The Dragonborn awoke to the sound of a crowing roosters and the inviting scent of breakfast. She turned to see Delphine was already awake and ready to go. They stepped out of their room and located Malborn and Esbern waiting for them at a table in the large central room of the inn. The Frost Fruit Inn also served as Rorikstead's only tavern, and several of the local villagers were there enjoying the warm fireplace and the hearty food that the inn had to offer. After a quick breakfast of farm fresh chicken eggs, the four left the inn to greet the day.
Stepping out onto the road Malborn stretched his back and looked out at the sky. Just then, he noticed something odd in the distance. It looked like a cyclone, yet it was filled with light like some manner of magic spell. The top of the swirling oddity was barely visible over the hill that nestled against the town.
"What is that?" said Malborn, pointing to the cyclone.
Delphine and the Dragonborn recognized the spiral, as they had seen it before.
"It's another dragon raising from the dead. It has to be," said the Dragonborn.
"Come on. It's happening on the other side of this hill," said Delphine. Before she could begin climbing, suddenly a powerful wind pushed them back and Alduin, the ancient dark dragon from the beginning of time, the eater of worlds and souls, rose over the top of the hill and disappeared into the cloudy sky.
"That was Alduin," said Esbern, "I'm quite certain."
Townspeople formed a crowd outside and stared in amazement, pointing into the sky and shouting about the dragon that had just flown over their town. Suddenly the growl of another dragon could be heard. It rose up over the hill and let out a mighty roar that shook the very foundations of the little town.
"There's the one Alduin just resurrected," said Delphine as she drew her sword.
The dragonborn unsheathed her sword as well, and scrambled up the hill towards the beast. The dragon lifted off into the air before she could reach it. It moved and changed directions quickly as it danced across the sky overhead. A large fireball shot out of the dragon's mouth and sent one of the farmhouses into a raging fire. A woman ran out of the burning house clutching her baby and screaming.
"Damn it. Why isn't he landing?" said Delphine in frustration.
Malborn leaned against the side wall of the inn and nervously strung an arrow. The shot missed and the dragon roared towards him, swooping low with its massive sword-sized claws. Malborn looked face to face at its enormous toothy maw and was gripped by a powerful unrelenting fear like he had never felt before in his life. He dropped his bow and ran into the inn, all the way to the corner of the basement, behind the wine barrels. As he heard roars and the echoing screams of dying villagers outside he bowed his head in shame and covered his ears.
Esbern shot a multitude of spells at the dragon. A frost spell temporarily hardened the dragon's wings with ice, making it fall from its sanctuary of sky. Delphine, the Dragonborn, and a few town guards raced to it with their swords drawn. The combined blows of their swords brought the cornered dragon to its end. Its life force flowed out of its disintegrating body, swirling around the Dragonborn and into her body.
"I can't believe it. It's the Dragonborn," said one of the town guards.
Elsa looked around at the carnage that was left by the dragon. Two houses were on fire and several villagers lay dead in the road and fields, burnt beyond recognition. Suddenly she noticed Malborn's bow laying on the ground by the inn. She felt her heart sink as she was gripped by the fear that he might have perished. Running to his bow, she picked it up.
Esbern looked at her and said, "Where's Malborn?"
"He's hiding," replied Delphine, "I saw him run into the inn."
"Hiding?" replied Esbern with surprise.
The door to the inn slowly creaked open and Malborn stepped out, glancing around at the scene before resting his eyes upon his friends. The Dragonborn gave a sigh of relief to see he was not injured.
Esbern looked at Malborn sterly and said, "Son, why did you hide? We could have used your bow to bring down that dragon sooner. Perhaps some of these villagers would still be alive."
"Go easy on him, Esbern", said Dephine, "We can't expect him to fight a dragon. He's never been in battle."
"I never thought I'd be expected to fight," said Malborn, "I thought you were taking me to safety. I'm doing what I can to help, but..."
"Surely you don't want to be remembered as a coward?" said Esbern, "Don't you feel shame in running away while your friends are in danger?"
"What do you expect? I'm not a Blade like you or a great hero like the Dragonborn. I haven't spent my life training for battle. What could someone like me possibly do to take down a dragon?" said Malborn in frustration, "I know in Skyrim everyone values great heros and valiant bravery, but among my people, in my homeland of Valenwood, it's not considered shameful to hide when outmatched. It's considered wise."
Esbern replied, "I've heard the jests and stories of woodelves hiding during battle, but I've never believed them. You say hiding is wise, but can it really be wisdom to know that the entire existance of the world rests upon the Dragonborn, and then to step aside while she is in danger?"
Malborn thought a moment and said, "You were hiding out from the Thalmor in the ratway. How is that any different?"
"I hid there because I could see the world's end approaching and there was no hope left worth fighting for. Now we have the Dragonborn. She is the world's only hope, and I'd lay my life down at this very moment if it could help her in any small way," said Esbern.
Malborn looked at the ground and said, "I should leave. I.. I don't belong here... with all of you. I'm not a hero and I never will be."
"Well if that's how you feel then perhap you should go," said Esbern.
"Esbern!" said Delphine angrily.
"What? No!" said the Dragonborn.
"No, he's right," said Malborn grabbing his satchel, "I should go. You're all trying to save the world and I would only get in the way. Thank you for all you've done for me."
"Don't go, Malborn. Please," said the Dragonborn. Her eyes bore a sad expression.
"I'm sorry Elsa," said Malborn as he walked away, "I don't want to be a burden to you anymore. What you're doing is too important. I'll be praying for you from Morrowind."
The Dragonborn felt tears welling up in her eyes and she looked at Esbern with an expression of pure anger. Malborn walked alone down the road toward the stables and stepped up to the carriage driver. Just as he was about to negotiate a price, the Dragonborn ran up to his side.
"Please don't leave," said Elsa.
Malborn looked at her and said, "But what can I ever do to help? I couldn't slay a mudcrab."
"Don't listen to that cranky old man. He doesn't know your situation. No one expects you to fight or take down a dragon. That would be crazy. And you are helpful in other ways. You've carried our bags. You've cooked for us. Besides, what if the Thalmor find you while you're alone on the road? What will you do then?" said the Dragonborn, "Please, reconsider."
Elsa looked at him, and when he looked back into her beautiful blue eyes, he couldn't refuse. It felt odd and uncomfortable walking back to Esbern and Delphine after telling them he was leaving, but at the same time he felt happy knowing that at least the Dragonborn wanted him to be there. Upon reaching the others, Esbern approached him.
"I must apologize. I hope you can forgive the ramblings of an old man," said Esbern, "I was far too harsh on you. Delphine explained your situation to me. Obviously someone with no training could not be expected to face a dragon fearlessly. Being face to face with a dragon would test the mettle of even the most prepared warrior. I'm truly sorry for judging you that way."
"It's okay. I just wish there were something more I could do to help. I wish I could be... like all of you. But I don't know how," said Malborn.
"Perhaps you just need to know how to defend yourself, and then your courage will show," said Esbern, "How skilled are you as a mage? I saw you light the campfire with magic the other night. Let me see that fire spell of yours."
Malborn looked at Esbern and held out his hand. With a little concentration, a small candle-like flame quickly flicked from his hand and disappeared.
"You're doing it wrong. Where did you study magic?" asked Esbern.
"When I worked in the embassy, a Thalmor wizard taught me this spell. He was tired of lighting the kitchen fires every morning. He thought it was beneath him to even set foot in the kitchen. I never formally studied magic though," said Malborn.
"Here, let me show you how it's done," said Esbern, "You're releasing the spell too early. You have to let it build up to the right moment. Hold your arm like this so the source of the magicka will flow from your whole body rather than just your fingers. Once it flows let it build up and swell within your hand until you can hold no more. Then release. Come now. Try again. Hit that boulder over there across the road."
"All the way across the road?" said Malborn unsure of himself, "I'll try."
He concentrated on the spell and followed Esbern's instructions. With a change in his posture he felt the magicka flow and build up stronger than he had ever felt it before. When it felt like his hand would erupt in flames from all the energy within its grasp, he released the spell. A small cabbage-sized fireball shot from his hand across the road, leaving a black spot behind on the boulder. Malborn looked at the charred boulder with surprise.
"That's better," said Esbern, "But there's still much room for improvement, if you wish to learn."
"I'd love to learn. That is, if you're willing to teach someone like me," said Malborn.
Esbern replied, "I've spent my whole life studying and learning all that I could about both history and the arcane arts of magic. I'm old now. I can see my days are running short and I've longed for an apprentice to pass my knowledge onto."
"You really think I can learn to be a mage? Like you?" said Malborn.
"Son, you may end up surpassing me in skill. Magicka runs naturally in your elven blood. I can see it in how well you did on your first try. Just trust in your teacher and put forth the effort. You can learn. You will learn," said Esbern.
Malborn smiled, feeling a sense of pride he'd never felt before, and said, "It would be an honor to be your apprentice."