A/N: Hey guys. Happy New Year. I figured I needed to get a chapter out because today is the last day of winter break. And I don't know when I'll get the chance to update again. School sucks, but I'm almost done. Maybe I'll get some inspiration for this story while I zone out during class. ;) Anywho, here's another chapter. I hope you like it. It was a tough one to write. Please review! Your comments make me want to write more!

Chapter 23

"What is going on here?" Paarthurnax questioned loudly. "Why have you brought this strange Dovah to my sanctuary?"

It took a minute for my addled mind to form the words. I was freezing, fear and adrenaline causing my heart to race. I trembled in the snow and forced words to my mouth.

"He's not a dragon. He's my friend. Somehow he absorbed a dragon soul and it turned him into this. Is there anything you can do?"

"Slow down, Dovahkiin. Catch your breath, and explain." I took another moment to try and calm myself, and then rushed through our story. I was worried about Silas. He hadn't moved since his collapse, and I desperately wanted to run to him.

When I was finished recounting our tale, Paarthurnax hummed. He made no move to speak, so I turned and fought my way through the snow to Silas' side. He heaved for breath, eyes still tightly closed, lying in the snow.

A patch of snow was colored dark red where his broken wing was resting. I placed a hand over the gaping wound, watchful of protruding shards of bone, and summoned my magic. I struggled as hard as I could, but could only knit a small patch of skin together.

I grew angry, despite my exhaustion. "Why can't I heal you?!" I shouted at the sky. "It's not fair! He takes care of me, but I can't even heal him. Why am I so useless?"

Despair overwhelmed me, and I fell back into the snow, curled into a ball. I cried, my tears freezing halfway down my cheeks. I heard Paarthurnax moving behind me, and hid my face in the crook of my arm. He extended a clawed wing and flipped me over to face the turbulent skies.

"You need rest, Dragonborn. You journey has been long and perilous. I will care for your friend, but I ask that you send Arngeir with bandages. Go now, and rest in peace."

I rose unsteadily to my feet and made my way to the path that led down the mountain to the fortress. I had to Shout constantly to keep the freezing winds away. I eventually made it down and stumbled into the huge stone building.

I was immediately assaulted by Arngeir. His words were a jumbled mess that fell on deaf ears. When he finished speaking, I relayed Paarthurnax's orders. He immediately shuffled off and began gathering supplies.

On cold-numbed feet, I dragged myself over to a bed, shrugging out of my armor, and then collapsed into a deep sleep.

O.o.O

With each heartbeat, my wound throbbed. The Greybeard had come with bandages and potions, but had only been able to heal a small portion. And so the painful part had come. By hand, he had shoved the splinters of bone back beneath my torn skin, reconstructing it.

"Like a puzzle," he had said. Needless to say, the entire process had been extremely painful. Paarthunax was not what I expected. He reminded me of a tree. Old and weathered and wise. He had apologized for his previous actions, stating that he had returned to his old ways, but that it would not happen again.

He had told me that Freya was at the fortress, safe and warm. I knew that she felt horribly about this mess we had gotten ourselves into, but did not know how to comfort her. All I wanted was her happiness, but all I ever accomplished was dragging her down.

"She feels responsible for you current state," Mara had told me. "You must not tell her who is truly to blame. She will find out in due time."

In due time, I thought. How long can Freya keep going with all of this guilt upon her?

O.o.O

Always the mist. I grew tired of the unchanging landscape of my dreams. Running. Forever running. The black dragon, the Destroyer. Silas, swooping in from on high. It surprised me that I had taken so long to realize that it was Silas, not some other dragon that was disgruntled with Alduin's rule.

I cursed myself for being so slow, and drew my sword for battle. Charging forward, a battle cry on my lips, I felt a fire ignite within me. Silas attacked from above, and I attacked from whatever angle I could get.

I Shouted unfarmiliar Words. Alduin glowed with a fierce blue light, and stayed rooted to the ground. I attacked ferociously now, rage lending strength to my arms. We had the upper hand, and though Alduin was a mighty opponent, fear was creeping into his crimson eyes.

Blood covered the ground. I was covered in bruises and scratches. Silas fared no better. Alduin, however, was covered in deep gashes. Large patches of the thin wing membrane were charred and blackened by Silas' fire.

We're winning! I thought ecstatically. My hope gave me new strength. I hacked at Alduin's right wing, and dodged his snapping jaws. I heard him inhale and ducked behind his body to avoid the fiery wrath spewing from his mouth.

The heat was intense, but when the flames receded, all warmth fled. The air became frigid, and I shivered in my armor. Suddenly, the scenery changed. Snow swirled around me, carried by the wind. I was high above the world, standing upon a tall mountain.

Silas was nowhere to be seen. Paarthurnax was crouched before me. He spoke, but his words did not reach my ears. Other dragons were covering every available surface, their glinting eyes focused on me. Paarthurnax left in a flurry of snow, and another dragon took his place.

Again, I could not make out the dragon's words. I kept wary eyes on the other dragons, some of which were taking off to circle the mountain top. Echoes of their calls could be heard from every direction.

The red dragon continued talking, but eventually he flew away as well. I was left alone in the cold, searching for Silas, but unable to find him. I called for him, and listened for whatever sounds I could hear over the icy wind.

There was nothing. I was completely and utterly alone. I woke screaming Silas' name.