Location: Dragonsreach, Whiterun
26th of Rain's Hand
11:48am

7 hours of uninterrupted sleep and Kayleigh was rejuvenated, ready to capture a dragon in Dragonsreach. She peered over the balcony, looking at the scenery and then gazed at the skies: it was calm; white clouds flew by without a care in the world.

Behind her, Jarl Balgruuf, his Housecarl Irileth, and several Whiterun guards stood guard and ready to capture this dragon named 'Odahviing'. The last time a dragon was captured here in Dragonsreach, was when King Olaf One-Eyed defeated the dragon Numinex. Paarthurnax had told her the story of it.

"Alright," Kayleigh addressed to the crowd behind her. "We ready?"

"Just say the word, Dragonborn. We're ready," Jarl Balgruuf assured, readying his axe.

She nodded and turned back to the skies. She took in a deep breath and shouted, "Od… AH VIING!"

The Shout tore through the skies like a tornado. Kayleigh waited patiently for some sort of reply. After about 5 seconds, she got it: a roar.

Oh, Talos! Her eyes widened and she prepared ice spikes in her palms, anticipating the dragon at any second. From behind her, in a flash, something large and red swooped down and grabbed what looked like a Whiterun guard. The dust settled and Kayleigh watched as the dragon flung the guard into the air.

The dragon roared once more and settled upon the rail of the balcony. "Dovahkiin! Here I am!" His voice was deeper, richer than Paarthurnax's.

"And so you are! Come on!" She sent an ice spike his way and purposely began to walk backwards, trying to lead the red dragon further into the hold. Vigilance barked at the dragon as well.

Odahviing growled, began to crawl towards and breathed frost at her. Kayleigh stood strong. As a fiery Nord at heart, ice did not affect her that much, but she thanked Talos that he did not breathe fire. She managed to fire two more ice spikes at him. Not willing to give this fight up, Odahviing prepared to breathe fire:

"Yol…"

Kayleigh gasped, and quickly switched to the Greater Ward spell, in hopes that it could block fire. She held up bother her hands and closed her eyes. Help me, Divines!

"Tol SHUL!"

The ward held up the fire for a mere 3 seconds before breaking through the ward. The resulting force hurl Kayleigh backwards and she landed on the ground with a minor 'thud!'.

"NOW!" Jarl Balgruuf commanded.

The next thing Odahviing knew, something large and wooden entrapped his neck. He attempted to move his neck and claw his way out but he could not. He was trapped. "Nid!" He bellowed.

Kayleigh sat up with a groan. Vigilance ran up to her and licked the side of her face to shake her out of her daze. She looked up… only to see the red dragon imprisoned. "It actually worked?" She rose her feet. "Now I know how Olaf feels…" She walked up to the dragon, taking one step at a time.

"Zu'u bonaar..." Odahviing muttered disappointingly before eyeing her. "You went to a great deal of trouble to put me in this… humiliating position..."

"Matter of fact… I did."

"Hind siiv Alduin, hmm?" He inquired. "No doubt you want to know where to find Aludin?"

"That's right. You know, you're not as dumb as you look! Which is a good thing! So. Tell me where he is."

"Rinik vazah: an apt phrase. Alduin bovul," He said. "Once reason I came to your call was to test for you Thu'um for myself!"

"Test it? Why?" She raised an eyebrow. "I mean, I know you can't resist it and all…"

"Many of us have begun to question Alduin's lordship, whether his Thu'um was truly the strongest." He expressed.

"Oh, I see..." She murmured to herself.

"Among ourselves, of course." He said, after a little pause, if not slyly. "Mu ni meyye. None were yet ready to openly defy him…"

"Who wouldn't? The big lizard is strong," She agreed with him. "I wouldn't blame you. But you know, someone should so something about it, though," She folded her arms across her chest, and she processed her own words. "I… just realized how ironic that sounded…" She looked up at her prisoner and reverted to the topic at hand. "Now, you were telling me where to find the black lizard?"

"Ah. Unslaad krosis," He apologized greatly. "Innumerable pardons. I digress."

Kayleigh could not blame him. Dragons loved to talk. Digressing was… in their nature… sort of.

"I will answer your question: he has travelled to Sovngarde to regain his strength by devouring the sillesejoor… the souls of mortal dead. A privilege he jealously guards…"

Sounds like he's not the only one jealous… "So, any idea how do I enter Sovngarde?"

"Skuldafn. That is his door to Sovngarde," He notified. "It is one of ancient fanes high in the eastern mountains," He then added after taking a brief look at the Dragonborn, "I surely do not need to warn you that all his remaining strength is marshaled there. Mindoraan, pah ok middovahhe lahvraan til."

"No, you don't. I already know how strong that black lizard is…" This prompted her to recall her first battle with Alduin.

"Zu'u lost ofan hin laan," He caught her attention. "Now that I have answered your question, you will allow me to go free?"

She raised both eyebrows. "Free you?" She placed both her hand on her hips. "Um… no. Not until Alduin is defeated. I can't risk you running off to him after this little meeting."

"Hmm…" He thought about what she had just said. "Krosis. There is one… detail about Skuldafn I neglected to mention."

"Neglected? Or just didn't want to? Go ahead. Tell me."

"You have the Thu'um of a Dovah, but not the wings of one."

"And?"

"Without the wings of a dovah, you will never set foot to Skuldafn." He said. "But of course, I could fly you there."

Kayleigh saw where this was all going. "So, I can't stop Alduin without your help..." She sighed. "We seem to be at an impasse then, Odahviing."

"Geh. Yes."

"But how do I know I can trust you? Paarthurnax is the only one I can trust so far."

"Ah," He sounded dejected and disappointed. This was new. "Ahraan. You wound me, Dovahkiin."

"Um, sorry?"

"I may not tell the whole truth, but I am no liar. Go and see for yourself!" He told her with some might in his booming voice. "Zu fen kos het. I will be here." He promised, and somehow, she could sense the sincerity in his voice.

She smiled a little bit.

"Unless… Alduin returns before you."

Her smile disappeared and she shot him a killer look. "Gee, thanks."

"You are welcome."

She snorted a single laugh. "I thought I was the only one who could be sarcastic. Alright. I'll set you free."

"Onikaan koraav gein miraad," He sounded pleased this time. "It is wise to recognize with you only have one choice."

She smiled, but produced a look that showed she was not satisfied. She still did not know whether to trust him.

And he saw that. "Zu'u ni tahtodiis. Alduin had proven himself unworthy to rule. I go my own way now. And you… you can trust me… Dovahkiin."

She emitted a full smile this time. "Open the trap!" She ordered.

"Are you sure?" Came a reply from the guard who was operating the chain. "After all that trouble?"

She continued to stare eye to eye with the red dragon. "Yes… I'm sure."

"Suit yourself! But someone else is going to have to help you get him back in there!"

"Please just open it!" She requested.

"This seems like a bad idea to me!"

"Carry on, soldier." Jarl Balgruuf said. "This is all part of the Dragonborn's plan."

The trap released his neck and Odahviing flexed his neck and wings. "Faas nu, zini dein ruthi ahst vaal!" He roared and turned around to face the balcony. Kayleigh ducked or else his tail would have sent her flying. He took a few steps and stopped when he was out of the hold, and in the Sun's view. "Saraan uth! I await your command and as promised."

"Alright. Let's g-" She was stopped when Vigilance tugged on the hem of her fur armor. When he let go, he began to bark. She realized what he meant – how was Vigilance going to come with her? "Oh, dear. Vigilance," She knelt down to his level. "You can't come with me this time, pup. It's not possible."

Vigilance hung his head, and growled sadly.

She stroked her beloved companion on the head. "I'll be fine, boy. Don't worry about me. I'll be back before you know it. You know the way to Windhelm, right? Head over there and stay with the Jarl. I'm sure he can take care of you. Just… good luck trying to tell him where I am."

Vigilance sat his front paws on her knees and nuzzled her neck. She wrapped her arms around him and gave him a really tight hug. "Stay safe, Vigilance. I love you."

Kayleigh got up and walked to the front of Odahviing. "Alright, Odahviing… Can I uh, can I just call you 'Hunter'? Makes things a lot easier on me."

"'Hunter'?" His voice got a little higher than one would expect out of a dragon, as he proceeded that word. "It is an acceptable epithet. You may. Are you ready to see the world as only a Dovah can?"

"Yes, I am. Let's go to Skuldafn."

"Zok brit uth! I warn you: once you've flown the skies of Keizaal, your envy of the Dov will only increase." He informed her.

Kayleigh smirked. Odahviing lowered his head for her and she climbed onto the back of his neck. "Come on. Don't brag."

A/N: And Kayleigh meets her future Call Dragon!

Question: What's your favourite moment and favourite quote in this story? :)