Zoor Se Dovahruth

Six

-Dovah Suleyksejun-
A Dragon's Dominion

The next day was not a bright and beautiful as the day before. Keeva felt like a drenched dog as she and the rest of the company rode along the muddy path atop their ponies. Penny - oh poor Penny - struggled through the endless rain. It wasn't the warm rain either. It was the cold autumn rain that chilled you to the bone and had you begging for a scalding bath after your return home. Though, Keeva had been born during the first coldest winter in many years that did not make her immune to the temperature and climate of nature. That was unfortunately something she did not inherit from her father.

It was well known that Nords have a natural resistance to the frost, especially since they evolved in the northern, colder reaches of Nirn. Thalin was blessed with such a trait. But the Bosmer blood that flowed through Keeva's veins craved for the warmth of the jungles that her mother's kin called home, in Valenwood.

Thankfully, Keeva wasn't the only one dreading this predicament.

"Here, Mr. Gandalf, can't you do something about this deluge?" Dori asked from a top his pony, just as soaked as the rest of the company.

"It is raining, Master Dwarf, and it will continued to rain until the rain is done," Gandalf hummed pointedly.

Keeva enjoyed his little bouts of wisdom. The other day he'd said something along the lines of 'the only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once' to a disheveled Gloin, who had been mumbling about the long and tedious pony ride past the town of Bree. "If you wish to change the weather of the world, you should find yourself another wizard."

"Are there any?" Bilbo asked from his pony, in front of Keeva, his eyes gleaming with curiosity.

"What?"

"Other wizards?" Bilbo continued. Keeva sat up straighter on Penny, trying to gain a better ear with all this rain. Bofur pulled up next to her, shaking his head with an honest smile, "You'll never hear them over this down pour."

Keeva's ears twitched with an irk, "I happen to have keen ears, Mister Bofur."

"Oh, do you?" Bofur asked with a teasing smile, his brows rising and a chuckle rumbling from the pit of his stomach. "Did you hear that, Lads? Miss Keeva has a keen sense of hearing."

"Oh, does she now?" the golden haired dwarf asked with a look of surprise, though Keeva knew he wasn't so impressed. The fact that he didn't believe her actually bothered her more than she wanted to admit, "Care to prove that?"

"Are you wanting to make another wager as well?" Keeva asked, a sweet smile pulling on her lips as she thought of the idea. She wasn't going to let him win this that easily. Fili was a very proud, cocky, and brave dwarf. But she wasn't going to let that stop her or get in her way.

Fili chuckled, "Okay, if you can hear what I whisper to my brother, and mind you it has to be word for word, then you win."

"Alright," Keeva agreed with a simple nod. She twisted around on her pony so she could watch Fili lean over to Kili. Before he began to whisper, he placed a hand over his mouth just to make sure she wouldn't read his lips. The whisper was very, very hard to hear but Keeva grinned wickedly after the brothers separated and looked to each other proudly. Kili grinned, "Go ahead, Miss Keeva. What was said?"

"Uzbud Men eleneku menu o bepap opetu ezirak," Keeva repeated as best as she could. She figured it was something simple in the dwarvish language that Oin had explained to her was called Khuzdul and only one of the dwarfs in the company spoke this language 24/7, the lovely Bifur. It was no wonder Keeva had such a hard time understanding him.

All around her, dwarves began to chuckle and Keeva should have known at that point that something was completely amiss, but she was too naïve. Kili grinned wickedly, "Aye, brother, she's got a good set of ears, she does."

Keeva's gaze drifted over to Fili, who smiled at her sweetly, a dreadful feeling growing in her stomach, "Do you truly feel that way, Mi'lady?"

What on earth had he made her say? Bofur was lightly chuckling next to her and Dwalin was trying his best to stay on his pony, he was laughing so hard. Keeva looked to Bofur pleadingly, "What did I just say? Please-"

"Oh, Miss Keeva, I don't think I could repeat it," Bofur insisted, his cheeks dusting with a shade of pink. That did not make Keeva feel any better. Dwalin turned around, seeing the look of horror on her face and began laughing again, "Lass, it roughly translates to 'My lord, I desire you more than an endless vein of mithril.'"

Dwalin was so glad he'd been the one to tell her because the look that came to her usually sweet features was suddenly mortified. "Oh Zenithar, help me," Keeva moaned while falling forward into her pony's mane to high her face out of embarrassment. The dwarves continued chuckling at her expense but Keeva knew she needed to just gather her courage and grow up. She had to get back at Fili for his little stunt. There was a fire in the pit of her stomach, not a malicious rage, but a playful revenge for what the golden haired dwarf had pulled. Fili didn't have a clue what was coming for him.

That following evening, the company stopped a little off the side of the road and made camp surrounded by shrubs and shaded by trees. Keeva set up her spot in camp – next to Bofur and Oin - before taking her plan into action. All the dwarves, even Bilbo and Gandalf were oblivious to the small little task she had in her mind. When Bombur had finished their dinner and they were all setting around the fire eating happily, Keeva cleared her throat, gaining the attention of the few dwarves that had taken a seat by her.

"Something the matter, Miss Keeva?" Dori asked, his eyes alight and hopeful to be of any assistance.

"Mmm- well, now that you mention it, Mister Dori, there is," Keeva said with a slight pitiful frown. She was trying her best to play innocent and distressed. Dori sat his bowl down and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. The other dwarves around the campfire were now watching as well, curious to see what the matter was.

"What is it, Miss Keeva?" Dori asked softly. Keeva gave a great sigh and shook her head lightly, "I never received my payment. Zenithar must have forsaken me."

The circle around the fire was silently confused, but Keeva looked pointedly across the fire at Fili. The golden haired dwarf swallowed the food in his mouth, the sound was hard and nervous.

"Whatever do you mean, Miss?" Balin asked concerned. He was, after all, the company's most talented dwarf at keeping tabs on coin, contract, and other official business.

"I believe I did win the bet," Keeva insisted with a sweet smile, "I hope you haven't forgotten, Mister Fili."

Kili, who sat next to his brother, choked on his soup, trying not to laugh. Gandalf hummed merrily as other dwarves around the circle began to smile. Fili's blue eyes never left Keeva's as his mouth opened and closed, unsure of what to say. There was no doubt a dusting of pink upon the dwarf's cheeks. Thorin cleared his throat and looked to his nephew seriously, "If you've made a bet and lost, Fili. Then you must pay up."

"Yes, Uncle," Fili bowed before returning his attention back to the girl from across the fire, "Whatever Mi'lady desires."

A dusting of pink flushed Keeva's cheeks with Fili's last word but she tried her best to remember why she was doing this, "Then I desire a kiss…"

Fili's eye perked up and so had the other's around the campfire. Had they heard her right? Fili set his bowl down, making haste to stand and walk over to his interest in question. "Shall I give you your payment now, Mi'lady?"

When Fili had reached Keeva, he knelt down on one knee and took up one of her hands gently. Keeva smirked then, her eyes twinkling in the fire light mischievously, "You didn't let me finish."

Another exultant hum came from Gandalf on the other side of the fire once he realized the half-breeds intentions. The other dwarves watched carefully, their curiosity peeked. Fili's face fell only slightly, his hopes still clutching onto his heart, "Please finish then."

Keeva cleared her throat and stood, bringing Fili up with her, "I desire a kiss… for my poor pony, Penny."

A round of laugher sounded from around the fire after the dwarves had heard her correctly. Fili's smile fell and Keeva's grinning sweetly. "I would like my payment now."

Another roar of laughter made its way around the fire and for once Fili couldn't help but let out a small chuckle in defeat. "I must have treated you most terribly for such a wish, Mi'lady. But if this is what you desire then I will make my payment."

Keeva's blue orbs gazed over at Thorin, finding him smiling for once that day. Something she had made a goal of hers to achieve every day because she felt seeing a smile upon his lips was much healthier than the persistent frown she found every day. Fili walked over to the ponies and found Penny grazing on the grass below. He cooed for the pony so that her head would perk up and then placed his hands gently below the chin. Keeva turned around in time to watch Fili place a quick peck on the top of the pony's nose. Penny whinnied lightly and then returned to eating as if it was more important to her. Fili walked back to Keeva and took up her hand before placing a kiss upon her knuckle.

"Fili," Thorin scolded when finding Keeva's cheeks as red as a rose.

Fili let an impish grin come over his lips as he took a seat back next to his uncle. Needless to say Fili thoroughly enjoyed seeing the fire he knew was in Keeva come out that night. And for Keeva, well, let's just say the young woman had a fitful nights rest with dreams of a curtain golden haired dwarf.

The next day and the day after that were not much more thrilling action wise. Keeva found herself practicing her archery while hunting in the forest just to keep herself busy in the evenings, some hunts would only take an hour and on harder days she'd return to camp another three hours later. But the dwarves thanked her often and even more so when she would bring something large back.

"I've never seen a maiden have the guts to bring home a deer, lass," Dwalin commented while Keeva dropped her catch before the fire. Bombur's eyes grew wide after watching it thud to the ground. She could almost see him drooling with delight. "Don't just stare at it Bombur, get the meat on a spit."

Keeva smiled fondly and patted Dwalin on the shoulder before she left to wash her hands in the nearby stream. Footsteps followed behind her and she didn't think to look back, knowing it was one of her company. Keeva bent down and dipped her hands into the cool water and rubbed them together as she watched the dried blood cloud the water. A humble hum from behind her was all she needed to hear to know who was there.

"Gandalf, I was worried you'd forgotten me," Keeva joked lightly. The grey wizard chuckled and sat upon a rock not too far from her. "Forgive me, my dear. I've been thinking a lot."

"I understand," Keeva said while turning her eyes up at the wizard to give him a small smile. "My father would often do the same thing."

Gandalf hummed in agreement, "Thorin spoke of your tale."

Keeva's small smile vanished and she turned back to the water only to find herself sitting, the weight of her own thoughts now too heavy to bare. Gandalf didn't need to say anything. He could just see the thoughts turning and reeling within her eyes. "I trust you know what you have to do to move on. This quest needs you here, in the now, my dear. Do not dwell in the past. Life is too short to be filled with regrets."

Keeva nodded firmly before Gandalf stood to place a strong and supportive hand on her shoulder. "You are one of the strongest willed individuals I have ever met, Keeva. If you ever are in need of my help, you know you can always ask."

Gandalf left her by the stream to let the thoughts sink in. Gandalf was right and so had Thorin. She needed to move on, but there was something there in her heart that still hurt and still reminded her of the pain she was feeling. "Are you alright, Keeva?"

Fili's tender voice graced the young girl's pointed ears. Her eyes watched Fili's figure in the water of the creek as he sat down next to her. His blue colored eyes were dark in the night sky, reminding Keeva of the dark skies of a snowy evening in Skyrim. Keeva allowed a sad smile to escape her, "As good as any."

Fili cleared his throat, his eyes leaving her features to stare into the night sky before them. It was as if he was trying to find a way to say something. Keeva's one slender brow rose in amusement. But Fili found what he was looking for, taking his hand and placing over his chest, just above his heart, "I shouldn't have been listening. I just happened to come across uncle while he was talking to Gandalf… But I just wanted to say, the pain doesn't go away. You just make room for it."

As if the gods themselves willed it, both Fili's and Keeva's eyes met at the same time. One more concerned while the other clouded over with the threat of tears. Had Fili lost someone? Of course he had, what was she thinking? Everyone loses someone once in their lives. But it is the curtain circumstances that make the deaths hard to bear. "You've lost someone too?"

Fili nodded lightly, a weak smile forming on his lips to ease the sorrow that was flashing over his features. "My father, he died in battle with Uncle. I was young then, angry, and vengeful. I didn't have the chance to slaughter the orc scum that kill my father, but even after Uncle had taken revenge on them, the pain was still there. And it hasn't gone away in the past 40 years since his death. One day it just clicked for me after many years of just being angry and in pain. It was something I have to live with the rest of my life and I just needed to make room for it."

Fili reached over and took Keeva's hand and placed it over his heart, then he moved his hand and placed it over hers, "It will always be there, beating, hurting, throbbing. But you just need to push it aside and let your life move on. Make room."

Keeva dropped her hand before Fili did and smiled, "You always know what to say."

Fili chuckled, dropping his gaze down to his hands that began playing with a string hanging off his shirt, "I try, but half the time I'm just praying I'm saying the right thing."

Keeva giggled, catching Fili by surprise, "Well keep praying. Perhaps that is the trick."

Fili and Keeva enjoyed the rest of the night near the campfire, sharing stories about hunts gone wrong or what it was like growing up. But sleep took them in the wee hours of the morn, the stars hanging above them and the sparks of the dying fire lulling them into dreams.

…

In the darkness, a moonless night, a top the highest peak in Tamriel, Paarthurnax waited. The snow billowed about his lanky and wise form, easing his bones into a cold and slow pain. Paarthurnax was old. But it was this age that gave him the wisdom of the world and its secrets of life.

The clouds in the sky crept silently over the dragon's head. He glanced up purposefully to spot the figure of a winged creature descending to his mountain top. The grey wings and red eyes were distinguishable within the lightless night, even the large black spines that ran from the back of the head to the tail were clear as day. This was a frost dragon that had been seeking out the old dragon.

The ground shook lightly when the scaled feet and tapered wings touched the ground. When a low, dark, and throating roar burst forth from the dragon's mouth, Paarthurnax knew exactly who was before him.

"Drem Yol Lok, Fokeinvokul," Paarthurnax hummed lowly, his teeth blaring before the reawakened dragon.

"Drem Yol Lok, dii fahdon," the evil dragon answered in return, his head bowing low before the one atop the dragon stone.

"To what do I own your visit?" Paarthurnax asked gazing over the sky, finding no other individual waiting high above him. It was no question to anybody that knew the dragons well enough that Fokeinvokul was well sided with Alduin. But there was no sign of the Dragon God in sight.

"Keeva, where is she?"

Paarthurnax eyed the dragon darkly, "Is there a reason why you are looking for the mortal?"

Fokeinvokul growled, the grumbling hum within his chest was a warning, a very possessive warning, "She is mine. I want what is mine."

Paarthurnax hummed, a silence filled the air as snow continued to fall thickly upon his mountain. The old dragon was curious why a dragon such as the one in front of him would care so much about a mere mortal that he'd once hated so much, "It was my understanding that you cared little for mortals."

Fokeinvokul roared at Paarthurnax's answer, "She is mine and will always be mine. She would not have been born had it not been for me. I am her father, I want my kiir!"

"Your kiir? A joor? Fokeinvokul, what right do you have to say that Keeva is yours? You did not conceive her, raise her, protect her –"

Fokeinvokul hunkered low to the ground, his eyes growing steadily darker, "I have every right. I did conceive her, I did raise her, and protect her. I was always there – in her mind, body, soul. She is my daughter – blood of my blood."

The quiet way in which the evil dragon had spoken amazed Paarthurnax greatly. What was usually a quick and temperamental dragon had become a very concerned and hurt one. Was he truly concerned for Keeva? Did he really think that she was his own flesh and blood? Paarthurnax eyed Fokeinvokul, looking for anything that would tell him why there was a change from this dreadful drake. But there was only one thing that he could find.

"Answer me this, dov – What is better – to be born good, or to overcome your evil nature through great effort?"

Fokeinvokul gazed up at Paarthurnax, his usually piercing ruby eyes much softer, "It is not only the overcoming of your evil nature through great effort but through the care and love for an individual other than oneself."

Paarthurnax hummed in agreement and bowed his head low before raising his eyes back up to meet the ruby ones. "If you wish to find your kiir, find Alduin. He will have your kiir."

When the Dragon God's name slipped past Paarthurnax's teeth a darkness, so monstrous, and evil – devilish – filled the aura of the top of the mountain. Fokeinvokul was angry. Plan and simple. Alduin had touched what was his, that was his child. He'd failed to protect her from the one being in all of Nirn that he'd never wanted to touch what was his. Fokeinvokul took flight, his sights and rage set on the Dragon God himself.

Fokeinvokul didn't have to go far to find Alduin. The monster was raising another brother from the depths of the earth, its bones mending and skin growing. The sight was not something he was unfamiliar with. The magic had been performed similarly onto himself only weeks earlier, his soul being torn from the one body he'd been bound to for years. A body he had not wanted to leave.

With that fact placed firmly in the back of his mind Fokeinvokul charged into the clearing, a roar bellowing from his throat and a pointed hate for the black dragon before him strong within his eyes. "Alduin!"

The World Eater stopped with his enchantment and veered his attentions on the frost dragon that had interrupted his work. "Fokeinvokul –"

"Where is she? My kiir!"

When the earth shook upon the landing of the frost dragon, Alduin growled in annoyance, "The mortal is far away, where she needs to be. You are important here – in Skyrim. Do not let a mortal blind you!"

Fokeinvokul's anger could not be contained any further, his rage was like the building fire from within a dragon's chest. He would not let Alduin control him, "Fo Krah Diin!"

Alduin shifted his wings out of the way, dodging the grey dragon's frost breath. Alduin, furious with Fokeinvokul's actions roared darkly and dove for the dragon before him, releasing a fire breath, the one shout that weakened Frost dragon's the most. But Fokeinvokul stood his ground and drew up another Thu'um to change his form to one that could not be harmed for a short time, "Feim Zii Gron."

"Let this go, Fokeinvokul," Alduin warned, his eyes glowing within the darkness of the night, "She is not worth death."

"She is blood of my blood. She is worth everything," the frost dragon growled.

The two continued to fight, one attaching while the other defended. The battle of the Thu'ums could be felt and heard throughout the land until an eerie silence grew after the last earthquake shook the land. Alduin stood atop Fokeinvokul, his clawed feet holding down Fokeinvokul's scaled body as his wings surrounded the rest of the dragon. "If you care for the mortal so much, then you shall be reunited with her – in death. Bex Miiraak Du! Daal Sil Gro!"

Fokeinvokul could feel his body dissolving, his skin and scales melting, his bones turning to ash, and then his soul rose from his body as the hole of a portal opened out of thin air, the edges of the black abyss being licked by a purple aura. With one final Thu'um, Alduin sent forward Fokeinvokul into the world beyond Tamriel, into a world of unknown futures and destinies.

…

Zenitharis the deity of wealth, labor, commerce and communication. I was going to use the Bosmer deity Z'en – the god of payment in kind- but his worship died out way before Keeva's birth.

Dragon Language Glossary:

Drem Yol Lok – is a greeting; literally translates to 'Peace Fire Sky'

Dii fahdon – means 'My friend'

Kiir – means 'Child'

Joor – means 'Mortal'

Fo Krah Diin – Thu'um Frost Breath; literally translates to 'Frost Cold Freeze'

Feim Zii Gron – Thu'um Become Ethereal; literally translates to 'Fade Spirit Bind'

Bex Miiraak Du – a made up Thu'um; literally translates to 'Open Portal Devour'

Daal Sil Gro – a made up Thu'um; literally translates to 'Return Soul Bound'

A/N: This actually was a much shorter chapter, the first half with Keeva, was all I had originally written. It was just too short so it took me a while to plot things out but I figured that I needed to write a short scene for Fokeinvokul to explain the upcoming chapter a bit more. So I'm glad with what I hashed out and hope it helps with the up-coming chapter for next weekend.

I think I will leave this whole chapter open for interpretation, even though I don't think there is much to interpret, on Fokeinvokul's part that is. Umm… let's just say being bound to one person for so long, watching them grow up, being the only person really there for every hard moment in their life… that – I think – changes a person. I think a lot about this when I watch my uncle who is very prejudice when it comes to African Americans but his best friend is one and his great-grandson is half that and he loves and cares for them very deeply. So I am trying to bring this prejudice out of our dear dreaded dragon but only to ironically be poked fun at when he deeply wants Keeva - dreads not being with her, literally believes he is her father. If that makes no sense, I'm so sorry. I've found I'm at a loss of words at this moment.

Again, I enjoy the little bits of teasing and playing around when it comes to our main character and Mister Fili. It's just a bit of fun before all hell breaks loose. Hint, nudge, wink – Trolls.

I want to thank Akiluna and Ellie's imagination world for their reviews!

Disclaimer: I don't own The Hobbit or Elder Scrolls. Any character that is not familiar is of my own creation.