The next morning, I'm still pretty tired, but I should wake up as I travel. The sun starts to rise as Lydia and I leave the city, heading down the slope past the Khajiit caravan that has set up just outside the main gate. The journey to and through Dragon Bridge is quiet, with only the birdsong to accompany us. Across the famous bridge, we pass a farmer leading a painted cow along the road, warning us to stay away. Crazy people.
Passing through Robber's Gorge, I find to my relief no-one has moved in yet, so we traverse the bridge beyond safely. The first attack we endure is halfway up the hill towards Rorikstead – a lone wolf forfeits the safer target of a passing elk and attempts to have a taste of us instead. It seems to be weaker than the ones we've fought before – or have we got stronger? I suspect it is actually the latter.
Leaving the skinned corpse of the canine sliding down the road, we head on up to the little settlement, just as a large dragon swoops overhead. I find myself actually looking forward to the fight – it'll definitely be more of a challenge than that flimsy wolf.
I swap my Dwemer-forged blade for the katana, and use Dragonrend in the direction the dragon is swooping in. Perfect aim – the beast flies straight into the blast, and lands on the rocky hillside with an angry scream.
I climb the slope as quickly as I can, and Shout again when I reach the top, in case I can't get to the monster before the effects wear off. In doing so, I manage to interrupt it's Shout at me, making it recoil again and allowing me to get a good couple of hits in before it recovers.
Come to think of it, are all dragons male? Since they were all created at around the same time, and they have no need to reproduce… there wouldn't be any females, would there?
I surprise myself that I can think of these things while in combat with the great creature. It seems that not only have I become stronger since Helgen, but also more used to combat and adventuring. I no longer cringe at the thought of delving through another cave to find the treasure at the end – in fact, even the thought of doing something like that makes my heart beat faster with excitement!
I'm so busy fighting on automatic that it takes me a couple of seconds to realise the dragon is dead. Sheathing my blade back in the scabbard I keep tucked behind the one for the Dwemer sword, I loot the beast's corpse as its soul soaks into my flesh. I can see the empty burial mound nearby – a toppled stone has marks etched into it, barely legible. Nahagliiv. It takes me a couple of seconds for me to realise… the name is written in Draconic. I seem to be learning more than just Words of Power with these dragon souls.
Re-joining the road, we travel a few more meters in peace before a mad Argonian leaps out from behind a half-toppled stone wall and attacks us with a pair of daggers. He is fairly weak though – it doesn't take long for him to be lying on the ground at our feet. I take the daggers and the other loot items, then continue along the road – until a lone bandit tries to play a deadly version of peekaboo. He loses, I gain his gold as a prize, then we follow the road all the way back to Whiterun.
The only business I have in the city at the moment is selling the spoils of the fights on the way from Solitude. Leaving the city afterwards, I lead Lydia straight to Riverwood to drop off the few things I had decided to keep before starting the arduous journey around and up the mountain – which is actually starting to get a bit boring, since we've already dealt with all the dangerous wildlife. The journey is so quiet – nothing of any real note happens, and no thoughts cross my mind either. Yes, call me dull, but sometimes I actually enjoy travelling for a few hours without thinking of anything; just enjoying the scenery and the birdsong.
We soon find ourselves at the top of the Steps, to find Delphine and Esbern have got there before us. Why did they come?
Following them inside, I hang back to witness their confrontation with Arngeir and the Greybeards.
"So, Arngeir, is it?" Delphine steps forward. "You know why we're here. Are you going to let us in or not?"
"You were not invited here. You are not welcome here." Arngeir's response is not well received.
"We have as much right to be at this council as all of you. More, actually, since we were the ones who put the Dragonborn on this path."
"Were you? The hubris of the Blades truly knows no bounds."
"Delphine, we're not here to rehearse old grudges." Esbern halts the argument. "The matter at hand is urgent. Alduin must be stopped. You wouldn't have called this council if you didn't agree. We know a great deal about the situation and the threat that Alduin poses to us all. You need us here if you want this council to succeed."
A moment of thought later, Arngeir says "Very well. You may enter." The Blades walk past him, the other Greybeards following, towards the right wing while Arngeir wanders in my direction.
"So you've done it. The men of violence have gathered here in these halls, whose very stones are dedicated to peace. I should not have agreed to host this council. The Greybeards have no business involving ourselves in such matters."
"This was the only way to get Balgruuf's help." I remind him.
"Yes, yes. Which is why I allowed this… violation of all our traditions. But regrets are pointless; here we are. Take your seat at the council table and let us see what wisdom we can find among these warriors of Skyrim."
The sky outside is now pitch black, my feet are a little sore and I am exhausted.
"Actually, can we postpone until tomorrow? It has been a long journey from Solitude." I ask.
"Of course." Accedes the Greybeard. "We shall be waiting on you, Dragonborn."