Skyrim(c) Bethesda.
Forgotten Paladin, Chapter IV: Dragonborn and Paladin.
One ran to her. "I can't believe it. You're Dragonborn!" She cocked her head to the left. "Dragonborn, like Tiber Septim?" "Yes. Just like Tiber Septim." A small argument broke out about Tiber Septim and him slaying dragons. "You should probably talk to the Jarl. Tell him what happened here." She nodded to the dark elf and ran towards Whiterun. Just as she hit the first gate there was a rumble causing her to stumble a little.
"DOVAHKIIN!"
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She winced as she walked up the stairs to Dragonsreach. A weak healing spell could only do so much for an injury. She'll have to see a healer and rest for a little bit before getting more jobs from Farkas. Unless, that babbling mage knew a stronger spell. A guard saw her and politely opened the door for her. "Thank you." He nodded.
Carefully stepping up, she could see Balgruuf, his steward and someone with him else talking. "You heard the summons." The steward was the first to notice her. "Jarl Balgruuf." Balgruuf tuned his gaze and looked Kaylee up and down. "You look like you have seen Oblivion and back." He shifted in his seat. "What happened at the watchtower?" She cleared her throat. "When we got there most of the tower was destroyed. Seven guards where dead when we got there, and one survivor." Balgruuf lent forward. "What else? Did you kill the dragon?" She shifted her weight before nodding. "Aye, we did. Something else happened however." There was a raised eyebrow.
"When the dragon fell, it started to burn. It scales faded until it was a skeleton and its soul was absorbed by me." Balgruuf straightened his shoulders. "So you're the one that the Greybeards were calling." Her eyebrow furrowed. "Graybeards? Calling?" The male who had been silent before spoke, "Didn't you hear the thundering sound as you returned to Whiterun?" She turned to him. "What? That loud voice?" "Aye, that was the Graybeards calling you to High Hrothgar!" Now the steward spoke, "What do these Graybeards want with her?" Balgruuf turned to her, "That is the Graybeard's decision. I suggest you leave as soon as you can. But before you go, I name you Thane of Whiterun, and give you this sword to prove of your status." She took the sword and looked at it. A steel sword with a frost enchantment.
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Turning to the left, she headed for Jorrvaskr. She needed to inform Kodlak what had happened. Since that damned mage had the spell she needed, there was no need to see the healers. Walking up the familiar stairs, she found Skjor waiting for her. "That took longer than expected." "The jarl wanted me to help take care of the dragon that attacked the watchtower." Skjor nodded, "We heard." She shook her head for a second. "I need to see Kodlak. Something else has come up and I will not be here for about a week or two."
He stopped her from going in. "What is so important that you must stop your duties." Looking him dead in the eyes, she responded, "The Graybeards have summoned me, and I would be an idiot not to go. They have answers to questions I need answered." She removed his hand from the door way. "Now if you'll excuse me, I must speak to Kodlak."
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Kodlak looked up from the book he was reading as he heard footsteps coming his way. They were somewhat urgent. Kaylee came through the door. He motioned for her to sit down. "What do you need?" She sat and took a sip of mead before responding, "I need to be excused from my duties. Something important has come up and I have no idea how long I will be." He set the book down. "Does this have something to do with the dragon at the watchtower?" She nodded. "I take it then you are the one the Graybeards were calling?" Kaylee looked at him slightly shocked that he knew.
He chuckled. "I've been at this longer than you have, lass. And most people in Skyrim usually know about the Graybeards." Kodlak also knew that the people in Solutide, Marakath, Riften and Winterhold would have also heard the call. They would have too, in case fate had decided that the dragon be killed near one of those cities. He smiled at her. "You should go. It would be unwise to make them wait. Take Vilkas with you. I know he has been curious of the place, although he has never actually said. Oh, and lass, you should know you would have been excused anyways. We are not that strict."
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Despite her fear, she found herself happy to finally reach the place. Most of that, she figured came from the fact it took seven thousand steps just to get here. She wondered if the Graybeards would allow her and Vilkas to rest for a little bit. Hugging the furs closer she looked back at Vilkas. He too looked slightly winded from the walk. Climbing up the left side of the stairs, she decided to open the door for Vilkas. He gave whispered thanks.
She almost groaned out loud after coming in. It was pretty cold in the monastery as well. She stopped as an old man came toward her. He wore gray robes and only his beard and face could be seen. Only after seeing him, did the name 'Graybeards' make sense to Kaylee. As he came closer she could hear Vilkas shift his weight. He was uncomfortable. That was a first.
"I am Master Arngeir. Which one of you is the Dovahkiin? The Dragonborn." Kaylee stood a little straighter. "I am, Master." He crossed his arms. "Are you? Then let us taste your Voice. Do not worry, it will not harm us." Licking her lips, she thought of the word she learned. "Fus!" A force blew out her mouth and pushed Arngeir back a few steps. He nodded at her. "Dragonborn indeed." He looked over to Vilkas. "You may stay in our living quarters for now." Vilkas bowed his head slightly. "Thank you, master."
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A week passed before Kaylee learned all she could at the moment. Even though she did not want to leave the peacefulness that was there, she did want to return to her home. She figured Vilkas wanted to return to Whiterun as well. "Vilkas, we'll stop again in Ivarstead before leaving so we can warm up." "All right."
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Both of the travelers felt relief when they saw Whiterun in the distance. Almost home. Kaylee felt herself become impatient. She wanted to get some jobs done first before setting out to do the task the Graybeard gave her. She frowned remembering the task. She was half expecting the Graybeards to tell her to kill a dragon instead of retrieving a horn. The disappointment disappeared as she recalled the horn was in a Nordic Ruin.
She wouldn't be surprised if she found one of the Word Walls, as Arngeir called them, in there. The last two ruins she had been in had them. What would make this one any different? She was yanked from her thoughts when Vilkas called out to her, "Kaylee, we're almost there." Looking around, she found that they were already near the stables.
Skjor found himself watching the door. It had been almost two week since Vilkas and the whelp had set off. To High Hrothgar no less. He sat up as one the doors opened to reveal Vilkas and the whelp. "So, you're back. How was your journey?" Vilkas sat next to him. "Eventful. I was able to see Kaylee take down a dragon." Skjor raised his eyebrow. "Really?" He waited for Vilkas to finish his mead first. "Aye. We were on our way to Ivarstead when we started hearing hammering in the distance. We both thought for second we had come across the town; however it was an Imperial camp."
Vilkas stretched before continuing, "Anyways, the Imperial had seen a dragon fly by over near an abounded tower. None of them where brave enough to fight the dragon, so Kaylee offered to kill it off for them. It was quite the fight, brother. I must admit that I had trouble believing that this new whelp was Dragonborn until I saw her take its soul after we killed it." An impressive sight it had been. Tendrils had gone straight into Kaylee and never came back out. "I see." Skjor cleared his throat. "If you should see the whelp, tell her I need to speak to her. Give her a few days to complete another job at least." "Aye."
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She looked back at Vilkas. "He wants to see me again? For what?" Vilkas shrugged. "He only told me he wanted to see you again. Something important." She stroked her chin. "I see." Getting up from her bed she started to put on her armor. "Where is he?" "I think he is overseeing Ria's training." She nodded her thanks to Vilkas while buckling the last bit of her armor and walked out.
She glanced around the training dummies. Oh, there he is. Walking down the stairs quickly, she called out, "Skjor! You wanted to see me?" He looked over to her. "Aye. That's good enough Ria. You did well." Patting Ria's shoulder, he came towards Kaylee. "I need to speak to you tonight. In the underforge." She nodded. "Wait, where is the underforge?" He chuckled. "Don't worry, I'll show you."
She sighed. Night was at least 3 hours away, and she wondered how she could pass the time. Her mind was blank until she heard the hammering from the Skyforge. Smithing. She could have Eorlund teach her a little of it for right now. It would definitely help pass those three hours, and it would be something different from training.
Skjor waited for Kaylee to finish with the blade she was smithing. Eorlund insisted she finish it first before going with him. "Almost done Skjor. Another five minutes." Eorlund commented to him. He nodded in reply. Shifting his weight he wondered how she would react to he was about offer her. Probably awful considering her heritage, she had no idea of it. Then again, Farkas had mentioned something about her becoming angry after she watched him transform.
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"Skjor!" He jumped slightly at his name. Damn, I was so lost in thought. "She's done." He motioned for her to follow him. He pushed open the door to the underforge and let Kaylee in. Her eyes almost bugged out at the sight of another werewolf. "I hope you recognized Aela, even in this form." She tensed. "Why am I here?" He set his hands on a stone bowl that was set in the middle of the room. "You're here because Kodlak is too busy trying to throw away this gift we have been given." She glared at him. "Doesn't look like a gift to me."
Taking a step, she glared even more. Aela and Skjor may see it as gift, but she knew Kodlak, Vilkas and Farkas did not. No it was curse. She saw how badly Kodlak wanted to be in Sovngrade. "Come on whelp. Join us in the Circle." Skjor yanked up Aela's arm, cut it and let a bit of blood spill into the bowl. She stared at the blood before looking Skjor dead in the eyes. "No. I will not join you." That familiar anger from Dustman's Cain appeared. This time she almost embraced it. She wanted so bad to attack Skjor and twist her sword into his gut. She knew better though. She would probably be kicked from the Companions and Skjor or Aela would hunt her down in fear of the secret escaping. Turning on her heel she almost ran out.
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She picked up her pace towards Kodlak's room. She didn't care if it was late. He had to know of the offer Skjor had just made. She let out a sigh of relief when she noticed the doors where still open. Kodlak looked up to see Kaylee run into his room. He quickly held his hand up before she tried to speak. "Breathe lass. Get some air." When she was done he guided her towards the chairs. "What is so important that you come running into my room for?" She looked around before speaking, "Skjor offered me the beastblood."
Kodlak frowned. "Did he now?" "Aye. I refused though." Kodlak stroked his beard. "I will have to speak to him about it then. Thank you lass. Not many people would speak out." She sat back in the chair place her hands on her knees. "Kodlak, I have another question." He waited for her to continue. "Every time I have seen a werewolf, I always feel this intense anger towards the wolf in person, even if I know they won't hurt me. Why?"
Kodlak smiled. "I have been waiting for you to ask that." He was given a confused look. "It's in your blood lass. Aye, that's right, I know about your family." She held another confused look before growing angry. "You knew about my family yet you didn't tell me?" He held his hand up again. "Kaylee, at the time it wasn't right to tell you. I knew you wouldn't have taken to it well if I had told you then. Especially after your Trail with Farkas. I couldn't have you leave us and end up being killed because you would have been so angry with us. It was for your safety. I assure you I meant to tell you tomorrow, however since things have changed, I might as well now. You, my dear, are of Paladin descent."