The blizzard was roaring as Phoenix arrived at the Throat of the World.
"You have it. The Kel – the Elder Scroll," a distinct voice boomed through the whirlwind of snow and ice. "Tiid kreh… qalos. Time shudders at its touch. There is no question. You are doom-driven. Kogaan Akatosh. The very bones of the earth are at your disposal. Go then. Fulfil your destiny. Take the scroll to the Time-Wound. Do not delay. Alduin will be coming. He cannot miss the signs."
Phoenix nodded in the direction of Paarthurnax's voice, assuming that the wise dragon would have detected her doing so.
The Nord took the Elder Scroll from her bag and walked towards a strange clearing in the snow storm. She was shaking, and almost scared of dropping the Scroll.
She took a deep breath, and unravelled the Scroll.
Her vision was blinded, her eyes in agony.
"Ahh! Paarthurnax! What's going on?!"
No answer.
Strange symbols and runes filled her vision, and everything she could see changed.
"What happened?"
Phoenix's vision re-adjusted and she collapsed to the ground, dropping the Scroll. She felt the new Thu'um – Dragonrend – within her. She had seen the Ancient Nords – Gormlaith, Felldir and Hakon – attempt to fight Alduin, only for Felldir to banish him with the Elder Scroll. They had used Dragonrend in attempt to take down Alduin.
"Bahloki nahkip sillesejoor. My belly is full of the souls of your fellow mortals, Dovahkiin. Die now and await your fate in Sovngarde!"
Phoenix jumped up and quickly conjured a bound sword.
"Lost funt. You are too late, Alduin! Dovahk-," an ear-piercing cry echoed through the twirling white vortex. Paarthurnax panicked, and Phoenix could just make out the aged, silver dragon rapidly fly into the distance.
"Dovahkiin! What have you done?!"
Phoenix rotated herself, to face Alduin.
What she saw was something she did not expect.
"Where- what did you do to Paarthurnax?!" she cried through the thickening storm. Even though she was a hardy Nord, the dangerous cold was biting at her flesh. She was going to collapse.
"Foolish joor!" the storm completely coated her vision. She could not see further than her own feet.
Another cry.
All went silent.
Paarthurnax had long disappeared, and Alduin was no longer shouting condescending things through the thick of the storm.
The snow continued to pelt on to the ground, and Phoenix had to cover her face with her arm. She dragged her feet, through the icing of snow atop the mountain, towards where she had last heard Alduin.
"Come and face me, you pathetic worm!" she shouted. No reply.
The only thing she heard besides the howling wind was a faint muffling sound directly in front of her.
It was her only option. She darted towards the sound.
"H- hello?" her teeth chattered.
Another murmur.
A body of a man lay besides the desolate word wall. Although she had heard murmuring, she could not yet fully tell whether this man was dead or alive. She doubted he would be alive, as the nude male must have been in the cold for quite some time.
Phoenix lowered beside him. She hesitantly turned him over, to check for a pulse. She gently placed her hand on his neck.
He was alive.
Phoenix placed a hand on his chest to attempt to heal any injures he may have sustained. He turned his head, and his eyes shot open. His eyes were red, which made Phoenix instantly jump back. He awkwardly lunged an arm at her, fingers barely grasping the collar of her cuirass.
"Dovahkiin."
His eyes snapped shut.