A/N: Two updates close together is crazy I know but I'm trying to get this out while I'm still in the mood. A lot has been going on lately and while I regret all the fish out of water flopping around I've been doing, I feel like you guys deserve what you want instead of what I want. So I'm finishing Dragonfriend, hopefully as quickly as I can so I don't lose steam. I honestly don't have an update schedule so I have no idea when the next chapters will be out, how many chapters are left, etc. Just hang in there. Thanks so much to those of you who have stuck around through all my craziness. This is for you guys, you know that right? Even though I think this story is sorta terrible you guys seem to like it so here ya go. Just keep letting me know if you still like it please.

Chapter 28

The Shout hung in the air, echoing off of the distant mountains. It tasted odd on my tongue, as I'd never Shouted a dragon's name before. I stood staring out over the land, my body trembling with nervous energy. I held the hilt of my sword in my hand, trying to keep my grip light, but fear made my grip nearly bone-crushing. The Jarl's men stood off behind me, out of the way of any attacks the dragon might make should he arrive.

I was beginning to think the Shout hadn't worked when I heard an answering roar; the acceptance of my challenge. From over the mountains the Dovah came, scales a rough red in the sunlight. He flew towards me and I began to retreat, backing slowly into the covered pavilion. The blood red dragon landed but quickly advanced, snaking his neck out and snapping his teeth at me.

I feinted, avoiding his blows as best I could, trying to get him into position under the trap. The guards either hid or acted like they were trying to help but in actuality were doing nothing at all to help. Just when I thought my life would be over, my body turned to ash by the inferno rushing from his open maw, Silas came to my rescue.

He landed heavily on the ledge and released his own bout of fire upon the red dragon. Odahviing seemed startled, and took three more lumbering steps towards the trap. He tried to turn as Silas snapped at him from behind, but could not turn his back to me. Just a few more feet…

"Hey!" I yelled at him, and he swung his head around to face me completely. I backed up a few more paces, and he followed. Silas wisely kept his distance, letting me draw the beast deeper before, finally, he was in position.

"NOW!" My words echoed off the walls and then the trap was falling, falling, falling. It landed upon Odahviing's shoulders and closed around his neck. The guards cheered, and Odahviing roared his fury.

"Nid! Horvutah med kodaav. Caught like a bear in a trap… Zok frini grind ko grah drun viiki, Dovahkiin."

He must have seen the confused look his words left on my face.

"Ah. I forget. You do not have the dovah speech. My... eagerness to meet you in battle was my... undoing, Dovahkiin. I salute your, hmm, low cunning in devising such a grahmindol – stratagem. Zu'u bonaar. You went to a great deal of trouble to put me in this... humiliating position. Hind siiv Alduin, hmm? No doubt you want to know where to find Alduin?"

"Yes," I said, fighting to keep my voice from shaking. I could just see Silas over the wooden beams of the trap. The expression on his reptilian face at that moment was a very human one: surprise. I wondered what caused it. "Where is he hiding?"

"Rinik vazah. An apt phrase. Alduin bovul. One reason I came to your call was to test your Thu'um myself. Many of us have begun to question Alduin's lordship, whether his Thu'um was truly the strongest. Among ourselves, of course. Mu ni meyye. None were yet ready to openly defy him."

This news was startling. The Dovah were questioning if Alduin was fit to lead them? "You were telling me where to find him?" I promted, trying to steer him back on track. After the short battle, my adrenaline rush was keeping my mind focused on the task at hand, no matter how terrifying it was.

"Unslaad krosis. Innumerable pardons. I digress. He has travelled to Sovngarde to regain his strength, devouring the sillesejour... the souls of the mortal dead. A privilege he jealously guards... His door to Sovngarde is at Skuldafn, one of his ancient fanes high in the eastern mountains. Mindoraan, pah ok middovahhe lahvraan til. I surely do not need to warn you that all his remaining strength is marshalled there. Zu'u lost ofan hin laan... now that I have answered your question, you will allow me to go free?"

"Do you promise to serve me?" I asked as boldly as I could. I did not wish to keep this dragon as my prisoner, but I needed to find Alduin as quickly as possible, and I didn't fancy having to keep Odahviing off my back as I journeyed to this Skuldafn.

"Aam? Serve you? ...no. Ni tiid. If and when you defeat Alduin, I will reconsider. Hmm... krosis. There is one detail about Skuldafn I neglected to mention."

"Tell me what you know."

"Only this. You have the Thu'um of a dovah, but without the wings of one, you will never set foot in Skuldafn. Of course, I could fly you there. But not while imprisoned like this."

"I will set you free if you lead us to Skuldafn," I bargained. I knew the general location, but finding the temple could prove to be tricky without the guidance of one who had been there before.

"Ah… Ful daar nizah dovah los hin grah-zeymahzin? The false dragon is yours?"

"He is my friend, yes."

"Stahdim lost nun kovon wah ofan hi frey, ahrk ful fen Zu'u. I will lead you there."

O.o.O

Listening to the dragon Odahviing speak was odd indeed. Watching Freya have a conversation with him was even more unsettling. I did not fear for her safety, as she was more than capable of handling this trapped Dovah. It was the fact that I could understand every word he was saying, even when he spoke Dovahzul, and she couldn't. I had gained the ability when my soul had merged with that of the slain dragon. I had assumed it was the same for Freya the first time she had taken a soul.

He had called me a false dragon. The Dov knew I was not one of them, even though I shared their physical appearance. Odahviing had not seemed surprised that I was working with Freya, and had stated that since the Divines had seen fit to give her aid, so would he. His words were not mocking, but nor were they respectful.

When she had finished speaking with him, Freya pulled the chain that would release Odahviing from his trap. Once the foul contraption was gone, he shook himself and turned to face me as best he could in the cramped space of the hall.

"Pruzah grind, mal zeymah."(Well met, little brother.)

"Mal zeymah? Zu'u lor zu'u lost kosmeyiik. Vir vust mu kos zeymah?" (Little brother? I thought I was a pretender. How can I be your brother?)

"Hi los zurun, daar los vahzah. Nuz hi lost hil do dovah, ful hi los zeymah." (You are strange, this is true. But you have the heart of a dragon, so you are a brother.)

"Vis hi gelaar fos koros wah zey? Wah wahl zey med daar?" (Can you explain what happened to me? To make me like this?"

"Nii los fen do stahdim, mal zeymah. Dreh ni laan vir, fah til los nid vahk fahraal." (It is the will of the Divines, little brother. Do not question how, for there is no easy answer."

He turned back to Freya then, and told her that he would wait until she was ready to leave. She nodded her understanding, and the dragon maneuvered his bulk so that he could get to the open porch. Freya faced me then, and even though her armor was fierce and her face composed, I could smell her fear.

"You speak the dragon tongue?" she asked quietly. I could not tell if she was angry, jealous, or both. After my nod of ascent, she looked away, towards where Odahviing was perched beneath the afternoon sky. "How long?"

"Since it happened. I assumed that when you absorbed your first soul you learned the language as well. I'm sorry."

"There's nothing to apologize for Silas," she sighed, placing her hand on the ridged scales between my eyes. "It wasn't your fault this happened. What did he say to you?"

"He said I am a brother, even though I am a false dragon; a pretender. I asked him if he knew how this happened to me, and he told me not to question the will of the divines. I know their will, though…" I remembered my earlier conversation with Mara, and felt a pang of regret. It was my destiny to die so that Freya could fulfill her destiny, but I would not get to see the end result. I would not know what happened after, when Freya returned victorious to a hero's welcome. I would never get to hold her, to kiss her, to ask her to be mine for the rest of our lives. I loved her, with everything I had, and I would do what I had to in order to save her, but it would not be easy for me.

I tried to memorize the way her hand felt, even if I could barely feel it through my scales. She had removed her helm to speak with Odahviing, and I focused on committing her features to memory. The gentle curve of her jaw, the shock of bright red hair, her sky blue eyes. She was so achingly beautiful. I wanted to trace the scar on her chin with my fingertip, run my hands through her wild mane. I wanted to feel her.

She had my heart in her small, strong hands, but I could never tell her.

"Are you ready?" It came out in a whisper, as if she did not trust her voice. Her hand returned to her side, and she slid her gauntlet back over her lithe fingers. Fingers that had once traced my scars, I remembered. The memory was a good one, despite the subject matter discussed.

I heaved in a great breath and slowly released it, pushing the memories aside. I needed to focus. Freya was depending on me, and all of Nirn was depending on her. I could not afford to dwell in the past.

"I am." At that simple statement, she changed completely. A Freya I had never seen before emerged. Gone was the carefree, gone was the laughter. In its place was a steely resolve, a frightening countenance that I had never seen before and that did not belong. We joined Odahviing outside, three dragons beneath the sky.

"Saraan uth - I await your command, as promised. Are you ready?"

I watched her survey the land laid out below her, her eyes drinking in the mountain ranges, rivers, and plains. I knew she was saying her goodbyes just in case she didn't return. Memorizing the features of the land she loved as I had memorized the features of her face. Her eyes were dry, her face carefully arranged into a mask of complete calm. She drew in a deep breath and made her reply.

"I am."