-:-

Keeping to the shadows, Kit and Alduin snuck swiftly out of Markarth and into the northern light lit night. Her eyes wandered to the colorful sky and she smiled softly. Being a resident of Cyrodiil, she never experienced nights like this outside her weathered window in Bruma. Skyrim almost reminded her of her old home, snowflakes falling swiftly and crisp cold mornings. She would be lying if she said she didn't miss it. As she stared, her body came to a complete stop just to watch the soft motion of the blue and green lights amongst the sky. She was homesick.

He raised a brow in question. "Why are we stopping?"

Kit turned her head to him, a sad smile on her face. "I miss Cyrodiil," she said softly.

"Tell me of it." He folded his arms over his chest, the ebony chain pulling her closer than she was pleased with. He had to admit, he was genuinely curious by Cyrodiil. In his time he only ventured there once many centuries ago and was curious as to how it changed over time.

She sighed. "Very well. I used to live in the city of Bruma just close to the border. It was full of snow and just as cold as Skyrim," she explained lightly, preventing herself from revealing to much of her previous home. "But, Cyrodiil never had night skies like this and being taken away when I crossed the border...there weren't lights in the sky like tonight, they were red," she finished, a slight frown tugging at her lips.

Alduin didn't ask another question, he figured the subject was difficult to speak of and so he dismissed it to continue on their path with her in tow. His wandering eyes caught her looking up into the sky with sparkling eyes. It really did confuse him how such a fragile being had defeated him. He was ashamed of himself and snarled, looking away. When they reached a fork in their path Kit took the lead, claiming to head towards Winterhold a few days away. She explained how she knew the Arch Mage when she was a student and how vast and lush the library was. He was rather intrigued to say the least, the thought of reading ancient texts and new literature gave him atleast something to look forward to other than breaking the chain binding them on this twisted journey he was trapped in.

"Why must you always look so angry?"

He was caught off guard by her question. She wasn't even looking at him, but her head was slightly turned as she walked. His mouth became a thin stern line. "Why must you ask such questions?" he retorted, walking beside her long slow strides. "If you must know, I have nothing to be pleased of and so I look as such, it is simply my natural expression."

"I believe you had something to do with my beautiful Shockwave being shattered to little pieces, so you should be pleased that I haven't killed you yet, " she said nonchalantly, running a finger along her exposed neck and making slight gagging noises. He shuffled uncomfortably and scoffed at her. It appeared she was trying to drive him mad...and it was slowly working. Within a few hours she had managed to weave into his mind, and it made him want to kill her sooner. Just as he was distracted by his inner thoughts, he was yanked from them...literally. Kit was walking in a quickened pace and his arm was pulled forward causing him to stumble slightly before falling into step with her.

"What happened to that Zahkrii was none of my doing, though I wish it were," he sneered.

Kit waved him off with her hand and looked toward the sky once more. The sky was a bright orange and pink, fading into a soft blue as her pale eye's looked higher to the remaining stars, the northern lights just barely shining. Soon enough the sun would be peeking out from the horizon to signal the dawn of a new day, but she felt her eyelids already begin to sag. Being Dragonborn was tough, especially when you think you've defeated the World Eater only for him to return...again. She was beat and overspent, allowing Alduin to lead as she limped behind him like a wounded deer, almost surprised he didn't pounce on her like a damn Sabre cat and rip her apart. Oh but he so does, she thought with a silent snicker. Her plan to drive him mad like Sheogorath was all but working it's magic. The way he looked at her in a fury filled gaze or how he gave her dirty looks whenever he had the chance. Now that Kit had it in mind, he could've killed her when he used his fire breath...so why didn't he?

"Alduin?"

"Yes, Goraan Maar?

She refused to growl at the little name and coughed instead, a forced smile on her glossy lips. "Why didn't you kill me in Vlindrel Hall? You had the perfect moment to do so."

He paused and turned around, walking closer into her personal space. His ruby glare examined her thoroughly as if she were a foreign object. "You are tired."

"That doesn't asw-"

Before she could finish, his right hand snaked over her shoulder blades and his legs bent slightly to slide his other hand under her knees, lifting her effortlessly as she protested by squirming in his hold, her own right hand restricted as she reached to slap at his face. The ebony chain tugged at her hand when she attempted again only for Alduin to move the hand pressed to her back closer to himself to keep her furious hand at bay with the chain, her unbound hand buried between her side and his torso. Her ruby locks brushed over his hand lightly in soft curls and waves. When her hair was tucked into her carved armor before, he hadn't realized it was so long when let loose. When he looked down at her, her cheeks were a rather bright shade of pink and her brows were furrowed as she looked away from him.

"Praan, Dii Hokoron."

Kit's eyes widened and she nodded softly, hesitantly laying her head on his shoulder as he began to walk. She smiled softly all the while drifting into a soundless sleep against his stiff body.

-:-

The air was cold and crisp when Kit finally awoke from her deep sleep, her eyes closed and snowflakes falling onto her lashes. If she didn't know any better, she would say they were already in Winterhold. Her eyes opened slowly and she groggily looked up. Alduin was facing forward, still walking along with her cradled in his arms. She looked around to examine their location and smiled. They were at the base of the Throat of the World where the snow fell peacefully along the crooked path, but then she gasped. How long has he been walking? It doesn't look like he's stopped at all, she thought frantically, looking up at the grey sky...or rather anywhere but his stern face.

"I stopped after passing Falkreath and continued from there, Nii Los, it is dusk."

Her pale eyes widened at his words. It was as if he had read her bloody mind or he noticed her little panic attack. It wasn't very surprising, he knew when she didn't speak a word of dragon language, but to be fair it was obvious when she looked at him like he had two heads as he resurrected Salohknir at Kynesgrove. The memory sent a chill up her spine. "Why didn't you wake me?"

"I had no reason to," he grunted.

She smirked. "And what if there was danger? I just might need a knight in shining armor!" she gasped, acting faint in his arms.

He growled. "Then go find this, Kaal you wish to have."

Kit laughed. "Maybe I will on our journey together or maybe I won't, but atleast I'll have acquaintances."

Alduin didn't say anything after that and she was thankful yet she liked the sound of his voice. It was deep and husky and just purely musical. It was until he stopped walking that she looked up at him with dull eyes. He was looking down at her with an emotionless stare, his crimson eyes deep and dark. There was the strangest feeling in the pit of his stomach when he looked upon her. He had difficulty choosing if it were hate or pity. She almost looked like an innocent child in his arms and he let out a low chuckle, causing her to huff and furrow her brows.

"Whats so funny?" she questioned.

"Nothing."

She squirmed in his arms and he released her willingly, allowing her to walk ahead of him. "Fine be that way. I didn't want to know anyway. Besides we should set up camp, there's a cave up ahead."

Alduin nodded and followed her to the cold cave, the soft snow crunching under their feet. Kit didn't bring any bedrolls, but she rested her head on her satchel amongst the cold stone, her ruby curls fanned around her head. He had no choice but to sit beside her, the ebony chain proving to be more of a nuisance with each passing moment. There was no telling how long they remained in silence until he heard faint mumbling and turned his gaze to the Bron beside him. He would've guessed she was a Bard for some time before she was given the gift of a Dovah soul as the soft words seeped from her lips in a musical tune.

"I wanna run,

Where no one else can follow me.

Find a calm from the wreckage,

and the danger of this swelling sea."

There was a small part of him that understood the soft words she whispered to herself. He wished to fly away and never to return and yet he wished the end of her very kind to turn Tamriel into his own personal flying ground save for his Dovah followers. He stared into the sky and almost scowled at it. Alduin regretted changing into a mortal, he despised it yet cherished the chance to reign over Skyrim again. His eyes lingered to his chained wrist, the red glow was all but gone, replaced with a soft purple. Resting over his hand was that of the Dragonborn. When he looked to her she was looking away at the sky. If any other circumstance he would've whipped away his hand, but couldn't when he noticed the small tears dripping down her flushed cheeks in silence. Only once he would allow this gesture...only once, and followed her gaze to stare at the sky as well.

-:-

A/N Well I hope you enjoyed this chapter! I would've made it longer, but it seemed to be enough for one chapter. I look forward to your opinions.

~KitSlayer

Zahkrii – Sword

Nii Los – It Is

Bron - Nord

Kaal - Champion

Goraan Maar – Young Terror

Praan, Dii Hokoron – Rest, My Enemy

Song: Heart Beats by Johnnyswim