him as he ran back up the steps and Alduin hissed, slithering after them, burying his claws into the stone staircase, crunching along and shaking the whole thing. He roared another shout at them, one that she recognized as Marked For Death, she cried, "FUS ROH DAH!" trying to break it, but it didn't stop the life leeching shout which washed over the both of them. Bishop's body trembled as he lost his footing and nearly tumbled back into the face of the black beast. Rona could barely stand either.
Then Kodlak appeared with Skjor and Aela at his side. All of them bloodied and bruised from their own battles against the other dragons. Aela started firing arrows into Alduin's face as Kodlak and Skjor both rushed him and slashed wildly at his hissing face.
Vilkas and Farkas grabbed Rona and Bishop, pulling them out of harm's way. Rona felt another dragon soul wash over her. They'd managed to kill one. But then she heard a terrible scream. It was Njada, another dragon had snapped its jaws onto her sword arm, taking the whole thing with it. She fell back, bleeding profusely. Rona knew she had to get to her, but she felt her energy being sapped and couldn't move. Vilkas set her down near Athis who was suffering from a horrible gash along his neckline. She forced herself to reach over and pressed her healing hands to him. His face was so pale for a dunmer, he'd lost so much blood.
Alduin was about to kill Kodlak and the dragon that took Njada's arm was rounding on her limp body. Rona shouted, "TIID KLO UL!" with all the strength she had left. Everything slowed way down. It was so strange, like when she got really drunk off a bottle of wine, except she had all of her senses. She pushed herself off the ground, shaking off the painful leech life that was sapping her energy. She ran down the steps, watching as everyone moved so slowly. She yanked Kodlak back and shouted, "FUS!" to throw him up and away from Alduin, then she leapt down to Njada and mustered all the strength in her tiny body to lift the woman and ran to take her to safety. Her breath caught in her throat when she saw Torvar. He was dead, torn in half and disemboweled.
She couldn't help him, so she pressed on, rushing up the steps and realized that everything was starting to return to its normal pace as the snow floating down began to drift faster. She laid Njada down next to Athis and threw her healing hands to what was left of her arm, focusing all her power into healing the wound, casting a grand healing over the woman.
As she finished time returned to normal and Alduin roared with a confused sound because his prey was no longer standing in front of him. She looked over and saw that Kodlak had crashed into the snow and skidded a ways. Aela looked lost until Rona cried, "Keep shooting!"
Skjor joined her on the stairs and they fired a barrage of arrows into Alduin's face. It was useless though as he merely snapped at them and they bounced off his thick hide. The other three dragons flew up to them, rounding on them all. Skjor and Aela stepped back. They were surrounded and Rona had to do something or they would all die right then and there.
But then Bishop ran past her and everything seemed to move in slow motion again as he leapt forward, his sword in hand and he buried it into Alduin's face. The black dragon threw his head back, roaring wildly as the others made to snap at the pest that was crawling upon their Master's face. Bishop, still weakened by the shout couldn't hold on as he was flung over the stairs, taking his sword with him. He hit the ground hard and rolled the rest of the way down. Rona cried out for him and Alduin looked upon her again and growled, "[I see now. You show your weakness, just as Jillian once did.]" He cackled madly as he flew into the air, the other dragons stood by, waiting his command. He looked from them, to Bishop, who was on the ground, pulling himself up and glaring furiously at the black dragon.
Alduin looked to her though, he wanted to see her reaction, to be sure, then he thrust his head out to Bishop and said, "[Kill him.]"
(The song is False King by Two Steps From Hell)
Her eyes widened in terror and a powerful song burst from her body as the three of them flew down to attack Bishop. Jillian roared into being in front of him, slashing viciously at the three before she managed to plunge her greatsword into the chest of one as it reeled back from her. The dragon died and its soul washed over Rona. She raced down the steps, shouting fire and ice and shooting arrows at them all intensely. Eira appeared at her back, swiping her rapier at Alduin's claws as he attempted to catch her by surprise. He flew backward and roared angrily at the fiery red head.
Rona made it to Bishop's side. He was utterly exhausted and covered in cuts and bruises. She stood there, with both Eira and Jillian standing at her side, their weapons drawn, ready to protect him and fight to the death.
The remaining two dragons flew off and roared, "[Leave them Alduin! She has taken Kraskiinom and Aviirrah! You must return to full strength. Let us go to the portal to Sovngarde!]"
The other two did not wait for him to reply and flew off without him. Alduin snaked his head through the air as he studied her and then he said, "[What do they call you mortal?]"
Rona didn't know what to say, but Eira spoke for her, "[She is Rona of Dragon Fangs. Remember it well Alduin, for she will pierce your heart with her blades someday.]"
Alduin gave a short growl before he flapped hard and took off into the sky, leaving them.