A/N: Hello everyone! I just wanted to say thank you for reading the Destiny Unraveled series so far! The first book has over 4000 views and the second one is close to its 1000 views mark! I know it's not much but it's still impressive to me and I consider it an accomplishment! It is a pleasure to write this fanfiction as a fan and as a writer. Being invested in the Elder Scrolls series as I am is the reason behind the creation of this piece. I hope you will continue to read and support my writing.

I welcome all constructive criticism.

Thank you all!

DRAGON CRISIS

Destiny Unraveled

XVIII

24th of Sun's Dawn, 4E 203

Braidwood Inn was a quaint place if a bit empty. Apart from the locals, not many patrons enjoyed the charms of the small tavern. Iddra, the innkeeper, was a hard-working woman and a proud Nord at that. She was accommodating to the gang, giving them food and drinks the moment they entered the establishment even though her other patrons were more interested in getting inebriated. Luckily for her, the gang was fast asleep the previous night. They rented their rooms and called it a day sometime later. However, not everyone managed to get some shuteye as Ziiah found sleep difficult and remained awake the entire night. She even greeted Iddra as the woman left the inn early to check on her son and daughter. Ziiah smiled as she watched the woman leave the inn afterward.

"What did I say about resting?!" she heard Kaani scold her the moment she saw her. "How do you expect to fight while being exhausted?"

Ziiah rolled her eyes but said nothing, instead letting Loro speak, "Leave her be, cat monster. As if you're not on edge about going against a dragon?"

Kaani growled, "Stay out of this, you fat-headed oaf."

"That's enough, Kaani," Elvaynu suddenly said, putting a hand on Ziiah's shoulder. "You're achieving nothing by raising tensions."

The arcane mistress huffed as she crossed her arms in defiance. She acknowledged the Dunmer's words, however - the tensions were high and everyone was agitated. Out of everyone present, only she and Ziiah fought a dragon once before and it was not pretty. Kaani glanced at the Redguard girl, noticing her stiff shoulders and pale face.

"I apologize," she finally said. "I am nervous and it was unbecoming of me."

Ziiah mustered a smile as she said, "You're forgiven."

Kaani smiled in return. A moment later, they heard the door crash open. It took them a moment to realize that the person standing at the entrance was none other than Delphine herself.

"Good, you're here," she said, her attention solely on Ziiah. "We have a problem."

Outside the Braidwood Inn, the entire population of Kynesgrove had seemingly left the village in a hurry. The last to leave was terrified Iddra and even she didn't stick around long, merely pointing at the burial mound above the village as she ran off. Meanwhile, Delphine urged Ziiah and the others to follow her uphill. Not allowed to further inquire, the gang ran up the curved mountain trail. They entered a scarce forest area that had seemingly seen better days. Many of the trees were reduced to mere stumps, a clear sign of mill workers chopping down trees for timber. Ziiah thought it would've been an enchanting view under the morning sun. Albeit, it was a miserable sight, to say the least. Midway up the trail, a thundering roar echoed. Ziiah and Kaani swallowed a lump, recognizing the sky-shattering sound. Elvaynu, Tarhrin, and Nyx broke a sweat while Veilheim and Loro nearly gasped.

"Hurry up," Delphine shouted. "We need to see what's going on there!"

Ziiah was about to retort when a large shadow clouded the sun above. The gang along with Delphine glanced upwards and noticed a winged creature the size of an inn flying overhead and straight toward the burial mound nearby. Ziiah recognized the dragon. Red eyes, she thought as the creature circled the mound.

"Gods above," Delphine breathed, picking up the pace. "Look at that!"

"We need to hide," Kaani said, urging them all toward the rubble of rock nearby.

The group had divided into pairs and kept close to the rubble, their backs against the rocks. Veilheim and Nyx kneeled behind the farthest rubble, having a clear view of the airborne dragon but not the mound. Elvaynu and Tarhrin went in the opposite direction, hiding near the bushes while Loro and Kaani stuck close to Delphine and Ziiah who were positioned closer to the dragon.

"Shouldn't we attack?" Ziiah asked. "The dragon's right there."

"Wait," Delphine said, raising her hand. "Let's see what's going to happen."

Ziiah bit her lower lip. She didn't want to wait and see what was going to happen. Meanwhile, the dark-scaled dragon circled the burial mound a few more times before halting and hovering in one spot. His scales glistened under the sunrays, reflecting red and blue hues. The image brought back memories for Ziiah and not in a good way.

"Sahloknir, ziil gro dovah ulse," the dragon said, his voice guttural and dripping with malicious intent. "Slen Tiid Vo!"

"What is it saying?" Elvaynu asked to which Tarhrin shook his head, confused himself.

"That doesn't sound good," Loro commented.

Kaani frowned but said nothing.

"Ziiah is supposed to slay that?" Veilheim asked with visible nervousness in his voice.

"Keep quiet," Nyx seethed. "We move when she moves so be ready."

Veilheim gulped as he gripped his sword firmly.

"That was a Shout," Ziiah said to Delphine.

"What does it do?" Delphine asked, not looking at her.

Ziiah frowned. "Slen Tiid Vo - flesh, time, undo."

Delphine's eyes widened as the burial mound exploded, rocks falling everywhere around it. A shriek erupted from its depths and slowly, a titanic skeleton clawed its way out. Ziiah peeked from behind their hiding spot and stared in awe as the skeleton contorted and stretched while a sheen glow enveloped its body before being replaced by a complete scale hide. Impossible, Ziiah thought as she witnessed the resurrection of the beast.

"Alduin, thuri," the beast said somewhat weakly. "Boaan tiid vokriiha suleyksejun kruziik?"

"What's it saying now?" Delphine asked.

Ziiah frowned. "I'm not sure. Something about life or time."

"Geh, Sahloknir, kaali mir," the dark dragon said and his head then turned eerily toward Ziiah.

Her breath caught in her throat, and she watched as the beast stared into her eyes. For a moment she wondered if it was a figment of her imagination but sure enough, the dragon was looking at her.

"Ful, losei Dovahkiin?" it asked and Ziiah was certain he was calling her out for being a Dragonborn. "Zu'u koraav nid nol dov do hi."

"Is he," Delphine muttered, "talking to you?"

Ziiah said nothing, her eyes glued to the red orbs.

"This is bad," Veilheim whined and Nyx for once agreed with him.

"We should move," Elvaynu said and was about to rush to Ziiah's side before being stopped by Tarhrin who shook his head.

Kaani growled as she focused her magicka. "It's airborne. This is our chance - "

"We can't attack two dragons at once," Loro reminded her.

"What then?" she asked but he had no answer.

The dragon chuckled. "You do not even know our tongue. The arrogance to dare and call yourself one of the Dovah!"

In a moment of utter lucidity, something snapped in Ziiah's mind. In retrospect, she figured it was Sheogorath's work - a tug at her hidden madness, a poke in the right spot. However, in that time and place, Ziiah felt deeply offended and she was not going to let it pass.

The Redguard rolled her eyes and shouted, "It wasn't me, it was them Greybeards!"

Everyone present stared at her in shock and even the dragon was startled by her outburst.

"Oh, and by the way," she added somewhat childishly, "I know bits of your tongue, just not everything! You can only learn so much in a few weeks."

The dragon stared at her before chuckling again. "Interesting."

"She's insane," Kaani said.

"Yup," Loro agreed.

"We're so very dead," Nyx said breathlessly.

"Talk about having balls," Tarhrin commented and Elvaynu smirked.

Ziiah stood up and drew her sword. "What's your name?"

The dragon flapped its wings and huffed, seemingly annoyed by her question. "Zu'u Alduin."

"Good," Ziiah laughed as she summoned a thunder spell in her free hand. "I'll remember that when I tear your wings and pierce your skull."

The threat didn't seem to cause the desired effect on the dragon but for a moment, Ziiah could see a glimmer of intrigue. The moment passed quickly and the beast shifted its focus back on its resurrected kin.

"Sahloknir," it drawled, "krii daar joorre."

The beasts roared and Ziiah watched with dismay as the dark dragon flew away. Until next time, she thought and turned to the resurrected dragon who spread its wings, ready to soar.

"I am Sahloknir," it roared. "Hear my voice and despair!"

Ziiah sighed. "Another self-absorbed lizard."

"Focus, Ziiah," Kaani shouted and summoned a large fireball. "Elvaynu, Tarhrin, help me keep the beast on the ground! The rest of you, throw everything you have at it, we'll cover you!"

"That will be difficult," Veilheim said as he rushed toward the beast.

"A protective ward would be nice," Nyx said as he and Loro followed after Veilheim.

"I'll give you something better," Tarhrin said and flickered his fingers before focusing his spell on the charging warriors.

A pale green aura swirled around their bodies before enveloping them in the form of a thin sheet. Veilheim was the first to reach the dragon and as the beast opened its maw to bite him, he brought his greatsword into a vertical position and pierced the creature's tongue while the hilt of his sword embedded into its palate. Its fangs were close enough to graze his armor but not pierce it. From behind him, Nyx rushed to the beast's side, his sword in full swing as he aimed for the dragon's eye. From the other side, Loro focused on the dragon's wing and slashed mercilessly with his axes at the thin skin, rendering it in pieces. The beast thrashed and threw them away effectively, except for Veilheim to was stuck with his sword inside the beast's mouth.

"Little help," he cried out as he hung from the dragon's mouth.

He then heard a gurgle and for a moment, Veilheim believed he saw his entire life flash before his eyes: his miserable childhood in Windhelm, his joining the Stormcloaks, his promotion to Stormblade, his exile, his life on Solstheim, his return to Skyrim and all the small events that brought him to that moment. It wasn't so bad, he thought with a tinge of bittersweetness. Bracing for his death, Veilheim awaited the dragon's fiery breath.

"Veilheim," Ziiah screamed. "Drop the sword!"

What? Unaware of his actions, Veilheim let go of his sword and fell to the ground with a loud thump. Wincing, he rolled to his side.

"Don't get up," Ziiah shouted again before taking a deep breath.

It all happened so quickly. No one was certain how she managed to do it but she Shouted at the beast, the thundering Voice made the ground beneath everyone's feet tremble and the beast staggered, its fiery breath dispelled. Veilheim stared in disbelief as the young Redguard climbed onto the beast's head with a menacing, almost insane expression on her face.

"You're not the only one who can yell real loud," she said and pierced the beast's other eye, making it thrash in pain.

Ziiah grabbed Veilheim's sword and pulled it out of the beast's tongue before throwing it back to the warrior. "On your feet!"

Veilheim grabbed the sword and pulled himself upwards, mesmerized by the sight of smiling Ziiah. He wondered if she was always so cheery in battle. She's the Dragonborn, he thought. Anything's possible.

"Dovahkiin," the beast rumbled. "Your Voice is no match for mine."

"Incoming," Kaani yelled and pointed at the beast who once again prepared to breathe fire.

"Wards," Ziiah yelled and the spellcasters enveloped her and Veilheim in protective shields while Loro and Nyx hid behind nearby rocks.

The fire burned, unlike anything Veilheim had ever seen. The gulfs of flames spewed from the beast's mouth as if it was the most natural thing to do. His heart swelled as he realized that the stories his parents and grandparents had told him of the dragons were not only true but also greatly underwhelmed. Nothing compared to fighting a dragon and as he glanced at Ziiah, he noticed that she had yet to get rid of the smile on her face.

"Kaani," Elvaynu shouted. "Heal Veilheim!"

"But - "

"I'll join them on the front," the Dunmer woman yelled as she jumped out of her hiding spot once the fire doused, rushing toward Ziiah and Veilheim with her dagger drawn.

"Shit, shit, shit," Kaani cursed as she focused her healing magic on Veilheim. "Tarhrin, can you summon?!"

The Thane chuckled. "Summon what, mistress?!"

"Anything," she growled. "Get the beast's attention away from them!"

Tarhrin hummed before reaching for his satchel. He retrieved a scroll with a detailed wax seal on it. He quickly unscrolled the parchment and pressed it against the ground. A portal opened up immediately and Tarhrin jumped away from the magical construct, awaiting for an atronach to break through. A lightning atronach pulled itself out of the Oblivion, its magic crackling as it kept the floating rocks grouped.

"How long?!" Kaani cried out.

"Permanent," Tarhrin yelled as he pointed at the dragon for the atronach to attack. "Make good use of it!"

Kaani smiled.

Meanwhile, Delphine realized she had been running out of arrows. Most of them hit their target but she was down to only five arrows. If this thing takes flight, she thought, I'll have nothing to hit it with. She fastened her bow to her back and then reached for her sword. Gripping it with both of her hands, she charged at the beast's other wing, slashing it left and right until it was marred with wounds.

"It's getting tired," Ziiah cried out. "Go all out!"

Sahloknir kept his head low as he was badgered and bludgeoned with magic and blades. Blinded and unable to take flight, he was running out of options. The warriors had mutilated his wings, the mages had depleted him of magic, rendering him unable to his Shouts. While he couldn't see her, he smelled her, he felt her - the Dragonborn, the bane of his existence. I do not fear you, he thought but the thought never seemed to take hold in his heart. He almost chuckled.

"Pitiful," he grumbled in a moment of melancholy. "I hadn't even seen the sky of Kaizaal."

"You never will," came a spiteful reply from his destroyer as she pierced his skull with her sword.

The dragon went limp and the moment Ziiah retreated her sword, the dragon's head dropped down, blood trickling from its mouth. With a final sigh, she cleaned her blade against the beast's scales before sheathing it. She then looked at her comrades who were all tired, bruised, and dirty, but alive. The mere thought brought a smile to her face.

"I'll be damned," Delphine breathed. "You did it!"

"We did it," Ziiah corrected her, reaching for Elvaynu and Veilheim's hand. "It was a joint effort."

Delphine smirked. "Well done."

"Now what?" Nyx asked as he leaned on his sword.

"Well, I've been wanting to get a closer look at one of these buggers," Delphine said as she made a step toward the giant corpse. "Maybe we should take his scales for armor or - "

Ziiah scoffed. "Sorry, that's not going to happen."

A surge of raw magic poured from the corpse and into Ziiah's body, overwhelming her but not like before. This time, she wasn't buckling in her knees or feeling weak. She felt powerful. Delphine watched in awe as the dragon's corpse glowed, his skeleton being the only evidence remaining of the battle. Her eyes doubled in size as she witnessed Ziiah absorbing the dragon's soul.

She wasn't the only one who watched in awe. Kaani's reaction was less impressive, having witnessed it once before. Elvaynu, on the other hand, stared in disbelief but tried to temper her reaction by being stoic. Nyx found it hard to believe his eyes while Veilheim looked like a child seeing his hero materialize before him. Tarhrin and Loro remained passive, though Tarhrin was more relaxed while Loro was cautious.

Delphine made a step closer to the Redguard. "You really are - "

Ziiah smirked. "Got your proof?"

Delphine returned the gesture. "I owe you some answers, don't I?"

"That would be nice," Nyx commented which earned him a round of chuckles.

"Go ahead," Delphine said honestly. "Whatever you want to know, I'll answer the best I can."

Ziiah glanced at the dragon behind her, a strange sensation building up in her gut. It wasn't guilt per se but it was a similar feeling, one she had felt a couple of times in her short life. Regret, she thought, and was even further confused by the realization. She glanced back at Delphine, sobering up from her previous thoughts.

"Who are you?" Ziiah asked. "What do you want with me?"

Delphine offered a curt bow. "I am one of the last remaining Blades."

"Blades?" Ziiah asked.

"Never heard of them?" Delphine chuckled. "Not surprised."

"I have," Nyx said. "They were the royal guard, protecting the Emperor, before the Penitus Oculatus."

"You know your history, boy," Delphine commented.

Nyx frowned. "I was one of them, ma'am."

Surprise flashed across everyone's faces.

"Impressive," Delphine said. "They don't take in just about anybody. If you were a couple of decades older, you would've made a fine Blade."

Nyx smiled but said nothing.

Ziiah cleared her throat. "So, a Blade. What's it got to do with me?"

Delphine hummed. "Blades' history started in ancient times, before the establishment of the Empire. We were dragon hunters, originally from Akavir and we served the greatest dragonslayer - "

"The Dragonborn," Kaani concluded.

Delphine nodded. "Ages past, we continued to serve the Dragonborn as they sat on the Ruby Throne. However, for the last two hundred years, we have been searching for a Dragonborn to no avail."

"Two hundred years," Ziiah breathed. "That is a long stewardship."

"The last Dragonborn Emperor was Martin Septim," Tarhrin said casually. "The one that turned into a flaming dragon."

"That must have been quite a sight," Elvaynu commented.

"With no Dragonborn to serve, we fortified our forces in the Cloud Ruler Temple," Delphine continued. "There, we awaited the coming of the new Dragonborn."

"The Cloud Ruler Temple was under siege in the Great War," Nyx said. "The Blades were disbanded as part of the treaty."

"Correct, again," Delphine commanded. "Yes, the Blades have disbanded though that was just a formality. We had been hunted down before the breakout of the war by the Thalmor."

Ziiah frowned. "You too, huh?"

Delphine nodded. "Like I said before, the Thalmor and the Blades have a history hence the cloak and dagger."

"That's all in the past," Ziiah sighed. "Let's focus on now."

Delphine was quiet for a moment. "Now, we find our culprit."

"Sorry lady, but I'm not going after that black dragon," Veilheim piped in. "What was it called?"

"Alduin," Ziiah answered. "I've seen it before."

"Where?" everyone asked.

Ziiah bit her lower lip. "Helgen. That's the dragon that attacked Helgen."

Delphine frowned. "You were in Helgen?"

Ziiah nodded. "I was one of the prisoners headed for the execution. It was quite the party, lots of famous folk were present."

"Ulfric Stormcloak, I presume," Delphine said. "Were the Thalmor present?"

The Dragonborn thought for a moment. "I think so. Why?"

Delphine hummed. "I think Thalmor have something to do with this."

Kaani scoffed. "Oh please. It's not like they pulled a dragon out of a pocket."

"Think about it," Delphine continued. "The war was over, Ulfric was captured, and about to be executed. Then, a dragon attacks and chaos continues. Who profits?"

Nyx frowned. "I admit, that makes sense but it's still far-fetched."

"This is ridiculous," Loro said, sheathing his axes. "Dragons cannot be commanded just like that. You've witnessed it yourself just now."

"I wouldn't be so sure," Tarhrin said. "The Thalmor claim they brought back the moons for the Khajiit. Who says they don't know of a way to control dragons?"

"That story is a fabrication," Kaani said while rolling her eyes. "The Thalmor took claim for that so they could force the Khajiit into joining the Aldmeri Dominion."

"Still, dragons are magical creatures right?" Elvaynu said. "Is it that far-fetched to consider magic control? Altmer magic is quite strong, regardless of their supposed feats in the past."

Kaani frowned. "If that's true, the Thalmor pose a bigger threat than we thought."

Delphine looked at Ziiah. "It is worth investigating. Even if they're not the culprit, at least we'll find a trail. They must know something."

Ziiah was quiet as she contemplated their options. "Do we have a plan?"

"Nothing yet," Delphine shook her head, adding, "but give me a few days to figure something out. Meet me back in Riverwood."

"What should we do in the meanwhile?" Nyx asked, his question directed to Ziiah.

The Dragonborn thought for a moment before reaching for her satchel. She took out the Horn of Jurgen Windcaller and pondered on it. Might as well, she thought.

"High Hrothgar?" Ziiah inquired. "I still owe them the horn."

Kaani sighed. "Do we have to? I hate the cold."

Nyx and Veilheim chuckled while Tarhrin and Elvaynu sighed. Loro seemed indifferent.

"The Greybeards hold massive knowledge when it comes to the Shouts," Delphine said. "I think it's a good idea to pay them a visit."

"We should make a stop at Windhelm," Tarhrin said. "Maybe have them send more men to guard the village."

Veilheim frowned. "That's considering his mighty ass Majesty finds us worthy of his time."

"Someone's bitter," Elvaynu sniggered.

"You'd be too if he treated you the same way," Veilheim grumbled.

"Tarhrin has a point, though," Kaani said. "We should help the villagers and warn the Jarl of the dangers."

"Windhelm, then the Greybeards," Ziiah nodded. "We'll meet you in Riverwood afterward, Delphine."

"Godspeed, Dragonborn," Delphine said and turned on her heel.

"A dragon? In Kynesgrove?"

The guardsman nodded. "Yes, my Lady. The patrol saw it flying over the hill before flying off south."

Sasha frowned. "Have you sent anyone to the village?"

"We can't deploy our men without the Jarl's order," the guardsman confessed.

Sasha sighed. "Very well. We'll wait for him to return. Prepare some rations ahead."

The guardsman bowed and then excused himself, leaving the Palace. Sasha then turned toward the windows. She was distraught and not just because of the dragon. Ulfric had left her in charge of the city, acting as his proxy until he returned from his mission. She tried to talk him out of fighting on the front lines but he dismissed her concerns. It's good for the morale, he had said with a rather stupid grin on his face.

"Damn it," she sighed.

Sasha then walked to the throne seat and sat on it, feeling drowsy. The exhaustion was catching up to her and she could feel her body protesting against further strain. You're not twenty-something anymore, she chastised herself, chuckling. It was funny to her how fragile humans are. It didn't matter that she spent her entire life training, perfecting her body to withstand punches, kicks, stabs, slashes, and even poison. Given enough time, she thought, even the strongest would falter. It didn't take long for her to succumb to the allure of sleep. She brought her fist against her temple and sighed. A few breaths later, she had lulled herself to slumber while thinking of her daughter.