A/N: Howdy ho fanfiction readers. I bring to you the fourth chapter of the story. Do tell me if I'm doing anything wrong and if you see something you like well go on and shout to the sky about. Leave a review if you've got something to say. Have fun.
The Dragonborn's Blight Ch.4
"Who was kin to both Wyrm and the races of Man"
Stava stood atop a mountain. One that felt just like The Throat of The World. But... it was different, Paarthurnax was nowhere to be seen, and the old broken wall of power was missing. And the sky, the sky was blood red and a black swirling hole held its place high in the sky. When she took a step, she felt something crack and crunch under her boot. Looking down, she found what it was. A skull. Hundreds of skulls, and bones and entire skeletons littered the ground around her. Some completely clean of flesh, others still held clumps of muscle and sinew.
"What madness is this?" She asked aloud quietly, a subtle fear gripping her.
*thwump*
Stava's eyes widened. She knew that sound.
*thwump*
She turned her head this way and that, looking for the source of that all too familiar sound.
*thwump*
The sound of wings beating in the air grew so loud, that when Stava looked up and finally found the source of them, she felt a cold sliver of pure fear slide into her heart.
"Do you see me Dovakiin? Do you see me for what I am? Zu'u los rah! Zu'u los vozah ahrk pah suleykaar!" The great black dragon Alduin roared, shaking the ground and rattling the bones.
Stava took a step back, trepidation filling her. She reached for her sword and felt her hip lacking it.
"H-how are you here?! I slayed you in Sovngarde! Watched you die!" She yelled back at him.
"I told you Dovakiin," He said, dropping to ground, shattering dozens of skeletons. "I am immortal, I shall never die nor be felled! Hi nis mindoraan dii suleyk, joor."
He slowly moved towards her, each step shaking the ground. Stava tried to back away but found that she couldn't move her legs. She repressed a scream when she saw that it was multiple skeletons holding her in place. Alduin was now right in front of her, mere inches away from her face; his hot breath suffocating her and his crimson eyes piercing through her.
"So long as you live Dovahkiin, I will also live. Drun pahvoth naal dez." His evil voice spoke.
"Why did you do this?" Stava said, waving her arm to the carnage around her. "How did you do this?!" She screamed.
A deep gravelly sound emanated from Alduin's throat. A laugh if she guessed correctly. He looked right into her eye, staring deep into her soul.
"What makes you think I was the one who caused this? I am not the only destroyer, Dovahkiin."
**TDB**TDB**TDB**TDB**
Stava jolted awake, her body shuddering and her heart racing. She had fallen asleep in the padded chair she found in the back of the library. She was unused to the fatigue she had felt, the battle from the previous night hadn't really tired her as much as her use of Restoration had fatigued her. And she had to use magic later that night to free the woman and child Oriana and Oren, rest was needed; and a nightmare was the last thing she needed. Leaning forward she put her hand to her forehead, a recurring theme for her lately.
"That was, intense. What did I do to piss you off Vaermina?" She asked out to the air.
She was surprised to have had a nightmare, they hadn't happened to her ever since the incident in Dawnstar. The daedric prince of nightmares had cut her a deal for saving the Skull of Corruption from being destroyed.
"Heh, maybe the deal doesn't apply in different realms." Stava said with a fake chuckle.
Saying that made her realize something, something she'd been ignoring. She was in a different realm of existence. She had already knew that she was but it was in this moment, in the quiet of the library, that it finally sunk in. She was no longer in Nirn. She was all alone in a completely foreign place with no real idea of what to do. All she knew was that she was supposed to stop a blight; even though she didn't know what that was.
"Why me?" Stava said falling back into the chair and shutting her eyes.
It seemed no matter where she went, there was always a problem that needed solving. Always a beast that needed killing, a criminal to be caught, a family treasure to be reclaimed. It was as if all the worlds problems always found a way to land on Stava's shoulders. But she always fought on through, ever since the chopping block at Helgen she had fought on through. When Whiterun needed defending form Mirmulnir, she fought on through. When the Silver Hand attacked the Companions, she fought on through. Stava only knew fighting and violence, and it was tiring.
Stava then heard footsteps coming in her direction.
"Great, now companies coming." She groaned quietly.
Stava opened her eyes and was greeted by the sight of Aeden walking to her. His face now clean of blood and his armor replaced with clothes of a finer make. His sword was still belted to his hip though. She finally gave his face a proper look and saw that he had high cheekbones and a strong jaw. And his nose was straight and not too wide, even after Stava had bashed it with her shield.
"I see your finally awake." He said having reached her.
"Obviously, lest this is an incredibly detailed dream that one of us is having. I should hope one of doesn't suddenly become naked." She replied smartly.
Aeden didn't seem amused and ignored her. "My father requests your presence in his study. He and others, myself included, would like some questions answered. You posed many of them last night."
*sigh* "Then lead the way, I'm sure it'll take quite some time to answer all your questions. And answer all of mine." Stava said standing from the chair.
"Right then, follow me." He said turning and walking off.
Stava followed after him. In truth, she was actually looking forward to the talk, hoping that it may reveal some things about this world to her. It was then as she was walking that another thought struck. Should she reveal her origin to these people? They may find it hard to believe that she was of another world, that they are not alone in existence.
'It may cause problems. But maybe honesty of the situation would be best. We'll see when we reach that point I suppose.' She thought to herself.
Stava and Aeden walked through a door and out into the open corridors. People crowded them, many nursing wounds and mourning their dead. The attack was not only on the castle itself, but the surrounding village as well. And it was Stava's "disposal" of the forces at the main gate that ended the attack. From what she was told, a large number of troops were at said gate when she unleashed her flame; and all the remaining forces had dispersed. The only downfall was that the man behind it all, Arl Howe as it was, had gotten away and ran in fear.
"Speaking of fear." She mumbled.
The looks she was being given from the people were not the kind and thankful that she was expecting. They were looks of fear, suspect and worry. Some even dared to glare at her from the corners of their eyes.
"Ungrateful joors." She said irritably.
"What does that mean?" Aeden asked turning his head to her. "You used it out in the forest when we first found you. In fact, you were using a language I had never heard in my life."
"Yes well, I don't know why I was, I guess I bumped my head. But to answer your question, it means "Mortal" in the dragon tongue."
Aeden's brow furrowed. "Dragon tongue? And what's that supposed to be?"
"Well it's a rather self explanatory name wouldn't you say so? I'll explain later I suppose, but not now." Stava replied, letting her eyes wander up to the blue sky.
Aeden sighed. "Why use the word mortal though? You use it as though you weren't one yourself."
Stava didn't answer. She remained silent, letting the statement hang in the air. Technically she was mortal, in the sense that she could die. But she was not truly mortal, having the blood and soul of a dragon made her very different from a mortal. For all intents and purposes, she was a dragon; lacking only in scales and wings. The scales she could live without, the wings however... she was incredibly envious of dragons and their ability to fly. Ever since her first time flying on Sahrotaar through Apocrypha, she had been addicted to the sensation. The wind rushing through her air, the feeling of a cloud in her hands.
"Come on then, through here." Aeden said going through a door and snapping her out of her reverie.
Stava followed, and when they stepped through another door, she found herself standing a medium sized square room; the walls were lined with bookshelves and paintings and display cases. Straight ahead was the Teyrn, he was sitting behind a finely built oak desk. To his right stood Duncan, whose arms were folded behind him and an ever patient look on his face. To the Teyrn's left sat Eleana, who smiled and gave Stava a grateful look.
"I see your finally awake, how fared your rest?" Bryce asked her with some actual concern.
"Twas not the best sleep I've had, but that doesn't really matter. I'm sure you have a thousand questions to ask me." Stava said, taking the chair in front of the desk and sitting.
"A thousand and one." Bryce replied, locking eyes with Stava. "I'll get straight to the point, you've caused quite a stir around her and I've some big questions for first and foremost being, who are you? And why did you help us? Not that I'm complaining, but you do not know us; we very well could be the nefarious ones here, and the men you fought last night the righteous ones."
"Well if you were, it wouldn't really matter." She said with a smirk. "They attacked me and so they made an enemy of me. And from what I saw last night, they were the nefarious ones. Not you."
She now stood from the chair, hand on her hip. "But to answer your first question, I am Stava Ice-Breaker, Stormblade of Skyrim, Thane to Whiterun and Windhelm, Harbinger of the Companions, Arch-Mage of the College of Winterhold and..."
'Do I tell them? It'll certainly be the hardest to explain.' She debated quickly. 'Oh, to Oblivion with it.'
"And the Dragonborn." She added at the last second, banging her fist on her chest plate.
She sat down again and saw that they all had quizzical and curious looks.
"Well, those are some, interesting titles. Forgive me if I don't understand what any of them mean. Though, the one about being an "Arch-Mage" as you put it, does concern me somewhat. So you are a Mage?" He asked rather warily, leaning forward.
"I do not classify myself entirely as a Mage." Stava said, narrowing her eyes. "I am only talented in one school of magic, though I am capable in others; hence how we are having this conversation. My blade has felled more foes than my magic ever has and so I am a warrior, a fighter. Why does my being magically inclined make you wary?" She asked leaning forward as well.
The Teyrn's eyes widened ever so slightly. "You must be from a far away place if you have to ask that question." He replied to her.
"Indeed I am. And I will tell you, once you answer my question. Why does my magic frighten you and these people? I have noticed the looks given to me." Stava said sternly.
"It is because," Duncan cut in, stepping forward. "Magic has not had a good reputation throughout history. Surely, even an outlander such as yourself has heard of the Chantry or even the Tevinter Imperium?" He asked, staring her down with an almost knowing look.
Stava smirked once again. 'This one's clever.'
"Well I suppose that the only way to get any further in this conversation is if I'm honest with you. *sigh* What I'm going to tell you is going to be very hard for you to believe, it is about where I am from. You may even question my sanity, but know that it is the truth."
Bryce rotated his hand, motioning for her to continue.
"I am from another world." She said plainly.
...
All of them burst into a flurry of questions. Aeden questioning her sanity, Eleana asking if she were sent by "The Maker". Bryce kept going on on about how it wasn't even possible. And Duncan, Duncan actually remained silent. A deep contemplative look etched across his face. Stava was glad at least one of them stayed quiet, she was beginning to get a headache from the other three spouting out their questions. She pinched the bridge of her nose, and was contemplating using a small amount of her voice to silence them.
"Enough!" Bryce exclaimed, slamming his hand down. Aeden and Eleana quieted themselves and watched Stava with curious eyes.
'Thank the nine he got them to shut up.' She thought thankfully.
Bryce laced his fingers together in front of his face and took a deep breath.
"How do we know what you say is the truth?" He asked in a serious tone.
"Ha, Ov los med gel ko ven. I have no reason to lie to you, trusting me is a matter of choice. Wether you do or do not, has no real implication here. But it would be much easier if you did. If it helps, I swear upon my honor that I do not lie to you, and that I am indeed from another world." Stava said bowing her head slightly.
Bryce sighed. "Well, if you really are from another world, which I'm not saying I believe you. Why are you here? Must be a truly important reason for you to have came all the way from another world." He stated.
"I don't know entirely, but before I was sent here, I was told I was to stop something called a Blight from swallowing this world in doom."
As she said that, Stava watched Duncan's face light up in shock for a split second, before returning to its previous blankness.
"So your saying your here to stop the Blight? All by yourself?" Aeden asked, from his position beside her.
"Well," She said, turning her head to him. "Given my previous adventures, I'm sure once I've obtained a unique item that was lost to the ages, which is the key to stopping it. Some final push for the end when all seems lost and I'll step in and stop the evil that is attacking." Stava said with all seriousness.
"Pfffft, hahaha." Aeden burst out laughing. "Well, haha, I guess we can all just sit back and let you handle the whole Blight. Could you finish up before lunch? I do hate the world ending interrupting my meal." He said, laughing the whole time.
"Aeden, this is serious." Bryce said, giving his son a glare.
Aeden changed his tone immediately to an angry one. "No it's not. This women is clearly insane. I do thank you for helping us last night, and for saving my father and everyone else. But do you have any idea what a Blight is?"
Stava furrowed her brow. "Clearly I do not. Why don't you explain to me what exactly it is. Since you are so obviously an expert."
"Perhaps," Duncan cut in once again, ending his silence. "It would be best if I did."
And so he went on to explain to her what a Blight was. Apparently they happened every few hundred years or so, whenever creatures called Darkspawn, would find and corrupt an ancient sleeping Dragon God, turning it into an Arch-Demon. Stava didn't like the idea of there being dragons in this world, though it would help her in explaining that she was Dragonborn.
'The second even one of them finds me, if there are any left, they'll all be coming to challenge me.' She griped in her head. But then another question came to her.
"But what could possibly have the power to corrupt a Dragon? Their souls are notably, stubborn." She said.
They all gave her odd looks, as if what she said was in another language.
"Now I've only seen a dragon once in my life. ," Duncan started. "But from the tales and accounts I've heard from dragon hunters, they are nothing more than intelligent animals. The creatures that become Archdemons are said to be spirits that took the form of Dragons. Ancient and powerful, legend says it was they who taught man magic and convinced the people's to worship them; for this the Maker banished them to their prisons deep underground." He explained.
Stava only barely listened to the last bit. Hearing that dragons were no mare than animals in this world sounded almost impossible. A dragon was a dragon, a child of Akatosh, an almost divine being of truly incredible power. The very idea that they be mere beasts was almost an insult to the name dovah. And it also meant she was going to have a difficult time explaining that she was Dragonborn.
"They're not real dragons then if they are just animals." Stava said crossing her arms. She had great pride in being of the dragon kind. And had even grown to respect many of the dov she had encountered.
"But these "Archdemons" as you call them." She began. "They sound more like dragons, probably not true dov, but close enough. Congratulations then, corrupted or not, I can handle any dragon. And these Darkspawn, well, I have faced a myriad of monsters; and these ones will fall to me like all others. And then maybe I'll be able to go home." She said to them.
Aeden started laughing again. Bryce was starting to question her sanity as well. Duncan just stayed quiet and watched her. And Eleana-
"I have a question for you, Stava." Eleana said, getting her attention by using her first name.
"And that would beeee?"
"When you were giving us all those titles of yours, you hesitated at the end, when you called yourself "Dragonborn". What does that mean? What is a Dragonborn?" Eleana asked with curiosity dripping in voice. Aeden and Bryce started paying attention again as well.
Stava sighed. "Well, that is a bit of debate where I come from. But to make things easier, I'll only explain the part that pertains to me. Oh, and by the way, you'll most likely call me insane once I tell you, but should you not believe me; I will simply prove my being Dragonborn to you. Consider yourself lucky in that regard, I don't normally do this, but I need your help." She said to them.
"To be Dragonborn is to be born with the blood and soul of a dragon. In my world dragons are not animals, they are immensely powerful beings that are the children of Akatosh; and so am I. I can use their power against them and devour their souls. In nature, there is always a predator that all others fear, I am that predator to the Dov, I am the one they fear. Zu'u Dovakiin, Zu'u Qahnaarin." She allowed her Thu'um to flow through her last words, shaking the room slightly.
She got the reaction she was hoping for. All of them, including Duncan, looked at her with shocked expressions and silence rung through the room. If they didn't believe she was from another world now, or that she was what she said she was, they never would.
Stava then proceeded to explain what her power, the Thu'um, was and how it worked. She told them how it was because of her Thu'um that she annihilated the forces at the main gate. She explained to them that the Thu'um was the power of creation and destruction given form in language, that it was the power of gods. They seemed especially interested (and aghast) when she told them how she devoured the soul of a dragon when she killed one.
"So," Aeden began. "Instead of their souls going, wherever it is they go-"
"Aetherius."
"You eat them?" He asked, not really sure how to form the question.
"In the most basic of terms, yes." Stava answered to him.
And so it went on like that for for the next two hours. They would ask her questions and she would answer. She explained as much as she was willing to. Stava told them a minute amount about Skyrim, the climate, the people; she told them about the Empire even, just a lost of useless information. She asked them questions in return. Such as where she was and what this world was called. Ferelden in the southern part of Thedas was what they told her. She was told a little about the races of the world. Elves were here, and it made Stava laugh to hear of their place in the world. Petty second class citizens that had no real power in the world that lived under the boot of humans, it reminded her of the dark elves. Stava was far from racist, she'd met and travelled with many elves and knew many of them to be good honorable people. Still, the humor was not lost on her, imagining many high elves in that sort of state.
"So your telling me, that elves are impoverished people that under the heel of normal society?" She asked with held back humor.
"Yes, it is a very unfortunate state and I try to do as best I can for the ones under me. Why do you ask? Do you have elves where your from?" Bryce asked her back.
"We do. But believe me, they are not the weaklings you've made out yours to be. In fact there are race of them, High Elves they're called, who are incredibly powerful; they even brought the empire to its knee's in the Great War. They have a very supremacist view of the world. They aren't the friendliest of people." She explained to them. The idea of powerful elves that could break human society didn't seem to sit well with them.
They then told her about huge "Ox Men" named Qunari. Only Duncan could tell her about them, for he was the only to have ever met one. Incredibly tall and usually quite muscular, they were gray skinned and had horns of various sizes. The Qunari, as Duncan explained, were a very reserved species that followed a very strict way of life called the Qun. Stava anticipated meeting one when Duncan told her of how they were warriors of nearly unmatched skill; she wanted to put that one to the test.
Her curiosity was truly inflamed when the word "Dwarves" was dropped. She asked about them immediately, but was disappointed by their descriptions. They were half as tall as the average person, had no magic whatsoever in their blood, and were apparently immune to it as well. They even held no kinship to the elves at all, they were their own separate race of people.
"So much for finding the lost race." She muttered under her breath.
It was only a few more minutes of talking before the conversation finally ended. Stava told them she was ready to leave and rest. Duncan was staying however, he apparently had something to talk with the Couslands about. The Teyrn gave her leave to explore the castle and surrounding area if she so wished and that he would speak with her again soon. Stava stood from her chair, bowing her head to the nobles and Duncan, and left the room accordingly, but was stopped at the doorway.
"Are you really here to fight this evil?" Eleana asked her. "Or are you just a maddened fool?"
Stava grinned. "Most days? A little bit of both." And she closed the door.
Stava sighed as she walked through the halls, she was relieved that that conversation was finally over. Twisting her head she sighed once again from the multiple pops in her neck. Her body was stiff and she decided exactly what she was going to do. Stava made for her room to drop off her equipment.
"Time to do some training." She said. "I do hope the weather is cold out."
**TDB**TDB**TDB**TDB**
Aeden walked aimlessly about the grounds of the castle. His mind fixated on what Duncan had spoken to them about after Stava had left. The idea of becoming a Grey Warden was both exhilarating and terrifying. But the idea of being at the forefront of the fight against the Blight and being able to combat the evil threatening his home made him confident in his decision.
"No matter how much mother and father may be against it, I can't sit back and watch the world fight without me. I will be a Grey Warden." He said aloud for himself, his breath misting in the cold air.
It was cold out, the clouds creating an overcast. It was cold enough to force Aeden into wearing a fur, worn and clasped like a cape, as he walked the grounds. Aeden was thankful though that it wasn't going to snow, it was too cold for the flurries of ice to fall. He was not thankful however for that the very fact, he shivered slightly and pulled his fur tighter around him. He always hated the cold. But he forgot his discomfort when he heard a nearby grunt. He stopped and heard it again, it was coming from a pond Aeden knew to be close.
He followed the sound, wondering who and what was making it. Pushing his way through some light shrubbery and small pines he made it to the clearing around the pond, he stopped and gazed at the sight before him. It was Stava. She was facing the pond, giving him a sideways view, and was squatting with a fallen log on her shoulders. Her normally sharp and fierce features were scrunched in concentration. The armor she wore earlier was removed and loose pants with a sleeveless tunic took its place. The women had forgone any kind of shoe, she was barefoot in almost freezing temperature.
'She's insane.' Aeden thought.
He shifted and a snap filled the air, he looked down and saw that he had stepped on a twig. Aeden looked back up and as quickly as he could, dove out into the clearing as a log crashed into the place he was standing. He tried to sit up so he could figure out how the log was flung like that, but a fist connected with his cheek and his pinned to the ground with a shin on his throat.
"You know, if we keep meeting like this, your going to end up meeting your ancestors in the afterlife." Stava said humorously.
"Do you mind not strangling me?" Aeden forced out.
"I don't know, do you mind not being a little sneak?" Stava asked asked him.
Aeden patted her on the leg, signaling that he was running out of air. Stava laughed and leaped off of him, walking back to her spot by the pond. Aeden bolted up and gasped for air, coughing and rubbing his throat.
"Maker, you are completely insane!" He yelled at Stava, making him cough more.
"Don't be such a milk drinker. You'll live, but I do warn you not to do it again." She said, sitting by the pond and dipping her bare feet into the water.
Aeden stood back up and walked over to her.
"Are you trying to freeze off your limbs? Do you realize how cold it is out here?" A slight breeze punctuated that and made him shiver.
"Humph, there's barely a nip in the air. Back in Skyrim, the weather is colder than this even in its warmest regions. I'm a Nord, I don't feel the cold like others. A river would have to freeze before I wore more than a few furs."
"So your still saying your from another dimension or whatever." He sat down next to Stava, looking out over the pond.
"You still don't believe me?" Stava asked turning to face him.
"Don't get me wrong, you spin quite the tale. But I think your just another mage, a pretty one, but still just another mage." He said condescendingly.
"Oh so you think I'm pretty?"
He saw the glare form in her eyes, and it felt like daggers. He sighed, he shouldn't speak like that to the person who saved his family; he was still just so angered by Howes betrayal. But in his defense, why should he believe some stranger? Especially one who used magic. He felt something on his head suddenly, making lose his train of thought. Aeden looked up and frowned.
"Oh great, a cold rain is coming in. We'd better get inside, lest we be frozen where we sit."
He stood up and started back to the castle, but stopped when he noticed that Stava wasn't following him. She was still sitting by the water.
"Didn't hear you me? It's about to rain." He said.
Stava barely turned her head and replied. "No, it isn't."
He watched her tilt her head to the sky and breathe in deeply.
"LOK VAH KOOR!"
It was like a thunder clap right in front of him. An almost invisible wave exploded from her lips and raced towards the sky. Aeden gaped as the clouds dispersed and the blue sky revealed itself, the sun shining brightly. He couldn't believe his eyes, the weather only bowed to the maker, but here it was that this women commanded the sky and it obeyed.
"Now do you believe me?" Stava asked him, still sitting nonchalantly by the pond.
Aeden responded only by nodding. In this moment he realized something. Whether she was lying or not, this woman was more powerful than anything he had ever heard of. And he was thankful that she was on their side.
"S-so that's the thoom you were talking about?" He asked shakily.
"The Thu'um, yes. As you can see, it's more than just some force of destruction. It has some drawbacks though. Certain shouts pull on your essence and will and require a bit of time before your can shout again. I've found though that the more I use it, the quicker and quicker I can use it again."
"Bet it comes in handy if you need to get someone's attention." Aeden joked.
Stava chuckled, stood up and started walking to him. Aeden forgot for a moment just what he'd witnessed as he got lost in sashaying of her hips. In fact, her whole body mesmerized him, the way she walked was so graceful. Before he knew it, she was right in front of him, Aeden already considered her beautiful, but from this close he realized that she was absolutely gorgeous.
"You said yourself that I'm pretty. May I tell you something? Something we teach to everyone where I'm from." She whispered to him.
Aeden just nodded, not sure how to proceed.
Her grin should have been the first sign of trouble. She kicked his legs out from under him and he face planted the ground.
"Never let your guard down. That's what we teach everyone." Stava said, walking off to the castle.
Aeden groaned and rolled over onto his back. He couldn't help but to chuckle and laugh at himself. He fell for the oldest trick in the book. He knew then at that moment that he and her would somehow get along just fine.
