Chapter Four: Dovahkiin/Dragonborn's P.O.V

I paced back and forth, biting my nails as I kept my eyes on the skies above me. Brand Shei has already left back to the Imperial City with my family history in his hands in order to present a case to the Council. My nerves were on edge and I was running on little sleep to begin with thanks to neverending nightmares that plague my every waking moment.

The fact that Dagon could use me as a portal to Tamriel made me ill to my core… I feared the worst for those I held dear. Just by reading Eve's journal entries regarding the Oblivion crisis was bad enough. Her description of dead rotting flesh and the burn of brimstone against her nostrils every time she entered through a gate made me cringe. I don't think I could have been through what she had yet again... she may think the same about what I've been through.

Sighing I prepared for another shout till I heard the beating of wings and a loud thud, followed by a grunt of agony. I turned to find Odahviing standing before me with a very windswept Esbern on his back and a tied up Delphin laying before me.

"I'm guessing she refused to come willingly, I joked, getting my knife out to cut her loose.

"Dovahkiin, don't. She betrayed the very order sworn to protect you," stated Odahviing as he leaned down and let Esbern slide down slowly.

My eyebrows furrowed in confusion as I looked over at Esbern who gave me a solemn stare back. Slowly he made his way to me, holding a pack of letters in his hands.

"The one on top is the most recent, the rest I discovered in her trunk at Skyhaven."

I reached out as Esbern soon made work of a fire and sat down close it, shivering from the slight breeze. Shadowmere sensed the old man's discomfort and trotted his way over to Esbern, kneeling down behind him. Esbern soon leaned back with teary filled eyes as he reached over to my horse's muzzle and patted gently.

"Whatever you decide, my dear, I will honor it," he mumbled looking up at me.

My heart chipped at that very moment. Esbern had been my mentor when it came to all things dragon. Their language, body language, history... even going as far as to discover new shouts through old manuscripts no matter how long it took for their translation.

Soon a hand rested on my shoulder as Odahviing stood in front of me in human form, a robe already wrapped around him with pants and boots already in place.

"You're getting the hang of being human I see," I whispered softly offering a small smile.

Odahviing smirked, "It was the old man's idea for all the dragons back home since well… clothes don't magically appear after our scales molt off."

I smirked, "That's an enticing thought."

Odahviing leaned in and kissed my cheek while I held back my tears mumbling, "I still can't believe she would do this to the Blades."

Looking over at Delphine, I saw her just lying there bundled up in a ball fast asleep. Tear streaks covering her cheeks and jawline.

"She put up a fight, and I had to use a shout to keep her in place and before we left Esbern gave her a sleeping potion that would take effect as soon as we got here in order for you to make your decision."

"I'm glad you're ok though," I whispered softly staring into the fires embers.

"And I you," he whispered back, those intense eyes caressing my face.

"The two of you quit flirting… in the name of Talos," gruffed the old man before fading back to dreams against Shadowmere.

Odahviing huffed blushing as he laid back on his back and stared up at the stars, "Hmph... flirting. Damn codger wasn't flirting."

I snickered to myself before I turned to the letters knowing that the sooner I read through this the sooner I could put all of this in Blade's past. The further I read the more I uncovered how deep Elenwynn's hold on Delphine was. Her roots ran deep all the way back to the fall of the Blades all the way back to Cloud Ruler Temple.

"I don't see why he can be that mad at her… she did it to protect him from the Embassy."

"Scout, look at it from his perspective. Delphine wasn't his only family… all of the Blades were and are. He is terrified what she could have happen now, after all the work you help put into rebuilding it and giving him his second chance."

I shook my head tossing the letters into the fire, tears streaming down my cheeks, "But what decision is the right one? If she lives she just causes more problems for Blades or if I execute her… will the rest of the Blades look at me as if I'm heartless?"

Odahviing rolled over till he bumped into me and smiled, "The Blades will respect whatever decision you make. And you must remember you are the heart of the Blades."

I smiled as I lay down next to Odahviing, my head on his chest, "For now... I need sleep. And in the morning I will make my decision."

Kissing the top of my forehead and curling and arm around me, we both fell into a contented sleep as the stars above us twinkled brighter than ever.

"Get away from me you heathen!"

I awoke startled and groggy, my head pounding as I saw Brand Shei standing there gawking at Delphine as she tried to wiggle away on her bound hands and feet while Esbern just shook his head. Brand Shei caught my eye and shrugged.

"I'm pretty sure Dark Elves are no longer heathens and savages… last I checked anyway."

I chuckled as I hauled myself off the ground till I realized Odahviing was nowhere to be found. Frantically I looked around, panic striking my heart and soul as my gaze turned to Delphine who was still tied up glaring right at me.

"Odahviing left to go find breakfast, love," Brand Shei stated as he sat next to Esbern while shaking the old man's hand.

I nodded as I stood up, pulling my cloak tighter around me, bearing myself against the cool wind.

"Dragonborn… have your decision been made," Esbern asked quietly as he stoked the faint embers.

He stared up at me with broken eyes and face full of despair while we stood there in silence. I glanced back over at Delphine and sighed. She sat there staring at her legs… lost in the space that surrounded her.

"What if I make a choice that you're against Esbern?"

He shook his head with a faint smile, "Child, I live to serve and follow you."

I walked over to Delphine while pulling an arrow from my quiver as I knelt before her.

"Before I set you free will you answer one question for me? You owe me that much don't you? You owe Esbern that much right?"

Delphine swallowed the visible lump in her throat as she looked over at Esbern with tears in her eyes whispering, "Yes."

"Why does the Thalmor want me dead? What have I done to them to have a death warrant out?"

"You haven't done anything… they are simply following orders."

My eyebrows furrowed, "Orders from whom?"

"Mehrunes Dagon," she murmured looking at me with sorrow.

My eyes grew wide as I tumbled back and my breathing turning shallow. Delphine looked at me with what could be concern? But I didn't read too much into it. I backed away quickly and stood up as I quickly began pacing in an attempt to get my breathing back under control. Around me voices began to elevate and the sounds of wings were faint, along with a thud among the surface.

"Dovahkiin," a deep voice rumbled.

I snapped out of my trance as I heard Esbern yelling at Delphine while Brand Shei tried being their mediator and Odahviing gazing down at me in concern.

"We were supposed to protect her and serve her till the end of our days Del!"

"That is a load of goat shit and you know it Esbern! Protect her?! She can kill dragons barely lifting a finger and sucks out their fucking souls! Follow and serve? Yes. Protect? No."

"How long have you known she is a Septim," piped Brand Shei, his arms crossed.

Delphine looked up at him slightly annoyed, "The same length of time I've been betraying the Blades. During the dragon crisis we agreed to keep low profiles until everything was sorted."

I glared over at her, "You knew this whole time and never bothered to tell me?"

Delphine looked over at me and snapped, "Low profiles remember? Besides why would I tell you you were a Septim? That definitely would ruin the Thalmor's hold on the Imperial City, and the legion."

"I never knew my parent's… if Skyrim is anything it is harsh. Especially to an orphan child," I hissed at her. "So why are the Thalmor working for Dagon?"

Delphine sighed as she leaned back against a tree stump, "Dagon promised the Thalmor power, more than any they could imagine. You know how high elves are… greedy and materialistic, generally speaking. You do get a few that aren't complete asses."

"Delphine… mumbling off topic will not save your skin," Esbern tutted, as he stood there petting Shadowmere.

Delphine glared at the ground like a scorned child as she gritted her teeth. I let the arrow glide around in between my fingers as my mind tossed and turned.

"Shei… did you get the Council to agree to a meeting or no?"

Brand Shei snapped out of his thoughts as he looked over at me, "Yes and they want to meet with you today at noon. So I suggest you fix this issue soon, considering it's almost noon."

My eyes grew wide as I looked over at Delphine and growled, turning my back to Shadowmere. Odahviing came into view landing with a elk in his mouth.

"Odahviing, grab Delphine and drop her off at Cloud Ruler Temple. Take Esbern with you. Esbern place enchantments so that she may not escape."

"You were going to let me go… damn it we had a deal," Delphine yelled as she scrambled up to her feet.

"And you had an oath that you broke! Here me well Delphine, in the halls of Cloud Ruler Temple there will be nothing but ghosts for you there. As the leader of the Blades I condemn you there to die a lonely death, as a traitor deserves. No one shall hear your screams for help and no one can save your soul. I curse you to remain there a tormented wraith for as long as Tamriel exists."

My words seeped with venom as the curse I spoke flashed in my hand black with malice and hate, as I casted it. The spell quickly consumed Delphine as her screams soon grew silent and her eyes white with blindness. Esbern stood there solemnly as he grabbed Odahviing's horn and hauled himself onto the dragon's neck. Still writhing in pain, Odahviing grabbed Delphine with a hind claw.

"I will meet you in the city Dovahkiin, shout and I will come."

I nodded as they took off towards the old Blades headquarters, leaving me and Brand Shei alone in the clearing.

"Are you alright," Shei asked in a whisper, his accent thicker than usual.

"Yes. But that was the first curse I've ever placed. It's something no mage ever does lightly," I murmured as I turned Shadowmere towards the Imperial City.

"Come on then, let's get this done."

Chapter Four(cont.): Odahviing's P.O.V

I landed at Cloud Ruler Temple, the eerie ruins overtaken by ice and snow. Dead plants, the only thing keeping the stones together as skeletons lay scattered around the grounds of both Thalmor and Blades. Esbern shuddered against me as I let go of Delphine, her body shaking as she mumbled insistently to herself.

"You may start the spell you need old man," I mumbled softly.

"Delphine… I am so sorry that this has happened. That this is what you've been reduced to thanks to the Thalmor. I will remember you fondly before all of this mess happened. May Talos and Akatosh have mercy on you," whispered Esbern, as his body shook in sobs.

I lifted us into the air as his words became soft as he muttered the incantations needed to make the illusion for Cloud Ruler Temple. Fog crept over the walls and soon began to cover everything, as wails and screams echoed throughout the mountain pass. Delphine looked up one last time with a soft smile before she was overtaken by the spell.

Esbern huffed out of breath, collapsing against my neck.

"What's wrong," I asked, concerned as I tried looking over at him.

Esbern wheezed, "Haven't done a spell like that in ages."

"Let's get you to the Imperial City, you need sustinance."

Esbern nodded before I felt his body go limp as he drifted off. I beat my wings against the cool air, the smells of Cyrodiil seeping into my nostrils. Even after 200 years, the smell of brimstone and fire were faint. And the scars of some gates remained scattered throughout the landscape. Of course the war didn't help matters either. Soon the city and it's mass tower appeared as I circled down close to a clearing near the main road.

"Esbern, wake up. I need to change forms to get into the city."

The old man nodded as he slowly slid off, stumbling a bit a he yawned, "I'm too damn old for this."

I shouted, transforming into a man as I grabbed my clothes from Esbern. I quickly got dressed and went to his side, motioning for him to follow me up the path. We passed through the gate, guards gazing at me in suspicion while not even giving a second thought to Esbern. Both of us wandered the cobblestone streets as I took in the sights and smells of the city. Finally Esbern spotted a tavern and entered with me close behind him. Once settled down Esbern got food from the bar maiden and began to dig in as the woman smiled at me, her eyes trailing over me. I sat there staring into the fireplace, the dancing flames making me drift into thought.

My fears began to run through my head. Learning of the Thalmor's pact with the Daedric prince Mehrunes was unsettling. Even more unsettling was the same dream I have been having since staying at Sky Haven Temple. Seeing Scout pinned onto the altar's spikes made me cringe and hearing her cries made my heart stop.

"What are you mulling over there?"

Esbern's voice broke my train of thought as I look over at him, "Sorry… didn't realize I was."

"Don't lie to me, I wasn't born yesterday. You really care for the Dragonborn that much don't you?"

I opened my mouth then closed it as I sighed, "Without her I would be lost… she has set me on a better path. Who could blame me to want to be with her for the remainder of time?"

"We will beat this, I promise… even if it kills me I will find a way to make sure she lives," Esbern swore, looking at me intensely.

Before I could respond my name rumbled through the building. Esbern looked over at me as we quickly made stride to the door, answering the Dragonborn's call.

Chapter Four (cont.): Brand Shei's P.O.V

We both stood there before the council as I listened to Scout's voice become passionate and watched her body animated. She talked to each councilman, imploring each of them that the evidence presented was not fabricated and that Dagon was in fact trying to return again to Tamriel.

"And do you have proof of this? Someone else to contest to this as well," asked one of them.

Sighing I looked over at Scout as she stanced herself.

"Od ah viing," she shouted as her voice sounded through the walls.

The guards quickly drew their swords as they looked around, prepared for the worst. I looked around silently praying to myself that he wouldn't come crashing through the glass ceiling above us. Several moments passed and the doors flung open with several moth priests trying to stop both Odahviing and Esbern.

Scout smiled at them both as I waved the priests away, while they reluctantly left.

Soon the room was full of questions and answers as well as the few doubts. Eventually the decision was unanimous.

Scout was named Empress of Cyrodiil.

"I thought they would never shut up with their damn questions," mumbled Esbern as we all sat in the dining hall of the Emperor's quarters, which in this case Empress'.

Scout sat there at the head of the table turning away servants and maids, as her an Odahviing silently discussed something.

"Yea well the council wanted to be sure this wasn't a fluke," I stated. "Claiming you owe lineage to the Septim name is a serious claim."

Esbern sighed puzzling his goatee, "Still can't believe she is an actual descendent. This changes everything."

"How?"

"Well now the Blades have more the reason to protect her and keep her safe. We failed protecting them once we can't fail to do that again."

"Yeah but Martin didn't have a dragon protecting him with his life now did he," I murmured, my eyes lingering on Scout.

No denying I had feelings for her, but I knew she would never return them especially now. Even so the Imperial Council wouldn't allow it… a dark elf with the Emperess. I watched as Scout smiled lovingly at Odahviing till she caught my gaze an smiled warmly. My face burned as I looked away into my glass of wine and a single thought arose from the crevices of my mind.

Mark my words dragon, if any harm should come to her your head will be mounted on my wall.