The Tale of Zooryuvokogan
Disclaimer: I don't own Skyrim or anything involved with it.
"It looks like you finally wanted to get my clothes off, huh, Hunbrii?" Nonvul moves his eyebrows up and down in a playful manner. He laughs and I tear out of his grip.
"But?! You!? You're suppose to be dead!" I shout at him and pace around the mountain with my hands in the air. Confused is what I am right now. He's suppose to be dead. So am I. Are we both messed up?
Nonvul puts his armor back on and gives me a hug. I don't move, squirm, or even protest. "Aren't you suppose to be dead too? I wonder if turning into a dragon and scaring the shit out of me is on your list also?" He shifts miraculously before my eyes into a gleaming silver dragon. Nonvul roars in my face. I falter a bit and smack him on his shiny nose. He puffs out air on my face and give me a toothy grin. "I've been in this game longer than you have." His voice radiates power around me in a dragon tone. My voice sounds dragon like when I shift, so maybe that's how he knows. But this is shocking. Nonvul is a dragon!
I shift too and we stare at each other. Gold looking into Silver's eyes and Silver looking into Gold's. "Dinoklaaskogan?" I ask and walk around him.
"Zooryuvokogan?" Nonvul asks as well and we circle each other. Not in a matter of defense. But one of curiosity.
This continues, both of us looking at the other, exploring the wings, scales, structure, and build with our eyes. There is silence. The only noise is the heavy breathing of three dragons and the whistling wind. We look to Paarthurnax for some kind of explanation but he doesn't speak. He only stares.
After awhile of mind boggling silence dragons and wind can provide, we decide to greet one another. Man and Woman. Dovah and Dovah. Nord to Nord. Dovahkiin to Dovahkiin. Since Nonvul, or more known as Dinoklaaskogan as a dragon, is older, he greets first. His ice isn't painful in greeting.
As being the younger of the dragons among us, I greet last. My fire burns in greeting and we both change back. "Well this is awkward." I say as I kick a pebble, my hands occupied behind my back with my black hair.
Nonvul rubs the back of his neck and looks down. "Yeah." Is all he says and Paarthurnax begins to speak in his ancient dragon voice.
"When wings come unfurled and Alduin rises, the dovah shall follow. The spirit shall be awakened and the form shall be seen. Zooryuvokogan will rise along with Dinoklaaskogan. Then Skyrim will be thrown into fire and ice or be spared by the half Daughter and Son of Akatosh. Two will become one and the curse will be lifted. The World Eater will be no more but the dov will roam. Ice will freeze and fire shall burn on the battle field of eternity and sacrifice as the two collide." Paarthurnax says the curse my mother told me of but the last part is new. I have never hear of the lines after Dinoklaaskogan. What does it mean?
"You might want to go and read the Elder Scroll. If you like getting drunk, you're in for a trip." Nonvul hands over the scroll and quietly converses with Paarthurnax. I slowly walk over to the Time Wound and open the scroll. Patterns of all sorts and celestial markings flood my senses and the world turns bright.
People are shouting and yelling to each other but it is kind of hard to hear over the swarm of dragons flying overhead and the dragons on the summit. Three heroes defeat a dragon and talk about Alduin rising up to the challenge. Alduin comes and is forced to land because of Dragonrend. The new shout fills me and I have its meaning in my soul. It seems Alduin is too much for the three as the only female is clasped in the jaws of the World Eater and thrown over the side of the mountain.
One of remaining pulls out the exact Elder Scroll I have in my hands and recites the binding and sending words. Alduin is enveloped in a light blue light and is sent into time. They must have sent him forward! The playback ends and my vision clears back to the white snow on the top of the Throat of the World.
"I learned Dragonrend. What do we have to do next?" I walk over to Nonvul and Paarthurnax who seem to be having a discourse about something trivial. They turn to me and fill me in on the details. We have to capture a dragon in Dragonsreach. "So, what kind of dragon do we need?"
"We need to capture one of Alduin's allies so it can tell us where Alduin went."
"The Jarl might not like this idea."
"You both have strong Thu'ums. He will see reason." Paarthurnax tells us and we head to Whiterun and into Dragonsreach. The Jarl is slouching in his throne as usual and sits up when we approach.
"We need your help. We need to trap a dragon in your palace." Nonvul starts to speak before I can say a word.
"Ah." Jarl Bulgruuf takes it as a joke. "I though I heard you say you wanted to trap a dragon in my palace."
"You know, we wouldn't ask if it wasn't important." I try to persuade him into saying yes.
"Of course, you both already saved Whiterun from that dragon. I own you both a great deal. But why would we want to let one into the city if we've been trying so hard to keep them out?"
"As you may or may not know, Alduin the World Eater has returned. We need to capture one of his allies for information on where he hides." I talk for both myself and Nonvul who is kind of chilling by my side.
"I'd be happy to help but General Tullius and Ulfric are staring down my back, waiting for me to make the wrong move. Do you think they'd sit idle while a dragon slaughters my men and burns my city?!" The Jarl sounds more angry than helpful right now.
"What if you didn't have to worry about an attack?" Nonvul speaks up.
"Go on." Jarl Bulgruuf says and seems interested.
"If we were to negotiate some sort of truce, we can prevent an attack. All we need to do is get them together without killing each other."
Well that's an understatement. I snap my fingers because of an idea. "The Greybeards! Everyone respects them and if they were to participate and have a war council in High Hrothgar, we could deal with the dragons." The Jarl and Nonvul nod an okay for my idea. Nonvul is to ask the Greybeards if we can hold a council and I am to ask Ulfric if he will come. General Tullius will be asked by Nonvul.
We split up and Nonvul heads straight away towards High Hrogthar. He is back in half a day and tells me the news. "The Greybeards will hold the council but only if we are in charge. They really don't like the idea but they agreed. It's time to do some convincing." We head separate ways and I change into a dragon in a well hidden area and fly to Windhelm. I land about a mile away from the city's backside and trek the rest of the way as a human.
Stormcloaks greet me as I enter through the door closest to the docks. It seems like my dad broke the news that I am in the clear. I run to the Palace of the Kings and find Galmar conversing with Ulfric. "Hey." I budge in their conversation and they drop it. "So, the Dragonborn is holding a peace council on High Hrothgar. We need you to come because you are one of the warring sides. I'll be there so you both better be."
"Fine." My dad gets out of his throne and Galmar follows and they head out the door. "Are you coming or not?!" Ulfric pokes his head back in and yells to me.
"Yeah, I'll be there soon. Go on ahead!" I yell back to him and he goes out the door and out of Windhelm. Without anyone knowing, I sneak up to my old room and tear through the drawers. What I'm looking for is the smooth white as snow armor I got for my 18th birthday. The armor is made of moonstone, but is cured to a pure white and is very light but strong. I find it in my wardrobe and it fits perfectly. When my dad got it for me, it was a little big but now is just right.
I run out the doors and into the snow where I blend in almost exactly. Soon, I catch up with Ulfric and Galmar. I run past them, hidden because of the snow and eventually beat them to the summit. Ulfric probably didn't see me but he makes his way up the mountain an hour after.
"Come on!" I wave them into the monastery and they talk with the Greybeards and the Blades, who have some how been alerted of this meeting. Nonvul isn't in sight and neither is the Imperial side. For a few minutes, I search but they are nowhere to be found. "Where is Nonvul?" I ask Arngeir but he says that him and his party haven't shown up yet. Grumbling under my breath, I head outside and take flight after walking down until High Hrothgar disappeared.
I don't see Imperials or a silver dragon and I start to get worried. Nonvul should have been back by now if he flew as a dragon. Solitude isn't very far if I fly so I head in that direction and land far away enough so no one sees me as a dragon or human. I head over to the city gate and find Nonvul pacing outside. He seems to have been there for awhile because his steel plate boots are brown with dirt and a track has been made. "What are you doing out here?" I bang him on the head and he stops pacing, confused.
"Hunbrii?" Nonvul asks and I quickly cover my hand over his mouth before he says anymore.
I hiss at him. "Be quiet, there are Imperial soldiers everywhere. By the way, I have new armor. Get use to it." I release him and we head on inside. Nonvul is tackled immediately to the ground by a girl in an outrageously extravagant gown with pearls and gold trimming. She starts kissing him furiously and something burns in the pit of my stomach.
"Oh Nonypoo! I though I'd never see you again! Don't you ever leave me again!" She helps him up and kisses him all over. She is very pretty with wavy long blond hair and gleaming brown eyes. Then she turns to me and scoffs in disgust. "Who's this unsightly diminutive vagabond? Are you cheating on me!?" She screams at Nonvul. "I will have this whore's head on a pike! Daddy!" She runs off to an even wealthier looking person I guess is her father.
"What a bitch." I growl through my teeth. The annoyed girl returns with her father and his sword is drawn. He looks pissed.
"Are you the filthy prostitute who follows my daughter's fiancé around?" His teeth are bared and he looks ready to behead me. It seems he would take all the consequences and the guards don't take action at all. He must have them all in the palm of his hand.
"Excuse me?! How rude. First of all, I do not follow him around." I point at Nonvul and he doesn't seem phased. "Second of all, your daughter is jumping to conclusions. Third of all, I have not had any sexual relations with this man nor will I ever. I am not a prostitute and maybe you should think about who you are pointing that sword at. I'm like the second Maven Black-Briar. I have connections anywhere and everywhere that will take you down in a moment's notice and make sure you never even existed." I threaten him and everyone around me is shocked. The man puts his sword away and looks frightened.
"I.. I'm sorry miss. It won't happen again." He grovels at my feet and makes his daughter do the same. She protests but does it once Nonvul looks at her.
I wave them away and walk to Castle Dour. Nonvul doesn't follow and for once it makes me happy he isn't trailing around me like a puppy. I walk into Castle Dour and General Tullius is arguing furiously with one of his legates. What have I gotten my self into? I just walked into the Imperial Headquarters!
"And who are you?" General Tullius stretches over his map, stressed. His dark Redguard skin is the most noticeable thing next to my pure white armor. Why would the Empire set Redguard as general and not an Imperial?
"There is to be a war council on top of High Hrothgar. It will be held by the Greybeards but controlled by the Dragonborn. You are requested to attend so we can deal with the dragon menace." I wait impatiently for his answer as he mulls it over.
"Fine, I'll come to this council. The Greybeards are respected throughout Skyrim so I shouldn't put this off." Tullius tells me to go and that he will be there soon once he alerts the court. I leave unharmed with no hints to who I am. Thank the Divines. Nonvul catches up with me on the road and I tell him what happened. He tells me who the girl is and what that whole thing was about.
"Her name is Arivanna and she is really wealthy. She and I use to date and her father spread the rumor that we were going to get married. I didn't accept but they are waiting for me to. What you did was show them up and it was pretty cool so I made their day even worse. I refused Arivanna and called her an old bag." Nonvul explains this to me and I see the whole picture. He even comments on how rude they were to me and occasionally, I see his cheeks flush red. After walking till nightfall, we decide to make camp in a well wooded area. He lights a fire and I hunt for any game. I surprise and take down a fine deer that he skins and we eat. The meat is tender and we wash it down with mead. Not enough to get drunk, but just a bottle or two.
I gather more firewood and set the pile ablaze before we rest for the night. My bedroll is set very far away from Nonvul on purpose. He doesn't need to be getting any ideas after today and I don't want to encourage him. I'm not like that and I never will be. I'll find the right guy and settle down when the time is perfect. We fall asleep and it feels like morning comes instantly. Nonvul cleans up camp and the rest of the trip is quiet except for when we pass Morthal.
"That was actually pretty cool what you did back there." Nonvul starts and sees that I have no clue what he is talking about. "The threatening Maven Black-Briar thing."
"Oh. That. Everything I said is true. I have connections. A lot of connections." I say and we avoid some frost spiders.
Nonvul looks at me seriously. "Really? Say something like what you did before."
I start in an eerie voice that gets darker with each sentence. "You do not know what I am or who I am. I am like a second Maven Black-Briar. I have connections anywhere and everywhere. In just three days, I could have an army breaking down your door. I can arrange for a dragon to burn your house, steal your family, or kill you on the spot. Assassins could kill you in your sleep or poison your food. I can swipe your identity as well as your family's off this planet and make it so you were never known and will never be known." I stop and look at Nonvul. He has goosebumps and seems freaked.
Nonvul straightens and clears his throat. "It looks like I'm not sleeping tonight." He makes a frightened chuckle and I am pleased for the time being.
Later in the day, we travel across some of the mountains and see a dead nord. We investigate a bit and a figure comes out from behind a rocky crag. They attack only me and I pin them down. I take their weapons, and place my boot against the offender's neck. They have Dark Brotherhood armor on and two notes. The Khajiit stares at me with eyes the size of an animals when you are about to kill it.
"Please don't kill me!" The Khajiit begs and pleads.
"Say hi to Sithis for me." I say and snap her head back strongly, killing her instantly. She gives a gurgled sound as blood spills from her mouth. I leave her weapons and take the letters. One is the average letter about assassinating the target and the other is different.
Hunbrii,
If you are reading this, it means you killed another one of my initiates. Someday, you will die and I'll make sure I kill you myself for killing my husband. I will sent you to the Void.
-Astrid
"That's the third assassin this month. Let's go." I shove the letters in my pack and kick the body down the mountain side. Nonvul leads and I follow him up and down the terrain. The air seems uncomfortable between Nonvul and I but no one questions it.
We get to the summit and the Blades are complaining about letting them into the meeting. The Greybeards reluctantly agree but scold us for being late. Somehow, everyone got here before us, even the Imperial side. "This place was built for peace. I hope you two know what to do." Arngeir expresses his anxiety about the situation but tells us to take our seats when we are ready.
The Meeting Hall is filled with dignitaries from each side. The amount makes me uncomfortable and a little queasy. A face I did not expect to see belongs to Elenwen who seems furious as Nonvul enters. He takes the seat at the far end of the hall and picks up a tankard. I sit in the seat next to him on the more Stormcloak side. Everyone else sits down and I put my feet up on the table. The reaction I get at this rude gesture is pretty funny. Manners don't apply to me here because the only person that recognizes me is Nonvul and the Greybeards. Ulfric wouldn't recognize me in this armor because I never wore it and he only saw it once when he saw me open it. The only thing keeping my identity a secret is the hood and that my name hasn't been mentioned.
"This War Council meeting will be held by both Dragonborn. Nonvul." Nonvul nods at the people around us. "And Hunbrii." If looks could kill, I'd be dead in a heartbeat. Everyone's eyes are trained on me and General Tullius has the most hatred. My dad glares at me and I take my feet off of the table along with my hood.
"Welcome friends, family, and enemies. If you decide to kill me this day, there will be no peace and Alduin will swallow this world so keep your swords in their scabbards." I hold my arms out almost mockingly and sit back down, satisfied. Master Argeir seems pleased at my display. My dad seems distant. General Tullius seems angry. The Blades seem indifferent. Oh well.
"I only agreed to this to deal with the dragon menace." General Tullius starts but Nonvul interrupts. Finally he starts to talk and the attention is drawn to him.
"So did everyone else. Let us begin." Nonvul sits back while verbal war breaks out. He doesn't do anything about it and the sides continue to babble and argue.
"SILENCE!" I shout and everyone settles. Everyone is quiet and don't even dare to move. I get up from my seat and walk around the table, making sure to glare at everyone who turns their head to look. Once I make it all the way around the table, I stand behind my chair. "As one of the Dragonborn, I can decide what happens and what doesn't along with Nonvul and yourselves. But that doesn't mean we can lose our decency and act like animals! We are proud men and woman and should start acting like it. If you don't think peace can be established, then why did you agree to come?
"There is no need to be rude to get what you want. Alduin is getting stronger as we speak and you all decide to waste this time to argue pettily about who gets what? We need to make a truce but all you two want to do is gain land and destroy the other faction." I glare at Tullius and my dad. "Both sides will be unhappy but does that really matter if we can't stop Alduin in time?" I sit down in my seat and a minute of silence passes. Another passes before Tullius breaks it.
"We want Riften."
"If you haven't been able to capture it yet, why should we give it up?" Ulfric demands of Tullius.
"I'm sure they will offer a trade for it." Nonvul speaks up and takes a mouthful of mead.
"What do you think Riften is worth?" Ulfric points the question at me with serious eyes.
"How about the Reach?" I say and my father approves.
"You heard her. We have an offer on the table." Ulfric crosses his arms and waits for an answer.
"This is just a way for you to grab power! I want the other Dragonborn's opinion." Tullius shouts and Nonvul becomes alert. It looks like he fell asleep but he is up now. "What do you think they should get?"
"They should get Falkreath." Nonvul claims and drinks more out of his tankard. Then he takes mine.
"How rude. Asking to exchange a major hold for a minor. I expected more from you." Ulfric looks at Nonvul angrily but Nonvul doesn't care. He's probably trying to get drunk.
"The only way we'll agree to trading the Reach for the Rift is if we get her as prisoner. We will release her when Alduin is dead." Tullius points at me and I am shocked. My father seems like he is going to burst.
"No! I will not trade my daughter for a Hold!" Ulfric stands to shout at General Tullius and gasps are heard from around the table. General Tullius seems pleased and content.
"I'll do it." I stand and my father sits, still seething with rage.
"Listen to your daughter Ulfric." Tullius is smug.
"No. She will not be your prisoner or anyone's!" My father doesn't seem to cool down at all.
I roll my eyes. "I agree to your terms on behalf of the Stormcloaks." Then I turn to my father who looks disappointed. "Alduin must die. Nonvul is Dragonborn and can do the job himself. We need peace and if this is the only option we can think of, so be it."
Esbern says something important but I tune it out. I've been getting in deeper than I should with the war. Being a prisoner till Nonvul defeats Alduin doesn't sound bad to a normal person but to me, it's riddled with holes. Something horrible will happen and I may be the cause of it or at the end of it. If giving up my freedom saves the world, I would gladly do it a thousand times over. But what of Nonvul? Can he pull through this to do his job as the only active Dragonborn? Master Arngier speaks and I come out of my train of thought.
"Jarl Ulfric, General Tullius, an offer has been put on the table. Do you agree?" Argeir stands and speaks. General Tullius agrees right away but my father seems reluctant. I look at him and he agrees also. We all get up and start to head out. Esbern and Delphine pull Nonvul aside and quickly converse with him. Delphine turns to me and slips me a small scrap of paper without anyone noticing.
Ulfric gives me a hug and whispers in my ear. "Don't give up in there. I'll send help in a day."
I hug him again to conceal my whispering. "You don't need to. Once Tullius knows I've escaped, the truce is over. I need to wait it out until the Reach is yours. Once the Imperials come for Riften, don't hand it over. Fight and kill them. By then, your forces will have taken the Reach and still have the Rift." My plan will unfold quickly and I'll meet Nonvul either in Skuldafn or Sovngarde where we will kill Alduin. General Tullius grabs my shoulder and I brush his hand off. Ulfric looks like he wants to kill him. I reassure him with another hug and I leave with Tullius and his crew. Once we walk out of High Hrothgar, I am swarmed by soldiers of the Imperial Army.
They close me in tight between themselves and I barely have any room. Before I can even step in the snow, one of them clasps me in handcuffs that are freezing cold. Quickly, I look at the note scrunched in my hand.
Shout this into the sky if you get out: Odahviing.
I discard the note and remember the words. After our group gets off the mountain, they shove me in a wagon. Just like the one I went to Helgen in. As we leave Ivarsted, people throw vegetables at my head. So much for being the respected Dragonborn. A couple days pass until we get to Solitude. Apparently, I'm not welcome here either. We get out of the cart and enter the city on foot.
Word travels fast and the people are already celebrating my capture. Lanterns of different colors are lit and foods with all kinds of spices are for sale. They even set up an effigy of me hung in the center of the square.
It's bad but it kind of touches my sense of pride. The guards shove me forward ruffly. They don't take me to the regular prison but to Castle Dour. "So, what? Am I a special prisoner or something like that? I'd rather sleep in the dungeon." No one answers my question, they just put me in a nicely furnished room and lock the door.
I sit on the squishy bed with a green quilt. There's a wooden chair and desk. No windows. Someone unlocks the door and comes in. It's Tullius. He puts his hands on his hips and shifts his weight from one leg to the other.
"You're my... special prisoner. You will get two meals a day and torture is for one hour every six hours. I'll see you there." Tullius throws a bowl of gruel on the floor that splatters. He smiles triumphantly and heads out.
While he has his fun, I'm going to have my own. I break the chair and smash the desk. The over hang on the bed is crushed in two by my punches and kicks. They took my weapons so what else do I have except healing and conjuration magicka? I dabble a bit in illusion too, but that's purely secret. After the room is trashed, I pull out a piece of paper from what was left of the desk and slice my finger on a sharp shard of metal. I begin to write with my blood and finish after the note is done. The door has a small space where it comes to the floor and I see a guard's boots. I slide the paper under the door and they pick it up. Through the space, I shout Unrelenting Force and see them fly away from the door.
Someone runs to the door and opens it wide, effectively ramming my head. "Ouch. Watch where you swing that thing." I rub my head and get up. Tullius is at the door and looks pissed.
"I think you need to be tortured early." Tullius grabs for me but I twist out of his grasp. He grabs for me again but I jump up on a pile of broken furniture.
"I don't think so. FUS RO DAH!" I shout at him and he flies away just like the guard. Others come to try to get me but I avoid them by sneaking and using the invisibility spell. Looking around carefully, I find my weapons and brandish them. I run out of Castle Dour and am followed by Tullius, the legit, soldiers, guards, and any townsfolk brave enough to give chase. People move out of my way as I push pass them and eventually I find the edges of the city where they float over the water.
A crowd surrounds me with torches and pitchforks since the day is over and dark. Tullius pushes himself forward and I back up against the low edge. "There is nowhere to run or hide. Face your punishment." He pulls his sword out. What is with people and threatening me?
I smile and put my weapons away like a surrender. "You will never win General. Not while I'm alive and carry both names of my families. You were dead from the start. Long live the Stormcloaks! Alok Bruniikkah! Hon dii zul ahrk Thu'um! Motaad ahst dii krif!" Then I back up and fall off the edge. There are screams from above but the wind drowns them out. I change in mid air and fly up to the place where I fell off.
"DIR!" I shout in dragon language and start spitting flames. People run in terror and guards fire arrows. I fly away to Whiterun hold and settle in the grass. By the time the dust calms and the crickets sing their song, it is the dawn of a new day. I lift my golden head up to the sky and roar. Birds come out from their hiding places and rabbits scatter. Then I say the shout. "Odahviing! Hon dii Thu'um!"
A red dragon roars from behind the mountains after minutes of waiting. He lands across from me with a thundering sound. I change back and he is surprised. "Odahviing. Tell me where you took the nord Dragonborn Nonvul."
"You are the other of his kind he talked about. I will take you to Skuldafn. Climb on or follow with your viing briinah." Odahving sees that I am not going to climb on so he takes flight and I follow in dragon form. He guides me to Skuldafn. A place filled with draugr ruins and stone arch structures. I see the bones of dragons and the undead. Nonvul has been here. Odahviing leaves and I am on my own.
I fly up to the multicolored fire and land on the side of the building. Two dragons are resting lazily on oddly shaped stone posts. Draugr are still roaming but don't attack me. It seems Nonvul is still inside. I change back and kill the draugr. Then I head inside to find Nonvul screaming his head off with three draugr following him. One is a Deathlord. I kill the two weaker draugr and tangle with the Deathlord. He slashes me with an ebony sword and catches my arm. The blade slices through the armor and gives me a deep cut. I disarm him with a shout and kill him with his own sword.
Then I heal and find Nonvul absorbing a word of power from a Word Wall. "When did you become such a pussy?" I head over to the wall and learn the word too. It is the last of the Stormcall shouts. I replace my old sword with the ebony one when I pull it free from the Deathlord's body.
"That is offensive to Khajiits everywhere." Nonvul chuckles and we head outside. He sees that I slew the draugr and we head up the steps to the portal. A floating figure attacks and shocks us with lightning. The dragons don't attack which is a bonus and we deal with the entity quickly. I pick up his staff and place it into the Dragon Seal. The portal to Sovngarde bursts with life and is activated.
Nonvul takes the mask of the enemy we killed and shoves it in his pack. "What? A guy can't have a hobby? We just killed Nahkriin. A Dragon Priest. If you want details, I'll tell you later. We need to save the world right now."
I give him a nod and he walks up to the Dragon Seal where I am. "You ready?" I repeat what he asked me when we went to Blackreach.
He grabs my hand. "Let's go." Nonvul drags me with him into the portal and we disappear from the living world.
Author's Note:
Well that was fun. Next chapter is Sovngarde, Dragonslayer, and the Epilogue. Thanks for sticking it out and reading my stories guys!