Chapter 8

The Dragonborn glanced around the main hall and said, "Where's Malborn and Delphine?"

"Ah, I'm sure they'll be happy to see you too. I think we've all been worried. They're in the training room up to the left. Delphine is helping Malborn learn how to use a sword. He's really turned into the most marvelous student. As far as magic goes, he's already mastered in one month what would take most beginning mages a year to learn. You'd be impressed," said Esbern, "He knows all of my basic beginner spells, and several intermediate ones."

"That's wonderful," said the Dragonborn.

She walked quickly up the steps to the training room. As she entered, she watched Malborn perform a backhanded cut attack upon a wooden training dummy followed by a defensive parry.

"Good," said Delphine, "But your sword was a bit low. Watch my example and try it again."

As Malborn turned to face Delphine, he saw Elsa standing at the door. His heart pounded as if it would leap from his chest. He had been so worried, and never had he felt happier then at that moment seeing her safe and sound.

"Elsa!" said Malborn with a smile as he set down his sword. For a moment, his heart got the better of him and he ran up to her and hugged her. Elsa was surprised by his sudden embrace. For a moment she felt as if she were wrapped in heaven itself. Her cheeks flushed red, as she put her arms around him. Feeling her cheek brush against his, and resting her chin upon his shoulder, she wished he would never let go. But Malborn released her within a moment of embracing her. Despite the brevity of the moment, that one second of pure bliss couldn't escape her mind, and she was left speechless.

"Where have you been all this time?" asked Delphine.

The Dragonborn stood silent a moment longer, still speechless. She finally sputtered out, "It's ... It's a long story. Let's go to the table in the main hall and I'll tell it to all of you over a bite to eat."

Malborn set the table with beatuiful ancient metal plates that had been stored in the temple's kitchen for thousands of years. The lunch portions were small, because he had only prepared food for three that morning, not knowing that the Dragonborn would be returning. About two weeks earlier Delphine had made a quick trip to nearby Markarth to stock the temple with food, but they were running low again.

"So, tell us of your journey," said Esbern. He had a quill and scroll ready to record her tale as he felt it was of historical importance.

The Dragonborn began speaking, "I traveled to High Hrothgar, and met with the Graybeards only to find out that they didn't know the dragon-slaying shout. However, they said their master might know it. I hiked up to the top of their mountain, to the Throat of the World, and met their master, only to find out he didn't know the shout either. However, he told me that Alduin had been sent forward in time by the ancient Blades, using an Elder scroll. That's why Alduin is back. The future that the ancients sent him to is our current time. The master of the Graybeards told me that if I could obtain an Elder scroll, I could use it to watch what happened back in time, and learn the shout from the ancient Blades themselves. I went to the Mage's College of Winterhold and researched all I could about the Elder scrolls. I finally found one in an ancient Dwemer ruin and returned to High Hrothgar to use it. I actually watched, through a rip in time, the ancient Blades take down Alduin with the shout and how they sent him forward in time with an Elder scroll. After watching that, the time rift closed again, and I was again standing at the Throat of the World. Suddenly, Alduin approached the mountain top and attacked me. I used the new shout and it knocked him from the sky repeatedly. I had nearly slain him when he fled in retreat. He likely went to Sovngarde to feed upon the souls of the dead and strengthen himself again. The only way to finish him is to chase him into Sovngarde itself, however, I'm not sure where to go to get there."

The others looked at her in fascination with her story. Delphine finally spoke up, "Well, the only way I know to get into Sovngarde is to die in heroic battle. It's the afterlife for Nord heroes."

"No. If we could find Alduin's portal, I could go there alive," said the Dragonborn, "And I have a plan. If I capture a dragon, I could force the dragon to tell me where Alduin's portal is. The palace at Whiterun once held a captured dragon thousands of years ago. It was the old Jarl's pet. I've already spoken to the current Jarl of Whiterun and asked if I could use his palace to capture a dragon. He said he would help me if I could get both sides of the civil war to agree to a truce. He didn't want to risk having a dragon weaken his city with the war going on. I spoke with General Tullius and Ulfric Stormcloak. There will be a peace meeting at High Hrothgar in two days."

"It sounds like you've been busy," said Delphine, "We should go to that peace meeting to let them know the seriousness of the dragon threat. Otherwise, I seriously doubt those two warhawks would ever come to an agreement."

"I agree," said Esbern, "The very world is at stake if we can't find a way to Alduin's portal."

"I'll try to convince the Graybeards to let you in," said the Dragonborn.

The four of them began packing satchels for the day ahead. As the Dragonborn sorted through her satchel she felt something hard at the bottom. Pulling it out, she gazed at the beautiful amulet of Mara she'd gotten back in Riften. She thought about the embrace Malborn had greeted her with and stared at it, lost in thought. Maybe it would work. With a sigh she clasped the traditional necklace of love around her neck, hoping he would respond to it during their trek to High Hrothgar.

As Malborn stepped into the main hall with his satchel, he noticed the others were already ready to go to the peace council. As he looked at the three of them his eyes were suddenly transfixed on the amulet adorning the Dragonborn's fair neck. It was an amulet of Mara. According to the old traditions of the land, it meant that she sought a marriage proposal. His heart leapt with joy at the sight of it, then he suddenly he came to a disappointing and heartbreaking realization. She was on her way to a peace council to meet with the two most powerful men in all of Skyrim. He looked at the ground with sadness and wondered which man she hoped to get a proposal from- General Tullius or Jarl Ulfric Stormcloak.

After a two day journey, the four of them reached the base of the mountain that led to High Hrothgar. There were thousands of old stone steps that led to the sanctuary of the Graybeards. About halfway up the mountain, the Dragonborn spotted a white frost troll ahead on the trail. She pulled out her sword.

"Wait," said Esbern, "Frost trolls are more easily killed by fire magic. This may be a good opportunity for Malborn to put his training into real practice. Do you think you're ready, Malborn?"

"I'll do my best," said Malborn as he stepped forward.

"If things go badly, we're here to watch your back," said Delphine.

Malborn stealthily approached the troll. He felt nervous, but didn't want to let it show. Before the troll could notice him, he built up a powerful fire spell in his hand and released it into the troll's hairy back. The troll reeled around and chased after Malborn furiously. Malborn swiftly stepped backward as he continued attacking the troll with fireballs. The badly injured troll gained ground against him and swung its huge muscular arm, knocking him over into the snow. As Malborn scrambled to his feet, he saw the troll laying dead. The Dragonborn was standing over it, with her sword plunged into its neck.

"You didn't let Malborn finish," said Esbern.

"He was going to get killed," said the Dragonborn.

"The troll was nearly dead," said Esbern, "You should have let Malborn finish him."

Malborn held his left arm in pain as he walked back to the group. The frost troll's powerful strike had dislocated his shoulder. He sat and cast a healing spell upon himself repeatedly.

"Are you okay?" asked the Dragonborn with concern.

"I'll be fine. I suppose this will give me a chance to use my healing spells on a real injury," said Malborn.

"Well, I think you did pretty well... for a first try," said Delphine, "I think we'll have you take down a dragon by yourself next."

Malborn's smile dropped.

"I'm joking," said Delphine with a smirk.

They continued up the arduous mountain climb until they reached the steps of High Hrothgar. It was snowing gently, and the mountain-top monastery of the Graybeards had a peaceful look to it. The Dragonborn and Malborn stepped into the monastery first and greeted Arngeir, a Graybeard.

"So you've done it. Men of violence are gathered here in these halls who's very stones are dedicated to peace," said the Graybeard, "They're waiting for you in the room to the right. Take your seat at the council table."

The Graybeard looked in shock as Delphine and Esbern stepped through the door. He sternly said to them, "You're not invited here."

"We have as much right to be at this council as all of you. More so actually, since we put the Dragonborn on this path," said Delphine.

Esbern added, "We know a great deal about the threat that Alduin poses to us all. The matter at hand is urgent. You need us here if you want this council to succeed."

The Graybeard scratched his chin and reluctantly said, " Very well. You may enter."

The Dragonborn and Malborn rounded the corner of the hallway and accidentally bumped into the back of a tall blond woman. When she turned around, Malborn stepped back. It was the Thalmor Ambassador, Elenwen. She was the Thalmor he had served for so many years of his life. The one who he had betrayed. The one who had ordered his execution.

"Ah, Malborn," she said, "Traitor to the Thalmor. What little rock have you been hiding under?"

"What are you doing here?" asked the Dragonborn, "This is a peace council between the Imperial army and the Stormcloaks. It doesn't concern the Thalmor."

"I'm part of the Imperial delegation. I'm here to ensure that nothing is agreed to here that violates the terms of the White Gold Concordat, the treaty between the Aldmeri Dominion and the Empire," said Ambassador Elenwen, "Dragonborn, I didn't know who you were when you broke into the Thalmor embassy..."

With a deadly cold voice she added. "...Now I know who you are."

Ambassador Elenwen gave them an icy stare like she wanted nothing more than to gut them where they stood. It seemed the only thing holding her back was the fact that they were at a peace council.

Arngeir approached, breaking up the tense moment, and said, "Please everyone. Take your seats at the council table so we can begin."