The next morning, there is a commotion going on outside, which I discover to be caused by a vampire of all things that has managed to sneak past the guards and is attacking the citizens. I announce my arrival at the scene with an arrow in the undead's back, then I switch to my sword and join the fray. With the combined efforts of the townsfolk, Lydia and myself the vampire soon is dead, its belongings free for the taking – which I quickly take advantage of.
I leave the city and cross the long bridge over the frozen river. The sun is steadily rising as I make my way along the road, where I encounter a trio of Redguards. The two men, dressed in the same manner as the warriors from Whiterun, seem to be confronting the woman about something, so I slow to listen in.
"I don't know who you think I am, and I don't care. Leave me alone!" The woman is saying.
"I don't have time for this foolishness. Now come along quietly and we won't have to get rough." One of the men threatens.
"Brother, I think she is telling the truth." His companion murmurs.
"I'm not going anywhere. Now back off, before I do something drastic."
"She doesn't have the scar." The second man has finally got his fellow's attention.
"What? Oh – you're right…We've made a mistake." The first warrior admits. "Now move along, before that mouth of yours gets you into trouble." With that, the two armed men leave.
"Next time you're looking to pester someone, make sure it's the right person!" The female cries after them, then walks past me, sulking.
I continue along the road until it turns too far to the east, then take a rough path up a hill through the wilderness. I haven't gone far when a Dark Elf wearing the same armour as the assassin leaps at me, managing to slice my cheek open before I can react. Lydia is faster than I am, sending an arrow into his thigh as I draw my sword and slash at his torso, barely missing as he leaps back, closer to the precipitous drop that lines one side of the path.
Here, let me help you catch your balance! My sword thrusts deep up through his stomach and out between his shoulder-blades. Dragging him away from the edge, I throw his remains to the ground, and rummage through his pockets, finding a similar jumble of items as those I found in his comrade, including the same note. Who the hells wants me dead so badly?
Continuing along the path, I emerge from the trees on the other side of the river from the track I took before the first time I journeyed up to High Hrothgar. I remember that I didn't mark the village at the base of the mountain on my map, so racking my brain I recall the name of the little hamlet and jot the name down over the faded text on the parchment. Ivarstead.
The trek up the seven thousand steps is quiet – nothing jumps out at me, and I ignore the emblems; I already know what they say. Soon, I reach the frozen doors of High Hrothgar and I push them open, slip inside and discover Arngeir meditating next to a brazier. I clear my throat.
"Ah – you've retrieved the Horn of Jurgen Windcaller." He says as I hand over the ancient ivory. "Well done. You have now passed all the trials. Come with me. It is time for us to recognise you formally as Dragonborn." I follow the Greybeard into the open space that makes up the main part of the entrance hall. "You are ready to learn the final Word of Unrelenting Force, 'Dah', which means 'push'." He says as the others join us. One steps forward and mutters the Word, etching it into the stonework. Obviously this is a temporary effect, because their previous teaching has faded.
I step forward, allowing the Word to seep into my being.
"With all three Words together," Arngeir explains in the meantime, "this Shout is much more powerful. Use it wisely. Master Wulfgar will now gift you with his knowledge of 'Dah'."
With a bow, the usual glow emanates from the cowled figure, and the true meaning of the Word enters my mind. Then, the Greybeards spread out in a circle around me, and Arngeir gestures to Lydia to step back.
"You have completed your training, Dragonborn. We will Speak to you." Uh oh. What does Arngeir mean? I thought it was too dangerous for them to speak above a whisper? "Stand between us and prepare yourself. Few can withstand the unbridled Voice of the Greybeards; but you are ready." Well, that's reassuring.
"Lingrah krosis saraan Strundu'ul voth nid balaan klov praan nau." The Greybeards say in unison, causing the ground to quake and the walls to shudder, knocking me off balance. "Naal Thu'umu, mu ofan nii nu, Dovahkiin, naal suleyk do Kaan, naal suleyk do Shor, ahrk naal suleyk do Atmorasewuth. Meyz nu Ysmir, Dovahsebrom, Dahmaan daar rok." The Greybeards finish their chant, bow, and all but Arngeir disperse. The rumbling dies down, and I look around worriedly. I don't think the walls could withstand that much longer!
"Dovahkiin. You have tasted the Voice of the Greybeards, and passed through unscathed. High Hrothgar is open to you." With that, Arngeir bows again and leaves.
Steadying myself, I lead Lydia back out into the cold wind and back down the mountain. At the bottom, I return along the path I took before until I reach an open area with a very narrow track along it, obviously frequented more by the four-legged inhabitants of the land. Curious, I follow this little path up and over the mountain ridge and down to where it met the road opposite the track up to the Ritual Stone. Well, that's a handy little shortcut – I'll have to remember where it comes out; cut quite a bit of journey time off the next time I must come this way. I say that, because it's obvious I haven't quite seen the last of the Greybeards yet.
Not far down the road, we are attacked by another drunk, this time a Nord woman, who is wearing better boots that I am currently, so when she lies defeated at our feet, I swap them over, only feeling the slightest twinge of guilt. Why do people get so violent when they get drunk in Skyrim?
Past the bridges, up the slope – and yet another assassin appears nearby. He hasn't spotted up yet though, and he isn't hiding very well. All these hired killers are starting to piss me off, so I sneak-attack him with an arrow that flies straight into his side. With a cry, he draws his daggers and charges, but I shoot again and kill him. Closing the distance, I find it was another Dark Elf; his pockets contain the knick-knacks I've come to expect these leather-clad murderers to carry. And, of course, the expected note. I have three of these now in my bag. Let's see how many I can collect before they give up, shall we?
Riverwood is exactly the same as it was when I left. I bypass the inn to go to the Trader first to offload all the stuff I have collected since the last store I was in, using the money gained to purchase some potions, lockpicks and lunch, which I pause to eat between the shop and the Sleeping Giant. While I munch on the loaf of bread I had bought, I count my cash, and find I've made a pretty little profit since I first escaped Helgen. Finishing off the last of the wine, I duck into the inn – to find Delphine waiting next to the door.
"I don't think you were followed. Come on – I have a plan." She leads us down into the secret basement. "I've figured out how we're going to get you into the Thalmor Embassy."
"That didn't take long." I point out.
"I've been doing this a long time, remember? While the Thalmor've been looking for me, I've been watching them."
"So what's your plan? How do I infiltrate the Thalmor Embassy?"
"The Thalmor ambassador, Elenwen, regularly throws parties where the rich and connected cosy up to the Thalmor. I can get you into one of those parties. Once you're inside the embassy, you get away and find Elenwen's secret files. I have a contact inside the embassy. He's not up for this kind of high-risk mission, but he can help you. His name's Malborn; Wood Elf, plenty of reason to hate the Thalmor. You can trust him. I'll get word for him to meet you in Solitude at the Winking Skeever – you know it?" No. "While you're doing that, I'll work on getting you an invitation to Elenwen's little party. Meet me at the Solitude Stables after you've arranged things with Malborn. Any questions?"
Not really. The Winking Skeever shouldn't be too difficult to find. "I'll see you in Solitude after I meet Malborn."
"Sounds good. Be careful." Delphine turns and ascends the stairs. Following, I leave the inn and head back down the road towards Whiterun. A short way down, an elf clad in light armour and a cowl confronts us.
"Alright – hand over your valuables, or I'll gut you like a fish."
"I don't have time for this…" I mutter, but the thief hears me.
"Don't you walk away from me!" He slashes at me with his daggers, so I draw my sword and defend myself. I cut through his armour almost like it is butter – it obviously isn't very well kept – and he falls to my feet, gurgling his final breath. I loot his proceeds from previous successful robberies, then continue along the road.
As I jog, I look to the sun to judge how much time is left before nightfall, then check my map. I'm not going to make Rorikstead before dark, so I instead turn up the road and pass through the wooden gates into Whiterun. Jogging up the road towards the inn, I recall hearing somewhere that innkeepers will pay adventurers well for firewood, so I take advantage of the uncut logs lying outside the back door of the Bannered Mare and begin chopping them in two with the axe I picked up my first time in Riverwood. I cut as much as I can carry, then haul them into the inn, where Hulda smiles gratefully as she hands over a fair-sized purse.
I'm exhausted now, and the sun has finally set, so renting the room, I trudge up the stairs, undress and fall onto the bed, asleep before I have even landed.