Author's Note: Hey sorry it's been a while. Been dealing with a lot of school stuff, plus registration for next year's classes and exams. Hate school. But good news, summer's almost here! Yay! Anyway moving on, here's the long awaited chapter. I don't own Skyrim. Enjoy!
The Way of The Voice
It was midmorning by the time we reached the village of Ivarstead, the base of High Hrothgar. We were, thankfully, able to reach the village without any mishaps. Well besides the bandit ambushes here and there, but that didn't count as they were too easy to dispatch. Yeah, we're that good. As we headed to where one of the villagers told us the journey to the top starts, I looked at Lydia. She didn't say much since our talk the previous night. I didn't think this relationship I had with her was going to get more personal. She was very distant, even to her Thane. I doubted much would come out of this, but… I couldn't stop thinking about her. The way she looked, the way she moved, the way she spoke. It was all stuck in my head. Damn women, I thought, getting stuck in men's heads.
"Here we are." Lydia announced. I looked up, and kept looking up. I could understand why it was called High Hrothgar. It was a very, very tall mountain.
"How many steps did Jarl Balgruuf say there were?" I asked.
"According to the Jarl, and various others who've made the journey, 7,000." She answered. Shite.
"We'd better get started then." I said, my legs already beginning to hurt at the though of 7,000 steps. This should be fun. And so we began.
I was panting when we finally reached the top. It was midday when we finally reached the top. Midday of the next day, that is. We probably would've reached the top sooner if not for a few mishaps along the way. Which included the occasional wolves and a giant ice troll. Like I said, fun climb. I was about to head through the great iron doors to the massive keep of the Greybeards when Lydia stopped me. "Are you sure you're at full health, my Thane?"
"First, I thought we covered the Thane matter already, and second, what do you mean?" I said, my eyes lingering on her hand holding my arm… I need help.
"What I mean, Will," she said with some effort, "that you just went through wolves, an ice troll, and 7,000 steps of this mountain. Surely you're not ready to enter are you?"
"Ready for what?" I asked, puzzled. "All I'm doing is going in to talk with some old, wise men"
"Old, mysterious, wise men." She replied. "No one has known what they've been up to for years, and now they suddenly summon you here? I don't like this."
"It's nothing to worry about." I shrug "Besides, if it turns out they're actually evil wise, old men with an agenda, it's nothing we can't handle."
"Fine," Lydia withdrew her hand, "you lead, I follow." I nodded and opened the doors.
It was dark and warm inside, compared to the bright coldness of the mountain air outside, so it took some time for my eyes to adjust. When they did, I saw several old men dressed in robes stepping forward. No doubt these were the fabled Greybeards. One stepped right in front of me. "So," he said "a Dragonborn appears, at this moment in the turning of the age." He seemed to say it in a undermining tone,
"I answered your summons," I say, "I am Dragonborn."
"We shall see. Show us your craft, let us taste your Voice." Did this old man want me to use the Shout? Is he crazy? Besides I only used it the one time. I have no idea how to do it again. But I had to try. Pa once told me a story about magecraft, and said in order to use it, the mage had to focus his thoughts and feelings together in order to let it out. It was worth a shot, and I had to do something for these old weirdos.
I thought back to how I felt when I first Shouted, and the word that I said. I could feel the energy inside me build up as I turned to the side and shouted "FUS!" The entire room shook as the wave of energy flew from my mouth onto the walls. The Greybeards and Lydia seemed to struggle for a moment to regain their balance. I turned to Lydia to see her surprised expression. This was the first time she ever saw me Shout. I understood her surprise, I mean how would one feel if suddenly he could shout magic from his mouth? "Dragonborn, it is you!" The Greybeard I was talking to said with awe. "Welcome to High Hrothgar. I am Master Arngeir, I speak for the Greybeards." I bowed my head with respect.
"I am Will Svennson," I gestured towards Lydia, who stepped forward, "and this is my Housecarl Lydia." Arngeir nodded at her direction, and then turned to me.
"Why have you come here Dragonborn? What can we give to you?"
"I want to learn what it means to be Dragonborn." I said with determination.
"We're here to guid you in that pursuit." Said Arngeir. "Just as the Greybeards sought to guide those of the Dragon Blood that came before you." Before me?
"You mean I'm not the only Dragonborn?"
"You are not the first. There have been many of the Dragon Blood since Akatosh first bestowed the gift upon mankind. Whether you are the only Dragonborn of this age… That is not ours to know. You are the only one that has been revealed thus far, that is all I can say."
Arngeir led me to the center of the room. "You have shown that you are Dragonborn, and that you have the inborn gift. But do you have the discipline and temperament to follow the path laid out for you? That remains to be seen. Without training, you have already taken the steps into turning you Voice into a Thu'um. Now let us see if you are able to learn." He took a few steps back. "When you Shout you speak the language of dragons. Thus, your Dragon Blood gives you the inborn ability to learn the Words of Power. All Shouts are made up of three Words of Power, so as you learn new words, your shouts will become progressively stronger." He turned towards another Greybeard who stepped forward. "Master Einarth will teach you 'Ro', the second word in conjunction with 'Fus'. These make up Unrelenting Force. 'Ro' means balance in dragontounge, while 'Fus' means force. Combine them to make your Thu'um more sharp."
Einarth gestured to the dusty ground and whispered, "Ro." Markings came out of the dust, just like the ones that taught me Fus. The same thing happened before, albeit it happened a lot quicker. After the words burned into my mind Arngeir exclaimed, "You learned the Word like a master! You truly have the gift." He stepped froward as Einarth stepped back. "But learning the Words of Power is only the first step. You must unlock its meaning through constant practice to use it as a Shout." He paused. "Well, at least that's how we learn it. As Dragonborn, you have the power to learn and absorb its knowledge directly from slaying dragons. We have no slain dragons here, but Master Einarth will allow you to absorb his knowledge of 'Ro'" Whisps of energy came out of Einarth and flew towards me, just like when I killed the dragon.
"Show us your Thu'um."Arngeir said, while motioning to another Greybeard. The Greybeard nodded and Shouted some Words of Power I couldn't hear, and energy poured out of his mouth like a geyser, creating some sort of barrier between us, like a shield. Arngeir nodded to me. I focused hard like I did before, recalling how I felt when I Shouted before, but this time I would be adding to it. "FUS…RO!" I Shouted. Just like before, a wave of energy leapt out of my mouth, but this time it seemed more concentrated. More powerful. So powerful it broke the Greybeard's shield and threw him backwards, slamming him into the wall. The shield, however, didn't just disappear, it flew into different a dozen directions. I couldn't see where they all went, but I heard several vases and pots breaking. "Impressive," Arngeir said, "your Thu'um is precise. You show great promise Dragonborn." He looked around at the damage my Thu'um did. "The next trial… will be performed in the courtyard." He gestured to another Greybeard who stepped forward. "Follow Master Borri." As we moved along I saw the Greybeard I knocked backward dusting himself off with a sheepish look on his face. A Master of the Voice just underestimated a novice. A powerful novice, I thought while smirking.
It was raining when we got outside. One of the Greybeards Shouted and the skies grew clear. Woah. "We will now see how you fare with a different type of Shout." Arngeir continued. "Master Borri will teach you 'Wuld' which means whirlwind." Just as before with Einarth, Borri whispered wuld, the dust formed the word, and I learned it. Then Borri allowed me to absorb his knowledge of wuld. Arngeir then positioned me next to him, about twenty feet before a large iron gate. "Master Borri will open the gate, use your Thu'um before it closes." He nodded to Borri who Shouted, "Bex!" The gate swung open. "WULD!" I Shouted. I saw the world blur and rush before me, and suddenly I was on the other side of the gate. Wuld must've been some sort of speed Shout. I turned around to see the impressed faces of the Greybeards, and Lydia's shocked face, jaw open. "Your quick mastery of a new Thu'um is… astonishing." Arngeir said, with awe. "I'd heard stories of the abilities of Dragonborn, but to see it for myself…"
"Thank you." I blushed, I wasn't used to this kind of attention. "What's next?"
"You are now ready for your final trial." Arngeir said, composing himself. "Retrieve the Horn of Jurgen Windcaller, our founder, from his tomb in the ancient fane of Ustengrav. Remain true to the Way of the Voice, and you will return." He held up his hand. "Sky guard you." He and the rest of the Greybeards went back inside, retiring to the many rooms of the keep.
As soon as we got back inside, I turned to Lydia and said, "We'll stay here for the night, and leave at first light." She nodded.
"A good night's rest will prepare us for the long journey downward." Thanks for reminding me, I thought in despair.