Chapter Fourteen
"What…what was that?" Erik's eyes were focused on the silver stars of the night.
"I don't know…" Alinja mimicked his gaze. "But the world feels like its…changing."
"Let's hurry back to Whiterun." Erik lowered his gaze to the dimly lit path to the city. "The Jarl needs to know what happened."
They hurried back to Dragonsreach where they found the Jarl sitting on his throne, his elbows resting on his knees and his face deep in thought. He raised his head as they neared him.
"So what happened at the watchtower?" he asked urgently. "Was the dragon there?"
Alinja placed Meeko carefully on the ground, where he
relaxed onto his stomach. "The watchtower was destroyed, but we killed the dragon."
Balgruuf sat up in his tall chair, a slight proud smile appearing on his lips. "I knew I could count on Irileth. But there must be more to it than that."
Alinja traded a glance with Erik. "When the dragon died, I absorbed some sort of power from it."
"So it's true…" Balgruuf raised the back of his hand to his mouth. "The Greybeards really were summoning you."
"The Greybeards?" Alinja and Erik asked in unison.
"Masters of the Way of the Voice." Balgruuf explained. "The live in seclusion high on the slopes of the Throat of the World."
"What do the Greybeards want with me?" Alinja quarried.
"The Dragonborn is said to be uniquely gifted in the Voice—the ability to focus your vital essence into a Thu'um, or a Shout." The Jarls eyes seemed to lighten as he shared his knowledge. "If you really are Dragonborn, they can teach you how to use your gift."
A man with a shaved head and knotted beard, wearing studded armour stepped forward. "Didn't you hear the thundering sound as you returned to Whiterun?"
The two Nords nodded.
"That was the voice of the Greybeards, summoning you to High Hrothgar! This hasn't happened in…centuries, at least! Not since Tiber Septim himself was summoned when he was still Talos of Atmora!"
Proventus was standing next to the Jarl's throne, was silently watching the conversation until he raised his head and spoke up.
"Hrongar, calm yourself. What does any of this Nord nonsense have to do with our friend here?" He glanced at Alinja who frowned at him. Nord nonsense? She was a Nord herself! Proventus continued, "Capable as she may be, I don't see any signs of her being this, what, 'Dragonborn.'"
"I can Shout for you if you want." Alinja snapped, feeling her Nord blood boiling.
"Nord nonsense?" Hrongar talked over her. "Why you puffed-up ignorant…these are our sacred traditions that go back to the founding of the First Empire!"
Amused by the argument, Jarl Balgruuf finally spoke up. "Hrongar, don't be so hard on Avenicci."
"I meant no disrespect of course." Proventus weakly apologised. "It's just that… what do these Greybeards want with her?"
"That's the Greybeard's business, no ours." Balgruuf turned his attention to Alinja. "Whatever happened when you killed that dragon, it revealed something in you, and the Greybeards heard it. If they think you're Dragonborn, who are we to argue? You'd better get up to High Hrothgar as soon as possible. There's no refusing the summons of the Greybeards. It's a tremendous honour." The Jarl grinned. "You've done a great service for me and my city, Dragonborn. By my right as Jarl, I' name you Thane of Whiterun."
"M-my Jarl?" Alinja stuttered, shocked. "Th-thank you." She glanced at Erik. "But I was not alone in fighting that dragon—"
"This is the greatest honour that's in my power to grant," the Jarl continued. "I assign you Lydia as a personal Housecarl, and this weapon from my armoury to serve as your badge of office. I'll also notify my guards of your title. Wouldn't want to think you're part of the common rabble, now would we? We are honoured to have you as Thane of our city, Dragonborn."
With that, he stood and bid them farewell, and he disappeared up the stairs, leaving Erik, Alinja, Meeko, Proventus and Hrongar in the Throne room. Alinja turned to Erik.
"Erik—"
"No, its fine." He smiled warmly at her. "I've never been so proud of you."
"Erik…" was all she could say.
That night, they bought the house promised to them, Breezehome, and rested well for the first time in a long while.
They awoke early the next morning and headed over to the stables and to the carriage driver.
"Excuse me," Alinja talked to the driver, "do you know the closest town to High Hrothgar?"
The driver's eyebrows rose. "You that Dragonborn everyone's been talking about?" When she nodded he continued. "You'd want to go to Ivarstead. I can take you to Riften if you want and you'll be able to walk down from there."
"That would be great, thank you." Alinja said, handing the driver the coins for Riften.
The three companions climbed onto the back of the carriage and they were off to the Rift.
After a few hours, they arrived in Riften. Thanking the driver, Alinja, Erik and Meeko took to the road and followed the signs to Ivarstead. Ivarstead was as a small town, with a simple mill and a small farm with a cow and a few chickens. Small wooden buildings made up the bulk of the town.
"This place looks like Rorikstead." Erik said with a somewhat melancholy look on his face.
"It does." Alinja replied. She cast her gaze up and viewed the great mountain just past the bridge out of town. "I guess this is the Throat of the World."
"I've always seen in from the farms, but I never imagined it would be this tall." Erik murmured. "This is amazing."
"Come on, we should keep going." She adjusted her pack and the walked on through the town.
The townspeople stole a few glances at the outsiders, but continued their work in their farm and mill. When they came up to the bridge they saw a big Nord man speaking to a Wood Elf man.
"Not today," The Nord was saying, "my legs just aren't up to it."
"Aren't the Greybeards expecting some supplied though?" The Wood Elf asked.
"Excuse me," Alinja injected, "do you know if there is a path up to High Hrothgar from here?"
The Woof Elf turned and smiled warmly. "Yes, if you follow this path, it will take you to the Seven-thousand Steps up to the big ol' building."
"Heading up to High Hrothgar?" The Nord man stared at his fellow kin. "I was just about to make a delivery up there myself." He hesitated before continuing. "The thing is, my legs aren't what they used to be."
"What kind of deliveries do you make?" Erik asked.
"Mainly food and supplies." The Nord man answered.
"And in return?"
"Well it's kind of a peace offering between us." The Nord explained. "The Greybeards don't tend to get out much, if you know what I mean. Besides, it's mostly just a bit of dried fruit and salted meats. It wouldn't be right to charge them for a bit of preserved food."
"We could make the delivery for you." Alinja offered.
"Really?" The Nord man's eyes lit up. "That would be kind of you. I'd pay you for the extra legwork. Just before the doors, there is a chest. Put this bag of supplies into there."
"Sure." Alinja gave him a quick smile and took the bag from him.
The three of them continued along the path and saw that there were stone steps winding up the mountain. Unsure of the journey ahead, they took the first steps. After about half an hour, Erik looked up.
"It looks like it's beginning to snow." He muttered. "You going to be warm enough, O great Dragonborn?"
Alinja smirked. "Shut it! Do not mock the great Dragonborn for I shall… yell at you!"
"You mean Shout right?"
"Same thing."
Erik chuckled and wrapped an arm around her as they walked. "Why can't adventuring always be like this?"
"Because it then it would be boring and we'd get fat." Alinja explained.
"That'd be a sight…" Erik muttered. He breathed in the increasingly cold air. "I wonder if there are any wildlife that live on this mountain."
"There definitely are." Alinja said, stopping in her tracks.
"What is it?" Erik followed her gaze and his eyes widened. "Crap."
Lounging on a large rock was a Snowy Sabre Cat. It snapped its head towards them and bared its five-inch long canines and savagely hissed. Meeko lowered his head and snarled back, flattening his ears defensively. The cat stood and donned a stalking stance. It crept forward as the two Nords drew their swords.
"Awooooo!"
Alinja and Erik glanced behind them. An Ice Wolf leading a pack of five regular wolves stalked behind them.
"Oh, there's wildlife…" Alinja murmured.
"This isn't all of them, Alinja, look." Erik directed her gaze to the distant where a large, white figure was charging towards them.
Alinja thought it was a man at first, but then as it neared them, she gasped as she recognised the Frost Troll lumbering to them.
"This is ridiculous." Erik grumbled. "How are they not attacking each other?"
"And how did that Nord guy walk to and from High Hrothgar without encountering them?"
"Maybe that's the reason his legs aren't—" Erik was cut off when the Snowy Sabre Cat pounced towards him. He cried out and ducked.
The Cat leaped over him and crashed into the Ice Wolf behind him. The Wolf snapped its jaws at the Cat and called for its pack to attack its new opponent. While they were busy with each other, Erik and Alinja turned back to the Troll. It was larger than she had expected. The beast roared and raised its arm to swipe at them.
As the ducked, Alinja called to Erik. "Erik! I have an idea. We have to lure it to the edge of the mountain."
"Why?" he called back.
"Just trust me." When he nodded they both ran to the edge of the mountain and as planned, the Troll followed.
Just as it was about to swipe at them again, they rolled under its arms in unison. Alinja turned and faced the confused animal and breathed in, closing her eyes, she focused on the new power within her. Feeling it rise, she snapped her eyes open and let that power out.
"Fus!" she Shouted and the power of her Voice caused the Frost Troll to stumble back a little, but it was enough for it to slip on the icy rocks and lose its balance, falling backwards and down the mountain.
She looked at Erik who had an impressed look on his face and she grinned at him. He smirked back. "Good plan." He complimented.
A roar from behind jerked them back into focus as they spun around to see the Snowy Sabre Cat throwing a dead wolf aside. By itself it had killed an Ice Wolf and five other wolves. With a bloody face and front paws, it glared at Erik and Alinja. Meeko jumped to action and he leapt in front of his masters. He growled and snapped his jaws savagely. The two Nords walked to stand beside their furry companion and gripped their swords. The Cat crouched and pounced towards them. All three of the companions leapt to action. Meeko gripped the Cat's throat while the Nords stabbed its head from either side. The Snowy Sabre Cat gave out a low rumbled and fell down dead. Wiping their blades on its pelt, they sheathed their weapons and continued the path to High Hrothgar.
Finally reaching their destination, the air was freezing cold. Erik, Alinja and Meeko all had bits of snow in their hair and fur.
"I think that's the chest!" Erik called over the howling, ice-cold wind.
Alinja nodded and opened the chest and dropped the Nord man's supplies into it. Stepping back, she gazed up with great awe as the tall doors to High Hrothgar loomed over them. The building was a dull grey as were the doors. It looked ancient, but well looked after. Icicles hung from the roof's edge of the building and snow mounted the short steps to the entrance.
"Well this is it." Alinja said to Erik and the three of them heaved open the heavy iron door.
Inside a few torches burned and illuminated the dark room. Everything was made of stone. Stone walls, stone floors and stone benches. There was a window on the ceiling, letting white light to shine down into the centre of the room. The place looked cold, however it felt warm. As Alinja lead Erik and Meeko past the entrance, four elderly men wearing grey robes and had long grey beards stepped down steps that most likely lead to other rooms.
Alinja felt her stomach drop. These were the exact same people who were in her dream…
*Dedicated to my Uncle Mark who was killed during a bank robbery in South Africa. May you Rest in Peace.*