This chapter has been edited to fix a location mixup (Katla's Farm to Markarth Stables), incorrect grammar, and incorrect dovahzul.

The following morning saw Mikal staring at Discord while the faux-human slept. Now, depending on how you read that, you might jump to the conclusion that Mikal had been staring at Discord sleeping all night long and that the Argonian had some sort of attraction to the faux-human, you dirty-minded readers.

This could not be farther from the truth. In fact, Mikal had fallen into bed next to Shavee and promptly wrapped his arms around his wife before drifting off into sleep. When he woke his first thought was to check on Discord, as the vampire still did not fully trust him. So when Mikal ventured down to the Silver-Blood Inn and into the room Discord was sleeping in, he couldn't help but stare. The reason? Not only was Discord sleeping so that his feet were where his head was supposed to be, Discord had sunken into the stone bed as though the stone were not stone but marshland.

Shaking his head and writing it off as the reality manipulation Discord claimed to have (and accepting the claim with the bed as proof), Mikal let a blast of the Frostbite spell slap Discord in the face, the sudden cold startling the trickster awake. "Get up, Discord. It's time to move, and the day burns quickly."

With that, the Argonian turned and left the room, a grumbling Discord following close behind.

On the way back, Mikal saw a face that he realized hadn't been around since the Argonian had arrived in Markarth. "Argis," he called. "Where have you been?"

The Nord turned at Mikal's voice, simultaneously looking surprised and sheepish at the same time. "My Thane!" he exclaimed. "I, uh…"

Mikal, picking up on the very unmasculine scent wafting from his Housecarl, sighed and shook his head. "The next time you plan on spending the night at your lady friend's house, just tell either I or Shavee. We won't stop you."

Argis just grinned. "Thank you, my Thane. Who's that behind you?"

Mikal snorted. "An annoyance. Listen, Shavee and I are planning to move to Solitude for a while. As long as the house is watched every now and then, I could care less what you do. In fact, have the day off."

Argis's grin grew wider. "Again, thank you, my Thane. I'll be sure to enjoy it." He sauntered off in the same direction he had come from.

"Who was that?" Discord questioned. "Can we trust him?"

"He is my Housecarl here in Markarth. I have one at every home I own. Yes, they're trustworthy, what with fealty and everything sworn to me, but Argis is obviously...distracted. Best to let him get it all out of his system." The two continued on to Mikal's home, with only Discord completely oblivious to the pair of eyes that watched from the shadows.

After entering the foyer (and dodging the two children that ran outside to play in the streets of Markarth one last time), Mikal and Discord went into the kitchen, where Shavee was preparing a breakfast for the two and Luna was sitting at the table, lost in thought, though she came to when both males entered the room.

"Alright," Mikal began. "With Discord's power drained, he can't...jump, was it? Jump you and himself back to your world. I started thinking about solutions, and I think there may be a few people that can help." Accepting some bread and a mug of water from Shavee, he continued.

"The first is Valerica, at Castle Volkihar. She's Serana's mother, and crafted a portal to the Soul Cairn, which is unique due to the Soul Cairn being in between realms instead of being a realm itself.

"The second is Phinis Gestor at the College of Winterhold. He's a Master Conjurer, and should know a thing or two about different dimensions.

"The third are the Graybeards, or more specifically their leader, Paarthurnax. They live near the Time-Wound at the Throat of the World, which is a weak point in reality. It would be a last resort option, as we would need the Elder Scrolls."

"Elder Scrolls?" The question came from Luna, who was as curious as Discord looked.

"As best as they've been described to me, the Elder Scrolls are remnants from the creation of all reality. They have a mind of their own, which is why the Time-Wound is a last resort. If the Kelle don't want to be used, we won't be able to do a thing about it."

"What did you say?" The whispered question came from Discord, whose eyes had gone wide and skin had gone pale. "Just now. What did you call them?"

Blinking in confusion, Mikal replied, "The Kelle. It's what Paarthurnax calls them." He frowned, wondering what Discord was getting at. "Is something wrong?"

"My kind, the draconeqi, have existed ever since there was Chaos. Every draconequus gets their own plane of reality to live in. Lulu's world got lucky, really. I may have caused trouble in the past, but everything was always put back to normal when I was defeated. To be honest, all I wanted was to have fun, not permanently harm anyone. There are other draconeqi, however, that are as sadistic as they get.

"Compared to those draconeqi, I'm mild-mannered. For example, the draconequus Malal was one of the Gods of Chaos in a reality called Warhammer. He turned against the other four (or they cast him out - I'm not sure which) and killed any Chaotic creature in Warhammer not associated with him.

"However, that's besides the point. The Kelle...the legends among draconeqi say that our power came from the Kelle, that the Kelle was the first imbued with reality warping abilities, was granted to the first draconequus, Apophis, and was passed down through his descendants until draconequus were born with the power. And you, Mikal...you say you've used one?"

"Actually, I've read three of the Elder Scrolls; one of them I read twice."

Discord sat down hard. "Amazing...even if they aren't needed, I would like to see one...to be able to do so would make me the first since Set."

Mikal nodded in understanding, saying "I see your point. Even here, where they have sprung up multiple times, the Kelle are regarded as little more than myth."

"It seems you are setting yourself up for another doom-driven adventure," Shavee sighed. "I shall gather the children and hire a carriage to Solitude. We will see you there when you are done."

"Actually, dearest, I have a different idea," said Mikal, who was grinning like a loon. "Fetch Alesan and Runa, then meet us at the Markarth Stables. There's something they need to see."

After Shavee had successfully rounded up the two children, they ventured to the Markarth Stables, where Discord was meeting Shadowmere for the first time.

"Stop that! My hair is not food!"

"Be glad, Discord," Mikal laughed. "It means he likes you and won't try and kill you. And yes, he can kill you. The damn beast has killed dragons without any assistance from anyone!"

For his part, Shadowmere whickered in delight. Animal assassin he may be, but the dark horse enjoyed playing every now and then. Luna spoke up, asking "Why didn't he try and eat my hair?"

"You were unconscious, and in no position to react to his playing." Shadowmere let out a whinny, while at the same time tried to sneak closer to Discord without the faux human noticing. "He says he likes you because smell like a horse, the wind, magic, and...Nocturnal, oddly enough."

"You got that all from a whinny?" questioned Luna, her eyebrow raised in disbelief.

"If horses had a written language, you could fit a book on the blade of an iron dagger," Mikal retorted.

"Pa!"

"Papa!"

Out of nowhere, Alesan and Runa slammed into their father, who relented enough so that the force knocked him down. Growling playfully, he wrapped his arms around the two and stood back up, spinning around with one child under each arm. Alesan laughed joyously while Runa squealed with delight. Luna and Discord watched on, neither of them having really seen this side of the Argonian.

"Many don't, you know." Both foreigners jumped and turned to see Shavee, who had sidled up next to them after stroking Shadowmere's snout in a greeting. "Most see him as a hero, a great warrior, while others in darker circles see him as a thief and assassin."

"And what about you?" asked Luna. "What do you see him as?"

"My husband and a good father," Shavee smiled. "I don't care that he is assassin or thief; Argonians have always been less morally inclined than other races. Only the Khajiit have us beat in that respect."

Alesan and Runa, who had since been put down from their father's arms, looked up expectantly at Mikal. "Ma said you had a surprise for us, Pa. What is it, what is it?" Alesan was practically jumping up in down in excitement, knowing his Pa had brought him some pretty cool gifts in the past (including a wooden sword and practice dummy so Mikal could train him in sword fighting), while Runa had her puppy-dog eyes turned on full force.

"Pretty please tell us, Papa?" Runa hadn't been left out of the gift-giving. Her Papa had brought her a new dress that was green and pretty, and a dolly that he had made himself (Runa named it Lydia, after her Papa's Housecarl in Whiterun. She was really pretty.)

"Well if I told you, it wouldn't be a surprise, now would it?" he chuckled. Alesan and Runa were not amused, if the pouting expressions on their faces were anything to go by. "On the other hand, if I showed you your surprise, well…" Instantly the faces of the children lit up, and Mikal couldn't help the grin that grew on his face. "Go stand with your mother, and I'll get your surprise." The two immediately scampered over to Shavee.

Luna leaned over to Shavee and whispered, "What's he doing?"

"I don't know," was the reply. "I know my husband has many abilities, but I've not seen all of them, nor could I guess at what he could summon that would be a suitable present."

At that moment, Mikal Shouted into the sky!

"OD AH VIING!"

The Thu'um resonated through the air, echoing into the wind and across the land. A few moments passed before a low sound was heard. It sounded again, this time sounding like an animal's call. "There he is. Look up, everyone, and you'll see who I'm talking about." They did, and needless to say, everyone's jaw dropped.

For approaching them was a dragon.

Odahviing was bored.

That's not to say that there was nothing to do at the Throat of the World. There were plenty of goats to eat, and the old dovah to debate with. In fact, after debating with Paarthurnax, the older dovah encouraged him to engage in debate with Argneir. Surprisingly, the old joor was a gifted speaker, even if he did not speak with a dovah's tongue. What was not appreciated was Paarthurnax attempting to teach Odahviing his silly Way of the Voice. As far as the red dovah was concerned, he would not do anything to catch the ire of the Dovahkiin, up to and including exerting his power and dominance over the joore with the exception of the Dovahkiin's enemies. To best Alduin in battle once was a feat in of itself, not seen since the Nords' rebellion. To do it twice, and to kill Alduin the second time, was enough to convince Odahviing and several other dov that the Dovahkiin had the superior Thu'um and was not to be crossed. It could be argued that Odahviing was the Dovahkiin's second-in-command, as Paarthurnax was to Alduin, since Odahviing came to the Dovahkiin's aid when called.

Which went back to the reason that Odahviing was bored. It had been some time since the Dovahkiin had called him, and Odahviing grew restless.

And bored.

"Drem yol lok, Odahviing. You seem...troubled." Ah, there was the old dovah.

"Drem yol lok, Paarthurnax. The Dovahkiin's Thu'um has been quiet. Not once since he left for the land the joore call Solsthiem have I heard his summons."

"Hmm...you sound as though you miss the Dovahkiin."

"Meyz Paarthurnax! I do not miss the Dovahkiin! I am not a hatchling that has lost its mother!"

"Krosis. I was merely stating my mind." Silence reigned between the two dovah before Odahviing spoke again.

"I miss the rush of battle...the smell of blood...and I admit that the Dovahkiin is good company." Odahviing snorted in contempt. "How strange is it, old one, that we are allied with the Dovahkiin, who is supposed to be the slayer of the dov?"

"I believe the joore have a saying for this...fight yol with yol. I find it to be an...interesting concept. Besides," he stated, swinging his head to look at Odahviing. "I am not an ally of the Dovahkiin. Zu'u Dovahkiin fahdon. And I know you are, as well."

Odahviing was grateful that dovah could not blush, for he knew the old dovah's words rang true, though his pride as a dovah would not let him admit it. "Be as it may, I never thought the day would come that I would help a joor in battle. For while he may have dovahsos and dovahsil, he is still joor."

"Nid. The Dovahkiin can die like the joore, but he is dovah, and as he is dovah, he rides the currents of time as we do. He will live long past those he knows."

"He has accepted the curse of the vulonsossunvaar. That does not affect his lifespan?"

"He told me he would rid himself of the curse at tiid vahzah. I do not believe the Dovahkiin would lie about his own state of being."

Before the red dovah could formulate a response, his very being shuddered with a sudden rush of power. His sil tugged in a certain direction, and in his head he heard a voice: "OD AH VIING."

The red dovah leapt into the air, his pride demanding he answer the call. "Farewell, Paarthurnax. Zu'u huzrah Dovahkiin bel!"

"Aal Bormahu ofan hi pruzah miiraad!"

Finally, Odahviing's fahdon had returned to his life.

Odahviing landed in front of Mikal, his very presence spooking the stabled horses. Except Shadowmere of course. The horse assassin didn't mind Odahviing at all. "Drem yol lok, Dovahkiin. It has been some time since you last called my name."

"Drem yol lok, Odahviing," greeted Mikal. "I did not wish to endanger you while I was in Solstheim. Miraak, the First Dragonborn, had returned, and would have used a Shout called Bend Will to turn you to his side. He also knew a Shout that instantly stripped a dragon of its soul."

"Geh," Odahviing snorted. "I know of Miraak. He led the very first rebellion against the dovah thuri. I was but a hatchling then, yet warnings of Miraak still reached me. He is dead, then?"

"Hermaeus Mora killed Miraak after I weakened him in battle. It was...not nice to look at, or remember. But enough of that!" Mikal gestured to the people behind him. "This is my family, my friend, and an associate of hers. You already know Shadowmere."

Odahviing dipped his head in greeting. "It is good to meet those that know the Dovahkiin." He eyed Shavee, who fidgeted under the dragon's gaze. "She is your mate, then? I know not the standards set by joore, but I know you would not make the decision lightly." Alesan and Runa were next, whom were staring slack-jawed at the dragon. "Your hatchlings? But they do not look as you do."

"They are orphans, fahdon. One or both of us is unable to bear children, so Shavee and I took them in and raise them as our own."

"Hmm. The Dovahkiin is your father, young ones?" The two children nodded, still staring. "Then you could not ask for a better father. Yours defeated Alduin twice, after all. No easy task." His eyes turned to Luna. "You...you have a power that I've not seen before. It is like the vulonkrein...the moon, shining bright in the dark. You are not fully joor, are you?"

"I...couldn't tell you. I lost my memory when I woke up in a cell. Sorry...Odahviing, was it?"

"Geh. Krosis. May Bormahu see fit to restore your mind." Finally, Odahviing turned to Discord. "Lot. A follwer of Folaashahdrim Rah."

"Fola-who now?"

"The ones the joore call Sheogorath. You reek of madness and tahrovin...chaos."

"I do not follow Sheogorath! I am Discord, Spirit of Chaos and Disharmony! If it weren't for that stupid idiot draining me of my power, I'd show you exactly what I can do!"

Odahviing's reply was blunt: "Words are meaningless without power behind them, Vodrem." With that, Odahviing redirected his gaze to Mikal, leaving Discord spluttering. "As I said, it is good to meet those that know you, Dovahkiin. But I assume there was a reason for calling me besides showing me off like a prize."

"Oh, you are not a prize to show off, Odahviing. You are a dovah! The most regal and powerful of creatures to grace the lands of Nirn!"

"Flattery will get you nowhere, Dovahkiin," deadpanned Odahviing, though he clearly enjoyed the praise.

"But it works," Mikal laughed. He then turned to Alesan and Runa. "Now, then...how would you two like to see Skyrim through the eyes of a dragon?"

Shavee, sensing what he was about to do, interrupted. "Mikal, no."

"Mikal, yes."

"I understand that the dragon is your ally, but I will not let our children go so high up that they may fall to their deaths!" she snapped.

"Do you not trust the ability of my viings, my wings, Kiim Dovahkiin? And how will you stop a dov, a dragon, from doing as it pleases?" Odahviing's voice was already low, but the growl that seeped in made it even lower. He drew himself up, causing the dovah to look bigger than he already was. "It is only out of respect to the Dovahkiin that I do not act upon the insult you have delivered. Zu'u Od Ah Viing. Hi meyz joor."

Mikal quickly stepped in between the two. "Easy. Both of you. Odahviing, she meant nothing by it. It is a mother's duty to worry for her children, and has been since the world was created. Probably before then, too. Shavee, never doubt a dragon. It's an insult to their pride, which is the most valuable thing a dragon can have." Shavee nodded and backed off, while Odahviing snorted but relented the aggressive stance he had taken.

"Um, mister dragon?" Odahviing turned his head to see Runa, who had gotten closer without anyone noticing. "What are you speaking?"

Odahviing blinked, a bit taken aback at the question. "Dovahzul...the dragon tongue. It is how we dovah Shout, including your bormah...your father."

"Can anyone learn it?"

"Hmm...to simply speak the dovahzul, yes. To Shout it...you would be better learning from Paarthurnax, mentor to many students of the Thu'um, or Storm Voice, as the ancient Nords called it." Runa tilted her head, as though thinking about something.

"What about your name? Does it mean something?"

"Geh. Yes. Od Ah Viing - Snow Hunter Wing, or Winged Snow Hunter. I was named such for my ability to hunt in the snow and ice, despite the coloring of my scales."

"It's a very nice name. What about what you keep calling Papa?"

Odahviing was beginning to see why Paarthurnax taught young ones. Their curiosity seemed unending, and answering their questions was oddly satisfying. "Dovahkiin? It is Dragonborn in your tongue, literally Born to Hunt Dragons."

"And what you said when you first got here?"

"Drem yol lok. Greetings. The words themselves are peace fire sky. It is said from one to another as a show of nonaggression...hm! Heheh...Ah hahahahahahaha!" The deep, booming laugh that sprang from Odahviing's throat startled everyone. "Oh, but she is a clever one, Dovahkiin! To think that a goraan joor, a young mortal, would remind a dovah the meaning of the dovahzul!" He craned his head back to Shavee. "Krosis, Kiim Dovhakiin. Apologies, Wife of the Dragonborn. I have forgotten my place and my rot, my words. Do remember that to insult a dovah's kah, his pride, is the worst insult you can deliver."

Shavee bowed her head in understanding, forgiveness, and apology. "I apologize as well, Odahviing. It is as my husband says: a mother worries about her children before anything else."

"So does that mean we get to ride him?" Alesan's outburst really couldn't've been helped. As a young boy, he thought dragons were pretty cool, and not only was one right in front of him and talking, there was a chance he would get to ride the dragon!

"You assume quickly, Kendov. I never said that I would allow you to ride me."

Alesan sagged with disappointment, but perked when he remembered the unfamiliar word. "Ken what?"

"Kendov. Warrior. You are eager like one, and you carry a wooden weapon. You are the brawn, while your briinah, your sister, is the clever one."

"Hey, I'm not stupid!"

"Krosis. I never said you were. But your briinah was the one that reminded me of my words. There are many great kendov that also had brilliant minds for strategy, so do not take what I said to heart. I am merely stating my mind." The dragon turned his head to Mikal, who had watched the ordeal with a smile on his snout. "I assume that I will be carrying the goraan?"

"Yes, please. I believe they will enjoy it, and would be faster than taking a carriage to Solitude."

"Ah. Krosis, but I cannot carry all of you. The two goraan, yes, but only one other after that."

"Shavee. That way she can be with the children and not have to worry about them."

"Pruzah. But what of yourself and the other two?" (Luna had been holding back a fuming Discord from giving Odahviing a piece of his mind, and had kept quiet, not wanting to draw attention. Discord was simply muttering under his breath.)

"There is another dragon I can call for aid. But I won't do it until you leave. Two dragons in the same place will attract attention, not all of it good."

"Hmm. Very well." Odahviing lowered his body, and with Mikal's help, Alesan, Runa, and Shavee were all comfortably seated on the red dovah's body. "Hold tight, Brod Dovahkiin. It will not be gentle."

And with that, they were in the air, with shrieks of joy, fear and ecstasy coming from the three passengers. Soon, Odahviing was a speck in the distance, heading for Solitude.

"Finally, he's gone! Stupid, overbearing, overgrown lizard with wings!" Discord's voice had now reached normal levels, and Luna no longer had to hold him back.

She sighed, feeling as though this was normal for Discord. "Discord, you can't possibly think you could've fought him and won, especially since he's Mikal's friend."

"I don't care. He made fun of me."

Mikal called to them, "If you two would stop bickering for a minute, I could introduce you to my other dragon friend. Though, uh, you may find him a bit...disgusting." Before either could comment, Mikal looked at the ground, and released another Shout!

"DUR NEH VIIR!"

Ten pages. Not counting this Author's Note, this chapter is ten pages long. I really need to make sure that all my future chapters don't become novels themselves.

So it was really hard to write Odahviing. We just don't get enough dialogue from him, but I feel like I did good.

Dovhazul used (that wasn't translated in the story)
Meyz: Fool
Tiid: Time
Dovahsos: Dragon blood or blood of the dragon
Dovahsil: Dragon soul or soul of the dragon
Fahdon: Friend
Vulonsossunvaar: Vampire, literally night blood creature
Vahzah: Right, correct
Zu'u huzrah Dovahkiin bel!: I answer (the) Dragonborn's call!
Aal Bormahu ofan hi pruzah miiraad!: May Akatosh grant you safe passage!, literally May Akatosh give you good path!
Thuri: Master, overlord
Folaashadrim Rah: Mad God, literally Wrong Mind God
Vodrem: Discord
Kiim Dovahkiin: Wife of the Dragonborn, literally Wife Dragonborn
Brod Dovahkiin: Family of the Dragonborn, literally Family Dragonborn
Pruzah: Good
Lot: Great

I've started an askblog on tumblr. If you have any question that you'd like to ask the characters of the story, find theoneandonlylordmonkeyknight on tumblr and submit it.

Alright, I think that's it. Thanks for reading my story!

theoneandonlylordmonkeyknight, logging off (and slowly going crazy.)