Answers to reviews:
lrbrenneke: What? Dude, this isn't How To Train Your Dragon.
Clagann: I know, I know.
Guest: I know, I know, but this time will be different. I have twenty chapters ready and waiting to be posted after working on them all night.
xRisingxBladex: Because of my constant back and fourths with deleting it, I had to redo it and work on twenty chapters before I even posted it so I didn't make the same mistake again. That's what I'm trying to do with my other stories, have about ten or twnty chapters ready for each, and then post them a day so that they are being updated every day. It's slow and will take time, but I'm sure I'll get there.
Disclaimer: I do not own The Elder Scrolls or The Inheritance Cycle.
After leaving the Throat of the World, the first thing Daemon did was go back down to Whiterun. As soon as he got off Shadowmere and made his way through the city gates, he made a beeline for the Bannered Mare, where he knew Lydia would be at this time since she always likes to have a drink, maybe get into an arm-wrestling competition with some arrogant milk-drinkers who think they can best her. He opened the door to the inn, and immediately spotted Lydia doing exactly what he thought she'd be doing.
Having an arm-wrestling contest with someone, with many watching and placing wagers on who would win. Most of them betted on Lydia.
Daemon crossed his arms, shaking his head with amusement as he watched the man, a youg lad, with sweat coming down his face. He tried in vain to move Lydia's arm, but Lydia was barely buding as she smiled at the lad before she forced his arm down against the table, causing those that betted on her to win to cheer loudly while thise who didn't groaned at having to give up their gold.
"Drinks are on him!" Lydia shouted, pointing to the lad she just bested, causing the poor boy to have a horror-filled look while Lydia walked over to her Thane upon seeing him standing at the door. "You're back. So, how did it go?"
"Come with me." Daemon said and led the way out, a confused Lydia following him. They made their way down the steps and Daemon's next destination was Jorrvaskr, the home of the Companions. Upon arriving, they saw most of the Companions at the table, drinking, feasting and making conversation.
"Harbinger!" Aela spotted him first and raised her cup to him as he walked over with Lydia. "I take it you heard the Greybeards summoning you this morning?"
"I think all of Skyrim heard it." Daemon remarked with a chuckle before he got serious. "My master, Paarthurnax, wanted to speak with me. Have any of you heard about Alagaësia?"
"Alagaësia?" Farkas's eyes widened in shock. "That's far beyond the Sea of Ghosts, well past Tamriel and Atmora. No one has ever went there from Tamriel in... thousands of years."
Aela nodded. "I heard some of the ancient Companions have ventured there. What reason would you have to be sent there?"
Daemon sat down, Lydia taking a seat between Farkas and Vilkas. "If you've heard of Alagaësia. you know of it's history? Of an order of peacekeepers known as the Dragon Riders?"
Aela, Farkas and Vilkas's eyes widened and they shared looks. Most of the other Companions listened but didn't speak. "I had heard of them." Vilkas nodded. "Though there is a few books about that land's history here, due to lack of contact between our lands for over a thousand years, but the Dragon Riders are a noteworthy subject to bring up... but I heard they were all wiped out."
"Not all, the King of that and, Galbatorix, is a Dragon Rider... the one responsible for wiping out the rest of the order." Daemons aid seriously. "He rules that land like a tyrant and has done so for hundreds of years... but recently, a new Dragon Rider has emerged according to Paarthurnax. I am going to Alagaësia, to find and protect this Rider and their dragon. If I have to, I will slay Galbatorix and free the land of his twisted rule... and I'll be going alone."
"You can't be serious!" Aela stood with a shocked look. "You're going far from this land and not taking anyone with you?!"
"Yes." Daemon said calmly, sending her a look that dared her to argue with him and she did exactly that.
"What if you need help?" Farkas piped up, agreeing with Aela in that Daemon shouldn't go alone.
Daemon sighed at his friends and their concern, thought it was touching but he had proved he could handle himself when he's faced dragons, bears, werewolves, vampires, giants, trolls, dragur, skeletons, even Alduin the World-Eater himself, Harkon the Vampire Lord and Miraak the First Dragonborn himself. He could handle himself in a foreign land ruled by a tyrant. "I appreciate your concern, my friends. I really do. But think about who you're talking to about needing help. I'll be fine. I've faced far worse than a land ruled by a tyrant, remember. And I need people I can trust here to keep things running. We never know when the remnants of the Silver Hand will grow some balls and attack again."
"I doubt it." Farkas scoffed. "The Silver Handhave been hunted to the brink of extinction in the past five years after they murdered Kodlak."
"But that doesn't mean we should lower our guard as we did once." Daemon retorted. "I will hear no more arguing about this. I am going alone, end of discussion. Lydia, you're in charge of keeping watch over my home. Treat it as your own until I return... and try not to make too much of a mess this time.
"No promises." Lydia grinned.
"Aela, Farkas, Vilkas." Daemon addressed the three who straightened at his tone. "You three are in charge of the Companions while I'm gone. Understood?"
"Yes, Harbinger." Aela spoke on their behalf, though with a reluctant sigh as she did.
Daemon nodded. "Now, I have other places to be and allies to inform of my departure. There's matters here I cannot leave unattended at the moment."
After leaving Whiterun, Daemon's next destination was to see the Dark Brotherhood, which had grown into a stronger organisation than what it was five years ago when he first joined. New recruits came in after he became the Listener, and he made sure to bring the Dark Brotherhood back to it's former glory just as he did with the Thieves Guild after Mercer Frey's death. At the Dawnstar Sanctuary, Daemon spoke with Nazir about his quest and that Nazir was in charge of leading the Brotherhood while he was gone, something Nazir accepted and wished him luck on his quest.
After meeting the Dark Brotherhood, Daemon made his way to Winterhold to tell the College of his departure for now. Mirabelle was left to keep watch while he was gone, though Tolfdir excitedly asked to come along as he had heard about the magic in Alagaësia. Like he did in Whiterun, Daemon made it very clear he was going alone.
After leaving the College, Daemon went to Riften and informed the Thieves Guild of what is happen. He left Brynjoff in charge for now, and told the others to behave themselves and not make the Guild look like it did when Mercer Frey ran it. Daemon had worked hard over the past five years to bring the Thieves Guild back to it's former glory.
Now finished with telling his allies goodbye, Daemon went to a clearing far from Riften and sucked in a breath."Od Ah Viing!"
The air crackled and fizzed with the Shout, the ground shook a little. If anyone had been nearby, they'd feel their body trembling becaue of the Shout. The Dragonborn waited patiently for Odahviing to arrive, and he did so in only a scant few seconds.
"Drem Yol Lok, Dovahkiin." Odahviing greeted once he landed. "Are you ready for departure?"
"I am." Daemon said, inhaling and walking over to climb onto Odahviing's neck. "it occurs to me that I may not see this land for a while now."
Odahviing rumbled in a comforting way. "Himdah fen tul kos het fod hi daal. (The land will still be here when you return.)"
"Zu'u mindok, wuth fahdon. Zu'u mindok. (I know, old friend, I know.)" Daemon sighed, patting Odahviing on the side of his neck. With a thunderous roar, Odahviing sprung from the ground. He rose up above the trees, before turning due north, where the Sea of Ghosts is located.
For hours, Odahviing flew, with nothing but the sea below. Odahviing didn't need t worry about eating as he already had hunted before they left. And a dragon of his age and size can do weeks without food, even sleep. He was a hardened warrior, fought in the Dragon War as Alduin's most trusted lieutenant, Odahviing had learned to ignore certain needs for his body, such as exhaustion.
Odahviing had calculated that by ship, it would take a week or two to get to Alagaësia. But on dragonback, without stopping, they could possibly get there before this day ends. And Daemon didn't want to waste anymore time so he implored Odahviing to try, but told him to rest whenever his wings would need it.
Having never been across the sea before, Daemon watched as they flew over the dark-blue water, enjoying the sights of it's underwater inhabitants breaking the surface, in their natural habitat. The hours passed and it appeared the sea is all they'd be seeing for a while, that is until they spotted land up ahead, as well as mountains.
"We're here." Odahviing grunted and increased speed to get there faster. Soon, they were flying over vast forests and woodlands, not a sign of villages, towns or cities which was good as they didn't need to make a spectacle of their arrival. At long last, Odahviing began to descend from the sky. He dove through the clouds and circled above a forest, before finding a clearing large enough for his body and landing in it.
With a quiet groan, Daemon slid off Odahviing's neck and stretched his arms until he felt his muscles pop. He groaned as he rolled his shoulders and head, feeling stiff joints pop, before turning to the dragon behind him.
He smiled and placed a hand on his snout. "Thank you, my friend."
Odahviing bowed his head without a word then took off from the ground once more. Daemon watched him go for a moment, knowing he was going to rest for a bit before he'd go back home to Skyrim. it was Daemon's suggestion as they shouldn't get attention on them anytime soon. However, Odahviing vowed that he will come should Daemon need him.
"Right... now where to begin?" Daemon asked himself with a bit of an annoyed tone as he had no idea where in Alagaësia he was. Sighing, Daemon threw up the hood of his Nightingale attire and started walking straight. he didn't know if he'd find a village or a town, but it's better than standing around in a forest.
however, it appeared luck was on Daemon's side, because he soon came out of the forest and spotted a village down a hill from his position. Sighing in relief, Daemon started making his way down to it. Upon seeing him, the villagers gave me wary and suspicious looks, so clearly they didn't get strangers here that much.
Though the looks of fear and suspicious are a change from the looks of awe and respect I get back in Skyrim. Daemon thought to himself.
Looking aroun, Daemon decided to find the local taevern as they usually are a place to find a map of the land or even hear rumours, strange talk, and so on. It didn't take Daemon long to find the tavern and as soon as he entered, all conversation stopped and everyone's eyes turned to him. Daemon ignored their looks and made his way to the bar, where the tavern owner stood.
"C-Can I get you something?" The tavern owned asked wariy, eyeing Daemon's attire. The Dragonborn noted how the hood shrouded his face entirely in shadow, so he reached up and pushed his hood down, showing a normal, human appearance in an attempt t put the people here at ease... though Daemon doubted it would do much.
"I need a map of Alagaësia, as I'm currently... new here." Daemon said, trying to find a way to not reveal the nature of him being here. He didn't need people on his case so soon after arrival.
He waited for several minutes before the tavern owner came back and presented a map of Alagaësia. "Here you go. In case you're wondering, this is Carvahall."
"Got it." Daemon nodded, memorizing the details on the map thoroughly before he walked away and left the tavern. As soon as he did, he was bumped into by somebody.
"Sorry!" A young male voice, possibly a boy, quickly apologized as both righted themselves.
"No need to apologize, lad." Daemon chuckled and steadied the boy, who had to be fifteen years old, had intense brown eyes, brown hair, and dark eyebrows.
The boy studied Daemon for a moment. "Are you new here? I haven't seen you around here."
"Yeah, I'm... from out of town." Daemon said before sticking his hand out. "Name's Daemon."
The boy shook it. "Eragon..."
And that's it for this chapter folks.