The three of them walked side by side along the snow covered road away from the city, and south toward Riften. As they reached the forest, they stayed off the roads in an effort to avoid the Thalmor. Despite the usual abundance of beasts in Skyrim's woods, the walk was uneventful. The sun fell low in the sky and the night's bitter cold air stung at their skin.
"This would be a good place to set up camp", said Delphine. She dropped the large pack from her back, and spread out her fur bedroll."
"I'll set up a fire," said Malborn. It was obvious he was cold, and his teeth chattered as he spoke. He was still wearing the same thin blue tunic he'd worn at the party a week earlier. He walked around the perimeter of the camp gathering fallen branches, then held his hand to the pile of branches, letting out a weak fire spell at it. Soon the three of them were warming their cold hands and faces by the small flickering campfire.
"So," said Malborn, "What did you manage to learn from the Embassy? Did you ever find out anything about the dragons? Why they're back?"
"I found out the Thalmor were not behind it. They knew even less about the dragons than I already knew," replied the Dragonborn, "And there was that prisoner they were torturing. He mentioned the Thalmor were after an old man named Esbern in Riften. Maybe when we pass through there tomorrow we should let him know he's in danger."
"Did you say they're looking for a man named Esbern?" said Delphine suddenly standing.
"Yes.. Why? Do you know him?" asked the Dragonborn, "I didnt mention it to you before because I didn't think it was important."
"He's a Blade like me. I figured the Thalmor had killed him off years ago. If anyone could tell us more about the dragons, he could. He was practically obsessed with dragon lore and history," said Delphine, "We have to find him right away, before the Thalmor do."
"Oh great. I bet Riften will be crawling with Thalmor," said Malborn in an annoyed tone as he poked the campfire with a stick.
"Let's just hope we're not too late," said Delphine, "Esbern is an old friend of mine, and I'd hate to see him get killed."
Malborn layed down on his back and looked up at the sky. The bright shifting colors that sometimes travelled the night sky were right overhead. He closed his tired eyes and said, "I'm going to get some sleep. I haven't slept much lately."
Meanwhile, Delphine poured a small glass of Colovian brandy and handed it to the Dragonborn, then poured one for herself.
"I find it helps me keep warm," said Delphine, as she sipped from her metal cup.
The Dragonborn noticed Malborn shivering and trying to get comfortable in the bitter cold night air. He turned around on the hard dirt with his arms tucked in tight. He was obviously freezing. The Dragonborn reached into her leather satchel, and pulled out her fur blanket. It had kept her warm on many of Skyrim's cold nights. She layed it over Malborn, then stepped back next to the fire.
Malborn opened his eyes and looked at her with gratitude, "Thank you. You've been so kind to me. But, how will you sleep? Without a blanket? Won't you be cold?"
"I'm wearing a few furs under my armor. I'll be fine. You should get some sleep. You look far more tired than I am," replied the Dragonborn.
"Well... thank you. Good night," said Malborn. He wrapped the soft fur blanket around him and drifted into a well-needed slumber.
Delphine added more branches to the fire and said, "I bet Esbern is in the ratway. It's where I'd go if I needed to hide out in Riften."
"What's the ratway?" asked the Dragonborn. She'd been to Riften before, but had never seen or heard of such a place.
"It's the sewers under the city. They're filled with thieves, beggars, and plenty of dark places to hide," said Delphine.
"I just hope they're not filled with... what usually flows through sewers," said the Dragonborn.
Delphine laughed, "Well it is a sewer. I'm sure there's plenty of things we'd rather not step in down there."
"Oh, Gods," laughed the Dragonborn, "At least the Thalmor probably aren't there. I can't imagine those fancy snobs stepping through excrement in their precious gold-plated armor."
Delphine chuckled as she warmed a small rabbit haunch over the fire. The Dragonborn looked over at Malborn as he slept wrapped in the warm deer-fur blanket. He looked so peaceful and without worry now. The Dragonborn hadn't had the chance to see many Woodelves in her life. They weren't common in Skyrim. Only a handful of them resided in the whole province. She studied his unique elven features, the way his wavy brown hair flowed back, his long pointed ears, arched eyebrows, and gray lips. His eyes were closed, but the Dragonborn imagined them. Red and amber irises with darkness around, where humans would normally have the white part of their eyes. She wondered if other Woodelves had similar eyes. She'd never taken notice before during her few encounters with that race. He knew nothing of fighting, and seeing him sleeping there defenselessly, made the Dragonborn feel even more determined to protect him. As she looked at his face in the firelight, she felt her heart skip a beat. A smile crossed her lips. She hadn't felt that way in a long time, and it surprised her.
"Why are you staring at Malborn and smiling?" asked Dephine as she chewed on the rabbit haunch, "Are you... interested in him? Is that the whole reason why we're out here, freezing our hinds off?"
The Dragonborn looked down at the fire and said, "I just want to see that he safely gets to Morrowind. We owe him that."
"I'm getting some sleep," said Delphine with a shrug, "I'll see you in the morning."
The Dragonborn layed on her back and looked up at the sky. The ground felt hard and uncomfortable. The slightest bit of snow danced down from above as she drifted off to sleep. When morning came she ached and felt stiff from her night sleeping on dirt. Malborn and Delphine were still sleeping. In the distance a low rumble filled the air. The sound repeated closer. And closer. She jumped to her feet.
"Dragon!" she shouted.
Delphine and Malborn awoke with surprise and scrambled to their feet. The massive green beast swooped overhead brushing the treetops with his belly. He swung around and a cascade of fire shot from his mouth, burning the ground next to them.
"It must be the one from the graveyard by Windhelm. It probably rose up during the night," said Delphine as she drew her sword.
The Dragonborn unsheathed her Orcish sword with her right hand, and began casting destruction spells at the dragon with her left. She'd been through this a few times before, and she was starting to get comfortable with taking down a dragon. As the dragon swooped low again and tried to bite at them, Delphine swung at it and missed. The dragon swooped again and the Dragonborn swung herself onto the back of it's long neck. Holding onto it's horned head, she stabbed the side of it's neck with her sword. It fell to the ground and thrashed around before dying. Malborn watched from behind a tree as a light mist swirled from the dragon, and entered the Dragonborn's body. The dragon turned into bones, as the Dragonborn absorbed the beast's power and soul. She stood strong and powerful, filled with the life force of the dragon. The glow of light enveloped her body, and her shiny long hair waved in the air on the swirling wind of power.
Malborn ran out from behind the tree and shouted, "That was incredible! I mean I knew you were the Dragonborn, Delphine had told me that, but to see you take down a dragon, a REAL dragon, and actually absorb its power! I saw it with my own eyes, and it's still hard to believe!"
"I just wish I knew why the dragons are coming back, and what it has to do with me," said the Dragonborn, "I don't even know. I'm just an ordinary person. Why do I have this power?"
"I still can't believe what I just saw," said Malborn, "This has been the craziest week in all my life. First the Thalmor tried to kill me and now a dragon!"
"Well, we're not going to get any answers here," said Delphine looking at the bones of the dragon, "We should move on to Riften, and see if we can find Esbern."
The Dragonborn nodded her head in agreement.
They packed up their camp gear and headed onward through the rocky pine forest. The morning sun bathed the forest in a warm golden glow, and the sound of birds filled the trees above them. It would be half a day's journey to reach Riften.