Ch. 4 Seeking Knowledge II
Yep it's the real chapter four but keep in mind what I said about the once a week update. It's not something I decided to do at first but one a week seems better than two every couple of weeks when it comes to writing. I want to thank you all for sticking this far and we still got a little ways to go so without further ado, disclaimer time.
Disclaimer: I own nothing, all characters and events are copyright of Bethesda.
'Maybe I should've visited Paarthurnax first.' Marius thought with a sigh as the carriage arrived at Katla's farm outside the gates of Solitude. 'At least then I would have some information to compare it to.' Marius disembarked the carriage and walked up the hill to the gates.
"The Dragonborn returns, with good news I hope?" The guard asked with a grin.
Marius mulled over his answer for a moment. "If you want to call it good then yes."
"You are not happy? With the World-Eater gone then the dragon menace is stopped." The guard replied.
"Just because Alduin is stopped doesn't mean the dragons are. They usually act on their own after all." Marius said with a hint of sadness. 'And it's usually that act is what makes people think they are evil.' He thought to himself.
"Bah, they are nothing more than an annoyance now that they are leaderless. I heard that a group of dragon slayers are being formed in the Reach, maybe you would like to join them?" He said/asked in a happy manner.
Marius felt a part of his being rebel at the statement and a snarl almost escaped from him but he disguised it as a frown. "Not all dragons are evil, should they die simply because of who they are?"
The guard shook his head. "I'm not saying that, there's talk of a dragon in Winterhold that is acting as a guardian of sorts. No buildings have been burned and the few townsfolk are at least respectful to it."
Marius raised an eyebrow. "Seriously?"
"Dead serious, the Jarl has even declared the dragon not to be harmed." The guard replied. "Wonder if Jarl Elisif would allow a dragon near Solitude, it would definitely help if the damn elves decide they have had enough waiting around."
Marius was a little confused on his stance. "You would want a dragon here?"
"Of course, dragons are powerful and according to legends they use to be revered and worshipped by a cult. I'm not saying they should be worshipped but if one or two decide to come to Solitude as a peaceful approach then I say let them." The guard explained.
"That is…an interesting outlook." Marius said in thought.
"There are a lot of people that share that outlook on Tamriel. It's not said out loud but many would welcome it if the dragons are a peaceful lot."
Marius nodded. "I'll keep that in mind and I'll speak to Elisif and Tullius about it, no names though." He said quickly as the guard nodded and Marius walked through the gate. 'A lot of people huh? Delphine and Esbern won't be happy to hear that but I'm not telling them.' Marius thought with a smirk as he walked through Solitude toward the Blue Palace.
-Scene Change-
"Fahliil were always an uptight bunch." Alduin said irritably. "Even during our time they acted superior to every other race and a few even dared to say they were better than us. Their arrogance knows no bounds. Pahlok los dinok." She said as she watched the last elf get surrounded by four dragons. Watching the elf try to be fearless made her laugh as the dragons played a game of bait with him.
"It has been a while since I tasted elf flesh." One said with a grin.
"I wonder if seared elf is on the menu?" Another said.
"The Thalmor will not let this go unpunished! Even if you kill me the army will still hunt you all down." The elf said in fear.
Alduin's smirk grew. "I think we are more than a match for your army, little elf." She then put her head up in mock-thought. "Would the so called Imperial Legion allow us to join them and restart the war, this time with dragon support?" She asked mockingly as the elves eyes narrowed.
"They will do nothing of the sort. It is only by our mercy that their Legion is still around; they will take no action against us for fear of total defeat!" The elf yelled out.
Alduin wasn't even fazed a little. "Not if you have a fellow Dov in the Legion and a leader that is more than willing to take every bit of help they can get."
Now it was the elf's turn to laugh. "A dragon in the Legion? Ha, they would never allow any of you even close to their city without being killed."
"Aan joor dov wundun Keizaal." Alduin responded simply.
"What guttural language are you speaking dragon, some old language that has no use to anyone anymore?" The elf said and around him the dragons snarled.
"Strike one elf." Alduin said as she sniffed her wing in boredom. 'I need a bath.' She thought irritably. 'I never thought I was vain but now this just smells.'
"What if I told you where your enemy resides?" The elf said as he began to think of a plan to escape. 'All I need to do is distract them with a bigger problem then I can get out of here and deliver my report.'
Alduin turned her attention back to the elf with narrowed eyes. "Continue." She said warningly.
The elf let out a small sigh of relief. "He has a house in a few of the holds but he spends the majority in Whiterun with his two adopted children. If something where to happen to the city then he would be drawn like a moth to a flame and if his kid were somehow "disposed" of then he would be broken and an easy target."
'Children….he has children.' She thought angrily. 'If he has children then does that mean that he has a-' "What about a mate?" Alduin asked with a growl.
"He has no wife or significant other, it is just him and two children he is raising." The elf said in a placating tone. 'Keep going for the bait.'
That calmed Alduin rising anger but hearing that he has children set a new feeling in her body. 'He has young ones that he cares for.' She thought in wonder. In her time as a small dragon her father, Akatosh had always told her stories of caring for a young dragon and how proud he was to watch her grow up under him. She eventually went a different path then what her father wanted but the feeling of raising a young dov never left her mind. Her thoughts then turned into boiling anger. 'This little fahliil said "disposed of the little joor's"; he wants to harm my Dovahkiin's young!' Alduin let out a very loud roar of anger. "Hi krastov krivaan fen ni haalvut un goraan!"
The elf began to back up and so did the dragons. None of them had ever seen Alduin this angry before and none wished to be in her way right now. The dragons took off into the air quickly but the elf was knocked back by the wind from all four taking off. Before he could get up and run, Alduin was already landing on the ground with a loud thud and her eyes were blazing with an intense fire. The elf got to his feet and believed that he had her attention. "They are usually playing with in the town around midday, you can get them during that time!" He said fearfully.
"Rii vaaz zol!" Alduin shouted as the elf let loose a single scream before his soul was torn from his body. She crushed his resurrected body beneath her foot in anger before turning her attention back to the four dragons in the air. "Go to the city of Whiterun, find his kiir and ensure that they are unharmed, if I find even a small mark on them on your watch I will personally tear you four apart!"
The dragons only nodded in fear and took off for Whiterun, leaving Alduin alone at the base of the cliff. "Those fahliil will learn what it means to mess with the World-Eater!" She said in anger.
-Scene Change-
Marius felt like banging his head on the table. All around him were books about the history of the Empire and yet none of them even said anything about dragons. "It's like someone purposely omitted the dragons from history save for legends." Marius would put every last septim he had on the Blades being responsible but he would think at least one book would still be untouched. Marius sighed weary from the task and it wasn't even sundown yet. With a small sigh, Marius stood up and went to put the books back before leaving the library.
As soon as he stepped onto the street he saw Legate Rikke approaching him. "There you are, we need you to come to the Castle Dour now!" She said as she turned and ran back to the Castle with Marius close behind.
"You said they were just staying on the houses and not moving?" Tullius asked the messenger who looked completely scared.
"Yes sir, they just appeared out of nowhere and landed." The messenger said urgently.
Tullius was about to reply when the doors were thrown open and Rikke walked in with Marius. "I appreciate you finding him Rikke." Tullius said as he eyed the Dragonborn.
"It wasn't easy Tullius." Rikke said with a hint of humor.
"Nothing involving him ever is." Tullius replied and Marius couldn't stop a small chuckle before steeling his expression.
"What is going on sir?" Marius said quickly.
Tullius turned back to the table. "Four dragons landed in Whiterun a few hours ago and the messenger said that they landed on some houses and haven't moved before he left.
Marius felt his heart stop cold. 'She didn't….' "Permission to head out now sir?!" Marius said fearfully.
"Granted, Rikke take a small detachment but don't engage unless it's needed." Tullius said as Marius ran out the door and Rikke nodded.
Marius ran out the door the moment he was given permission. Once outside he ordered all soldiers away from the courtyard before Shouting. "Dur Neh Viir!" The force of the shout knocked those still around back a bit and within seconds Durnehviir materialized in the courtyard.
"It has been some time Dovahkiin." Durnehviir said as he turned to Marius. "I was beginning to think you had forsaken me in that dreadful place."
"I am truly sorry my friend, my mind has been occupied by Alduin and stopping her." Marius said with his head down. He was forgetting Durnehviir and the dragon didn't deserve to rot in that evil place.
"Zu'u mindoraan, Dovahkiin. She is powerful and not to be taken lightly. Do you have need of me?" Durnehviir said.
"I need to get to Whiterun, I think Alduin sent dragons after my children." Marius said in urgency.
Durnehviir snorted and slime from his body was snorted on the walls. "Cowardly to send dov after those who can't protect themselves." He said as he lowered his neck and allowed Marius to climb on. "To the skies, Dovahkiin!" Durnehviir said as he pushed himself from the ground and into the air.
Tullius looked around at the green slime now scattered around the courtyard. He didn't know what it was but it was beginning to smell like rotten flesh. "Rikke before you leave, can you post a cleaning schedule?" All around him her heard guards begin to moan and complain and he smiled as he walked into the Dour. Sometimes it was good to be a General.
-Scene Change-
"You wish to know about our part in building the Empire." Durnehviir said as Marius came out of his stupor.
"How did you know that?" Marius asked in confusion.
"Even in the Soul Cairn, word reaches me of events in Tamriel. You want to give us our pride back as a species and allow us to thrive once more as Dov." Durnehviir said with pride in his voice.
Marius looked down for a second. "I do want to help but finding even a bit of what I need is proving to be impossible."
"Perhaps you are going about this the wrong way, Dovahkiin. I do not have Paarthurnax's wisdom but I do know of one place in history you can start." Durnehviir said and Marius perked up.
"Where should I start looking?" Marius asked.
"The Akaviri loved to keep records of their accomplishments in writing. You should start with those writings and work backwards to when they first came to Tamriel." Durnehviir explained and Marius felt like slapping himself.
"Of course they would have records of that. Every major city in Tamriel had a library dedicated to the Akaviri and their feats but the best place to go would be….damn." Marius finished with a scowl.
"Dovahkiin?" Durnehviir questioned curiously.
"I would have to go to Sky Haven Temple and the Blades don't want me there unless I kill Paarthurnax." Marius said and Durnehviir dipped his head.
"Vahzah….but who said you need to ask? Dov never ask for anything." Durnehviir said and Marius again felt as if a growl tried to escape him. "Your dovah side agrees Dovahkiin."
Marius didn't like how he had another side to his being but he couldn't anything about it. "It seems Alduin was right after all; it will eventually come out."
Durnehviir merely shook with humor. "Niid Dovahkiin, it will only come out when you want it. When you have fought, did you ever have a time when you felt the rush of battle? The power coursing through you and the feeling of something guiding your actions?"
Marius nodded in acknowledgment. "Yes I have, it felt…..exhilarating and freeing."
"Your Dovah half is guiding your actions in battle Dovahkiin." Durnehviir said simply though Marius still looked a little uneasy.
"What about when I am not in battle? Before I went into Solitude I was talking to a guard and I felt angry at something he said but it wasn't due to me." Marius said in confusion.
Durnehviir laughed at this point. 'The Dovahkiin still doesn't understand.' "It is because you are a dov that you do this. You do not appreciate those that speak ill of the dov and you do not like those that wish us harm. Much like your fellow soldiers in the Legion, you see us as brethren just as you do for them."
Marius thought for a moment. "My dragon side doesn't like how they are treated and responds through me." He finally said.
Durnehviir nodded in agreement. "It will be tough to find the balance between your mortal side and your dovah side but if you succeed in it then nothing will be impossible for you."
Marius couldn't stop the grin from appearing on his face. "A daunting task but one that isn't impossible eh?" He joked with Durnehviir. "First things first, find out what the Akaviri knew then go from there." Marius said seriously.
Durnehviir responded by letting out a roar of agreement. Marius smiled at his friend and somehow the coming storm didn't seem so bad.
Behind them, a red dragon was smirking. "It seems Alduin's faith in you was well-placed. Now let's hope you can fair the coming storm."
And cut and print!
This chapter was showcased a small bit Alduin's childhood and a new desire to protect her Dragonborn and we got to see some wise words from Durnehviir and not Paarthurnax for once. Some people might not like how Durnehviir gave him the advice but I always feel that Durny is underappreciated despite how badass he is, so I gave him a more prominent role and Paarthurnax will come into play again soon, I promise. The Thalmor know Marius has kids and the kids will play a role that causes a huge problem for them overall.
Now comes a part where you all as readers can play a role. I need 5 dragon names for the 5 dragons in the story so far. 4 for the ones in Whiterun and 1 for the dragon in Winterhold. The one in Winterhold will play a small cameo in the next chapter to give you all a glimpse as to what is going on since he is there and I am planning a small short to explain how he got there and why. That being said it is a challenge I am posing to you all and I will accept names until Sunday night at 11:59 pm. After that I will make a poll with them and you all can vote on the top five!
Rules are as follows:
Need a name from Thuum . org that you make up and the translation along with a type, color and a gender. Must be Frost type or above (look on UESP or the elder scrolls wiki for the different types)
No reusing dragons already named in other stories. I don't want another author telling me off for using a name in their story without their permission.
Be creative with the names if you can but don't be stupid and give me a name like brown poo fling or something like that. Be serious but creative and have fun!
There's the challenge now make it happen people, you have the deadline now let's have fun.
Word translations (courtesy of Thuum . org):
Fahliil – Elf or Elves
Pahlok los dinok – Arrogance is Death (She means that arrogance leads to death)
Aan joor dov wundun Keizaal – A mortal dragon travels Skyrim (meaning Marius)
Hi krastov krivaan fen ni haalvut un goraan! – You vile murderer's will not touch our young! (Elf said dispose of kids and Alduin is playing the protective mother)
Rii vaaz zol – Essence Tear Zombie (Soul Tear Shout)
Kiir – Children
Dur Neh Viir – Curse Never Dying (Summon Durnehviir shout)
Zu'u mindoraan – I understand