Inheritance Of Skyrim
Chapter 12
Flight of the Dragons
By R. Reichelderfer
Murtagh and Thorn were finally ready, placing a number of their items into High Hrothgar for safe storage. With a week's provisions Murtagh and Thorn should be good to go. Strapping his legs into the saddle's Stirups he made sure that the arrows and bow were secured, as was his sword. Finally with Thorn walking to the edge of the mountain they looked over to the west. And with the sun raising behind the mountain they could see the light spreading over the mountains below and then as stones were knocked down, Thorn spread his wings and leaped, his wings carried up up aiding to his jump as he soared down the side of the mountain. Wind tore through Murtagh's hair, unlike before where as Thorn's wings had strained to carry him, now they took the weight with ease. As he dived through the air, Murtagh whooped and hollered in sheer joy. He had ridden Saphira once when she took him across the river. A short hopping jump but now this was flight, true flight.
He understood what Eragon felt when he was flying with Saphira. /~Now we are free Murtagh, we are finally free~/ Free of the bonds to Galbatorix, free of the bonds of gravity. With his powerful wings Thorn took one flap down as he ended his dive and began to level off. His wings flapped nice and hard as Murtagh and Thorn flew over the remains of Helgen. A Roar of Joy escape Thorn's throat as he allowed himself to roll over allowing Murtagh to see all the workers repairing the damage to the city from the dragon attack. Murtagh had begun to finance the repair of the city. Work that was coming along very nicely. Selling all sorts of loot had allowed it to progress very rapidly for thirty five thousand gold, that included a manor home for himself and an area for Thorn to rest in with out the need of stables.
Moving through the mountains Thorn was a bolt of red as he tore across the sky tucking his wings and as he flew over the forest appearing and flying by faster then people could react. The journey what would take months would only take days, if a week. He had already crossed in a few minutes what would taken him days or weeks of travel time. With Thorn diving and climbing he passed over various mountain areas and into the plains of white run hold.
/~Now I understand what Eragon feels.~/ Murtagh said telepathically. He could feel Thorn's amusement
/~Let me show you what flying is really like.~/
/~How?~/
/~Relax and trust me.~/ Thorn told Murtagh as Thorn began to draw Murtagh's consciousness out of his body, and into his own. Murtagh could feel himself drawn between Thorn and himself until how he felt Thorn fly. He could feel his muscles and wings. Amazed at how Thorn used his tail so much for control and steering. Murtagh made a note to protect Thorn's tail in combat. As he was not in control of himself he could feel Thorn lift his head and look back. He could see himself with a blank expressionless face holding tight in the saddle. He could see how some colors were duller and others brightened. When he commented, Thorn said, /~It is how I am.~/
After the two separated, they continued to fly through out the sky performing all sorts of Loops and twists. Just enjoying themselves for hours on end. Finally as the pair spotted Bleak Falls Barrow and Riverwood down below. At first Murtagh thought about heading down to Riverwood to sleep in the Inn. But something about the owner Delphine made him nervous. She had asked him if the rumors were true that he had enslaved a dragon. It was enough to make him walk out, she had wanted to keep pressing him for question and it made him leave. The fact her thoughts were tightly guarded he couldn't reach into her mind with out making force of it. So flapping his Wings Thorn sailed over the small town angling his decent to the temple platform after making sure that there were no bandits or trouble there when they landed. Thorn landed on the ground below the main entrance. The snow covered ground made him leave some large tracks behind not caring to use his tail to sweep them away. Thorn could see the carved stone with some resemblance to dragon heads.
Moving up the steps beside Murtagh he was surprised to see how strong the posts were as Murtagh commented. "Might make a good home. Hire some builders, some servants. Clean the dead out of the place. What do you think?"
Thorn was amused as he said, /~If you would like sleeping in a graveyard where the corpses liked to move around of their own free will. I would rather find another place.~/ Murtagh was amused as the pair walked up the steps out of the freezing snow and wind. Taking hold of the the massive door ring Murtagh pulled one of the doors open nice and wide allowing Thorn to slip inside as Murtagh came to close it back. The door was maybe twenty feet high The inside of the Barrow had the wall on the left side collapsed and exposed to the snow and wind. But deeper inside it was warmer and more sheltered.
Looking around he could smell the old blood from the corpses of the bandits that Murtagh had killed on his first pass through here. He could also smell skeevers. The support columns had with stood the test of time as Thorn moved through. His head moved to the side as he saw three pillars in the middle of the room with stone blocks that had fallen. The sound of Skeever's chittering made him lick his lips. Thorn had developed a taste for the pests while he was growing up in Dragons Reach. Even going down in the basements to hunt when he was the size of a large dog.
Moving along he mentioned to Murtagh to be quiet. Moving through the fallen debris Thorn tucked his wings Thorn crept along. Murtagh was surprised that for being so large Thorn was able to move silent. As he moved around a pillar he would peer on the other side and move around to where the camp fire had been long since exhausted. He could see four skeevers chewing on a human corpse, little more than a pile of bones Thorn was able to ambush the skeevers. There was a massive Squeek from one of them as Thorn was able to rush them from behind the pillar to snatch one up in his jaws shaking his head to kill the rat. Dropping it he turned his attention to the other three that had chose to attack Thorn. Something that always amused him, Skeevers were always fearless.
One slash of his claws tore a second skeever nearly in half as the other two were able to claw and bite onto Thorn. Making him snarl and thrash some. Wolves, bears, they didn't concern him they couldn't bite through his scales. Skeevers, their teeth were so sharp they were more that able to bite through his scales so as his blood trickled down his red scales Thorn slammed into one of the pillars smashing the skeever to death. The other one was biting at his throat making him reach up with one of his Taloned claws and grapple it. Slamming his foot into the ground there was a loud squeak and a splatter of blood. Thorn gave a snarl as Murtagh came up and with a healing spell healed the cuts and bites on Thorn.
Leaning down to take the over sized rodent into his jaws Thorn held it in his claw and ripped the skeever in half before swallowing the front half. Heading to the one he slammed into the pillar Thorn began to consume his dinner. The four of them made a fairly good meal, once he was sated he looked down the hall and stairs. And began to go exploring.
"Where are you going?" Murtagh asked as he was finished assembling fire wood and moving what was left of the remains of those bandits he had killed. Murtagh had not expected to return.
/~Exploring, other than through your eyes I can't explore these places. And I want to look around before I get too large." Lowering his head he snorted when Murtagh said, "You get stuck, I'll say I told you so."
Thorn crept along down the tunnel, he was small enough that he could get through it with out the need to actually hunch down. His head and neck needed to extend so he wouldn't hit his head on the ceiling. He could smell the old dusty scent. From what he recalled the dead were buried deeper inside. The tunnel was dusty as the steps and stone floor creaked under his weight. Moving side to side he could see the light from fires in the distance. Spider webs stretched along the ceiling, clinging to the walls and floors. Moving down the stone steps and onto the floor he could see the alcove in the distances as the hall turned to the left. A light from the Stone Brazier caught his his head to look around the corner as the fire burned seemingly with out end. Coming over Thorn sniffed as he could smell the magic keeping it alight for thousands of years.
To the left as he rounded the corner he could see roots and vines of some manner hanging down from the walls and ceilings. They had torn up the ground stones as he moved on. Continuing down the chamber. Moving carefully he snorted, As much as he wanted to go on he did not want to get wedged into an area he couldn't get out. /~Made by people who worshiped dragons, they certainly did not make these tunnels fit for a dragon!~/ Thorn Scoffed. Backing his way out he rejoined Murtagh who had set up a makeshift camping sight. Moving over to where there was some freshly fallen Snow Thorn began to lick the Snow up from where the wall had collapsed from the outside inward. Once it had melted and sated his thirst he returned to Murtagh.
Helping keep his rider warm with his inner fire he relaxed. The pair, rider and dragon began to share memories and dreams.
-
Standing just below the peak of a mountain Murtagh could see Thorn resting on the ground battered, bloodied but alive. Panting out he looked at the top of the peak above Thorn, dozens of dragons were perched upon the mountain top, each and every one of them watching and staring at him and Thorn. With a series of roars that shook the very mountain to it's roots. The dragons roared in unison. He could seem the all spreading their wings and taking to the air, Fire and ice streaming from their jaws. Roars and shouts whipping the wind and snow up. Causing gale force winds.
"Dovahkiin" A voice said behind him as he saw a massive dragon almost ten times the size of Thorn resting on a massive word wall. The dragon's features and face was scared and wore. His eyes pale orbs set in the stoney grey face. Behind him he could see in the sky as far as the eye could see all over the skies of Skyrim dragons everywhere. Flying and diving, roaring and shouting. Fire and frost spewing from their mouths. Motion caught his attention as a new dragon landed, this one red, and like the ancient dragon, was easily ten times the size of Thorn. As the Dragon was about to Speak, Murtagh woke up. Leaning against Thorn trembling and unsure.