Author's Note: Hello everyone, and sorry for the delay in my update. Chapter 2 was giving me issues, so I've been taking my time plotting it out. I've also written a few chapters ahead, so the updates will be more frequent as I only need to fine-tine them. Expect Chapter 3 on March 11th.

I read the reviews you guys left me and I took the critique offered. I know my word choices are sub-par in some cases, and I am working on fixing that. I greatly appreciate the feedback and I hope more of you will review and address any improvements or issues you see.

As stated last chapter, the point of view shifts between Ulfric and Lianna. In this chapter, we will follow Lianna for the first time. I'd like to think I have a good grasp on character development, but if Lianna starts to seem too Mary Sue-ish, please let me know and I will fix her up.

Thanks again for reading and reviewing. Stay tuned for chapter 3 on Sunday and I hope 2 is enjoyable for you.

-Kabu

Chapter 2: The Blood Awakens

"This is awful," Irileth murmured.

I followed the gray-skinned woman through the charred grass, followed by Whiterun guards and a heap of smoke. Whiterun's western watchtower sat in shambles before us, surrounded by patches of burning fire and dead bodies, most missing limbs. The sky reminded me of the black dragon's assault on Helgan: stormy and gray. It was only missing the swirling vortex of fire.

"Split up and look for survivors," Irileth ordered, "and be careful. That dragon can return at any moment."

She turned to me.

"You were at Helgan, so I would assume you know how to take on a dragon, right?" she questioned.

I shifted uncomfortably in my boots.

"I know how to…escape from one," I admitted.

The color drained out of Irileth's face.

"Balgruuf places too much faith in strangers," she muttered, "Just do what you can, outsider."

Ironic that a Dunmer would call me an outsider.

I climbed onto the tower, sword brandished and shield held steady. A single guard was crouched onto the broken tower, surveying the sky and breathing fractured whispers as I approached.

"Run," he stuttered, "That dragon ate a man whole. He'll burn us all alive."

"Calm yourself, sir," I ordered, "If we don't fight, your entire city will be burned down."

"…It might have already happened," the man choked.

His words barely hit my ears before a shrill roar pierced through the clouds. I immediately thought back to Helgan. This roar was different, higher, less threatening than the black dragon's cry. I felt my heart retreating into my throat. There were more?

Sure enough, the bone-colored dragon circling above me did not match Helgan's dragon. The gray beast landed with an earth-shattering "Thud!" before me, and observed me with cold, serpentine eyes.

"Dohvakiin," it growled harshly, and I felt its warm breath pouring over me like a volcanic shower, "I am Mirmulnir."

"Mirmulnir," I repeated in a whisper, "Dohvakiin. I don't understand."

The dragon snapped at me, and I jumped back in a startled fit. He appeared to chuckle and spread his wings.

"Fight me, Dohvakiin!" he roared, soaring into the sky, "Show me what your blood is capable of!"

This wasn't good. Mirmulnir was circling overhead, breathing rivers of fire onto the ground below. I followed closely, avoiding the fire to the best of my ability and waiting for the beast to land. He finally crashed onto the ground, his claws scarring the earth, and he revved his head back to spew more fire onto the guards.

The bow on my back was useless, and I helplessly avoided the dragon's wrath until he landed before me. Now, while he was grounded, I drove my sword into his flesh, hacking away what little I could while it was possible. If anything, I seemed more annoying than threatening to him. He growled fiercely, swinging his tail like a mace and knocking me ten feet off the ground. I could only run back and slash at him again, this time dodging his tail.

"Not very strong, are you now?" he taunted, turning to face me with bloodied fangs. He lurched forward to snap at me, meeting my shield halfway and getting bashed back. I aimed for his eyes, stabbing as accurately as I could manage while the ground shook with every one of his steps. I heard Irileth screaming something, heard the guards shouting, but I couldn't make anything out. I kept slashing until the beast soared back into the sky.

Only he wasn't there for so long this time.

He came down again, but harder, as if it was a mistake. His wings seemed to shake feebly, and he turned to me with burning eyes.

"Brit grah," he snarled, stomping towards me with smoke bellowing from his jaw, "You're getting better at this. Unfortunately, I cannot allow you to grow further."

He was getting really violent now. Irileth was screaming again, I guess shouting orders because the guards started going nuts on Mirmulnir's back. He whirled around, knocking half of them away and never breaking his eye contact with me. We continued our battle, me slashing and him biting, until he revved his head back.

"Yol.." he uttered, and I froze.

I remembered that word. I remembered Helgan, when the black dragon's head exploded through the tower. He had said that same word.

"Tor.." Mirmulnir continued, and I dove away. If the last word was what I expected, then-

"SHUUUUUUUL!"

Fire blasted through the grass, narrowly missing me and burning a path halfway to Whiterun. I breathed heavily, clutching my chest. Mirmulnir laughed this time, audibly.

"I'm ten seconds away from smoked mortal!" he jeered, "Your battle has been wonderful, Dohvakiin, but it's time to end you!"

He charged at me, jaw wide open, fangs staring me down like a wolf ready to chomp on some dead hapless rabbit. I looked for something, anything, and finally felt the crude long bow resting against my back. I couldn't be picky anymore. I grabbed an iron arrow out of the quiver, aimed, and fired directly into the tyrant's mouth.

I hate bows, but a bow saved my life today and I decided I'd hate it a bit less. Mirmulnir fell back in pain and I sprang up, sword in hand, and drove it through the top of his still-open mouth. He growled in agony as blood spurted from the wounds, the arrow still stuck in the back of his throat.

"Dohvakiin!" he shouted, his strained voice echoing through my ears like a death sentence, "You have incited Alduin's wrath. Your world will perish in his fire!"

I stood motionless as the monster fell to the ground. His flesh burned off of his body, a whirlwind engulfed me, and strange words I had never heard before swirled through my ears. The entire world was spinning, as if in a twister, until the wind suddenly stopped, and the naked bone remains of Mirmulnir lay before me. I fell to my knees, relieved.

"This Nord nonsense needs to stop."

Proventus Avenicci stood prominently beside Jarl Balgruuf, his arms crossed and his eyes narrowed. He observed me with an incredulous eye.

"Nord nonsense?" Hrongar snarled, gritting his teeth, "If this woman is the Dragonborn, she needs to go to High Hrothgar immediately and answer the Graybeards' summons!"

I was so confused. Dragonborn? High Hrothgar? Graybeards? I'd heard stories, but this was all confusing. I looked helplessly to Balgruuf, who seemed to sense my dismay and ceased the two.

"Gentlemen," he said calmly, "There is no need to argue. We all heard the call of the Graybeards, did we not?"

I shuddered. The voice had rang through the air, and the sound of "Dohvakiin" still lingered in my ears. I was glad to know that, at least, I wasn't the only one who had heard it.

"Whether or not the girl is the Dragonborn is for the Graybeards to decide," Balgruuf continued, "It is not for us to argue."

Proventus still seemed unconvinced.

"I just don't understand how you can think this young woman possesses such a great power," he sighed, "She certainly doesn't look like a hero."

I scowled, opened my mouth to speak, and felt the force of a cyclone erupt from my mouth. The entire floor shook, and when I regained myself, Proventus was flattened against the wall and Balgruuf was laughing.

"There is your proof, Avenicci," he teased, "Lady Dragonborn" - he turned to me, his face returning to an expression of interest and study- "The sooner you get to High Hrothgar, the sooner you can learn to control your powers, and the history behind them. Even if this is all a misunderstanding, you possess the Voice, and there is no doubt their teachings will assist you."

I bowed to him in appreciation. After all of this confusion, Balgruuf was the only guiding light I could rely on.

Hopefully, he was leading me to the right place.

Seven thousand steps...and I had spent them all thinking.

As I approached High Hrothgar, the thoughts still lingered in my head. The whirlwind that surrounded me, the guards claiming I stole Mirmulnir's soul, and now these Graybeard people. Sure, I'd heard legends and stories, but I'd never once believed them...

To be perfectly honest, I hoped it was a misunderstanding. That black dragon, the one Mirmulnir had called Alduin, I simply couldn't forget those ruby eyes. They spelled death, yet there was something so mystical and beautiful about them. Even Mirmulnir, who was so colorless, possessed a mythical beauty that, until now, had not existed in Tamriel.

I didn't like the idea of hunting the beasts, despite the destruction. It felt wasteful, like an execution of color in a desolate world.

I wished they could be peaceful with us. Why did they hate us? Like the Imperials and Stormcloaks, were we simply meant to be enemies?

And then I thought again of Ulfric. Had he made it to Windhelm alright? Part of me considered going back sometime..

I shook my head. My thoughts were messier than this war, these dragons, all of Skyrim. I climbed the last few steps and looked up at the enormous black building that supposedly housed the Graybeards. I was scared, I admit, but I pressed on.

I needed answers.