Cura's eyes lit up the moment she entered the famed Hall of Valor. The insides were everything she'd expected them to be and more.
The walls were bricks of pristine blue marble and the ceilings were high and arched to a point.
The entirety of the place was akin to that of a very large Mead Hall. It was like the grandiose older sister to Jorrvaskr, dressed in linen.
Although the interior of the Hall was made up of only one major zone, it was divided into three areas: the central feasting area, where tables were surrounded by nourishment and overflowing with food surrounding a fire pit with a rotisserie Ox turning above the fire, the east wing, where Mead barrels lined the walls around another feast, and the west wing, which housed a sparring hall for warriors to test their mettle. The songs and tales were spot-on.
Elenwen boasted of the luxuries of her parties, but they were mere book club meetings next to this.
A Bard sung tales of glory in the feast hall and a drummer played tunes for other great warriors in the Mead Hall.
Throughout the hall are many Heroes of Sovngarde, who Cura had no knowledge of, walked about, as well as several important people from Skyrim's history.
Cura immediately pin-pointed Olaf One-Eye and Ysgramor, her own ancestor, at the dining table. The moment Ysgramor noticed her, he approached, walking around the table. "Welcome, Dragonborn! Our door has stood empty since Alduin first set his soul-snare here."
He was a tall man with golden hair, and he bore sharp features. He wore a set of Ancient Nord Armour, and had Wuuthrad, his battleaxe, rested upon his back.
His greeting was cordial, surprising Cura, considering her Elven features.
"Greetings, Ysgramor. I've heard much of your exploits and mighty deeds. I'm honoured to meet you." Cura responded in kind.
He was her ancestor. And she was now standing before him. It was a humbling experience.
"As well, your deeds have reached the ears of Sovngarde, Cura." Ysgramor stated. "To call you my descendant I am honoured, for the Dragons and Vampyres have been bane'd by your actions."
Cura furrowed her brows. "How do you know that?"
"Sovngarde lives; and it breathes, within your Blood, cold with the iced rivers of Atmora." Ysgramor stated. "All of Sovngarde sings of your victories, and of your labours. Surely you hear it in your heart."
Cura nodded. Perhaps that was the song that surrounded them. "I have one more Dragon to slay." She held her left arm once again habitually. It was ghostly to her, but indistinguishable to those in the realm.
"By Shor's command we sheathed our blades and ventured not the vale's dark mist. But three await your word to loose their fury upon the perilous foe." Ysgramor pointed to the sparring hall, to inform her. "Gormlaith the fearless, glad-hearted in battle; Hakon the valiant, heavy-handed warrior; Felldir the Old, far-seeing and grim."
Cura immediately recognized those names. "The Tongues. They used the Elder Scroll to cast Alduin to my era."
"And millenniums of peace to Tamriel they have granted." Ysgramor stated. "They await the one who can finish the job, for the Dragonborn of their time had fled to a Daedric realm."
Cura was surprised to hear of this. "The Dragonborn of their time fled to a Daedric realm?"
"The first of the Dragonblood; Miraak. Once was a priest of the wyrms', who laid a rebellion upon them. Truly, time is short as the World-Eater prowls the gloom-driven fields. Discover the truth one day you shall. For now you have matters more pressing upon you." Ysgramor stated genuinely.
Cura acquiesced. She thanked the ancient warrior and passed through the hall.
The thought of Miraak hounded her mind. Wasn't Saint Alessia the first Dragonborn?
Why would Ysgramor lie, and more importantly, be mistaken? Clearly the people in Sovngarde had some sort of insight into people, so it has to be true!
Perhaps this 'Miraak' was a figure list to history.
Though, she may have heard that word before, or the name, long ago. Something felt familiar about it, but she could not put her finger on it, exactly.
She decided to brush it off for the time being. Ysgramor was right; she had more pressing matters to deal with at the moment.
As Cura walked between sectors, a man with dark hair wearing Greybeards' robes offered her a bottle of Mead. "Afore ye fight the Wyrm, it would be wise to have a strong throat."
Cura accepted it. "Thank you. Wait... you're a Greybeard?" She immediately recognized the outfit.
The man nodded. "My disciples still follow the difficult path - the Way of the Voice is neither wide, nor easy. But if you stray from wisdom then to Sovngarde you will not return."
Cura's eyes lit up. "You're Jurgen Windcaller!" She bowed her head respectfully. "Your contribution to the world was great, and your discipline has kept me in check for a very long while."
"Fate drives you, but you follow your own path. Choose wisely, lest you wander into evil." Jurgen warned her kindly as he continued on to the feast hall.
Cura continued on to the sparring hall, where she immediately recognized the three heroes from the Dragon era long passed.
Hakon, Gormlaith and Felldir stood as a trio, speaking amongst themselves.
"The endless wait gives way to battle! Alduin's doom, his death or ours!" Gormlaith exclaimed upon Cura's entrance.
Cura gingerly approached the trio and gave a friendly nod. "The Tongues - it is an honour to meet you."
"And us, to you as well, Dovahkiin." Felldir spoke on behalf of the three.
Cura clenched her arm shamefully. "I need your help to defeat Alduin."
She thought she alone could do it, but the Black Dragon proved to be more than a match for her.
But, it had to be this way. She understood that. Heck, the Keeper understood that long before.
"Alduin escaped us long ago." Hakon sneered as he recounted the Wyrm's invasion. "Today we take our well-tempered revenge. For a hundred lifetimes my heart has burned for revenge on Alduin too long delayed."
Cura agreed. "He's already dead - we just have to make it so."
Gormlaith laughed with relief. "At long last! Alduin's doom is now ours to seal - just speak the word and with high hearths we'll hasten forth to smite the worm wherever he lurks."
Felldir tried to calm the scene down. "Hold, comrades - let us counsel take before battle is blindly joined. Alduin's mist is more than a snare - its shadowy gloom is his shield and cloak. But with four Voices joined, our valor combined, we can blast the mist and bring him to battle."
Cura alone was able to clear an area, though the fog returned. One Thu'um could do that, but four...
A feeling of invincibility suddenly overcame the Dragonborn. Alduin could withstand one Thu'um, but four... and three who would use Dragonrend out of hatred and one of protection...
Alduin was going to have a very hard time, to be certain.
Hakon relented. "Felldir speaks wisdom - the World-Eater, coward, fears you, Dragonborn. We must drive away his mist, Shouting together, and then unsheathe our blades in desperate battle with our black-winged foe."
Cura agreed. "But even still - we must be cautious." she held up her arm. "The Wyrm but my arm off at its bottom. I suppose it has returned due to the nature of Sovngarde..."
"Do not allow it to happen once again; for the soul has no secondary soul to project." Felldir warned her.
Gormlaith was sick of waiting. "To battle, my friends! The fields will echo with the clamor of war, our wills undaunted."
She dashed ahead, and was followed by Hakon, Felldir, and Cura.
The Dragonborn was reminded of her time at Mortal, when she joined the charge on Movarth's Lair. Though, this time she knew her companions would not cower away at the cave entrance.
They ran over the Whalebone Bridge and past Tsun, and out into the mist-plagued field.
Felldir cursed their surroundings. "We cannot fight the foe in this mist!"
Cura exclaimed. "We could use the Voice to clear it."
Gormlaith agreed. "Clear Skies - combine our Shouts!"
"LOK VAH KOOR!"
The energy released caused the fog to vanish, but it was not so for long, as the World-Eater was some short distance away.
Alduin shouted back. "VEN MUL RIIK!"
As if to challenge their voices, the fog came swarming back in.
Cura grit her teeth. He was effectively mocking them.
Gormlaith declared. "Again!"
Felldir called out. "We can shatter his power if we Shout together!"
The four took an arrow-like formation.
"LOK VAH KOOR!"
They removed the mist again, but Alduin saw fit to force it back. "VEN MUL RIIK!!"
Hakon tried to see through the whirling vapour. "Does his strength have no end? Is our struggle in vain?"
"No! It can't be! Don't hold any doubts! Our word will triumph!" Cura protested quickly. She would give her heart to Stendarr and Mara, and her tongue to Kynareth and Akatosh.
Gormlaith noticed something odd; the mist was faltering before them. "Stand fast! His strength is failing! Once more, and his Shout might will be broken!
Perhaps all the damage Cura had done earlier counted for something after all. It was true; Alduin was exhausted. His head was slumping and weariness covered his lizardlike eyes.
They could do this!
Felldir exclaimed with excitement as Alduin glared at them hatefully. "His power crumbles - do not pause for breath!"
"LOK VAH KOOR!!"
The group shouted in unison with one voice, and the mist dissipated once and for all, vanishing into thin air.
"Face me, then! Zu'u Alduin!"
Alduin heaved himself upwards and attempted to circle around the group. "I have already defeated your friends once. Beyn. I do not fear them."
Felldir shouted to the others. "Use Dragonrend, to drag him down!"
"Die, World-Eater, in despair and fear!" Hakon shouted joyfully.
"You are persistent, Dovahkiin. Pruzah ol aar. A fine slave you would have made." Alduin roared and looked up to the skies. With his mighty Shout, meteors began to rain down from the sky.
"Perhaps you can't change." Cura muttered to herself as she proceeded to inhale.
The four blasted the World-Eater with the great force of their collective Thu'um.
"JOOR ZAH FRUUL!"
Once hit, Alduin dropped to the floor. He cried out as he made contact with the firm ground.
Cura dodged a falling meteor and maneuvered around a crater left by another. Upon approach, Alduin tried to snap at her, but she bashed his snout with her shield, and leaped on top of his head.
She could feel it. This was it. The blood courses through her being like lava and every single nerve was bursting with energy.
"Today you die, your doom has come." Felldir blasted Alduin with Unbound Flames.
"Your doom has come, damned worm!" Hakon growled as he hacked and slashed the beast.
"Nowhere to hide! Hunter becomes our prey!" Gormlaith yelled as she repeatedly stabbed Alduin's neck.
The Dragon thrashed about, knocking the Tongues backwards.
Cura thrusted her mace into his right eye, and used her ghostly left hand to smack its pommel, pushing it further into his brain.
Alduin screamed loudly and swung his head back, knocking Cura off.
The Dragonborn slid off and hit the floor. She quickly raised her shield above her stomach to guard herself as Alduin's tail slammed down upon her, barbs and all, pushing the shield against her ribcage.
He slammed down again and again.
"FEIM!" Cura Shouted quickly and faded out of her material form in attempt to get away. Unfortunately, it made no difference, as she was in the aetherial realms already.
"FUS RO DAH!" the Three noble warriors knocked Alduin back and bought Cura time to scurry free.
As she escaped his reach, Dragonrend wore off and Alduin managed to lift himself up off the ground with a push of his great wings. Blood continued to drop from his eye and Cura's Elven Mace remained lodged in it and the Dragon's blood ran down its handle like sap from a spigot.
Meteors continued to fall, pelting the ground around everyone. The Tongues were hit and staggered by the sheer force of impact, but Cura managed to use Ice Spikes to destroy some that fell above them before impact could be made.
"No you don't!" Cura protested as she spun around on her heel. She signalled for the others to attack, and she led the assault.
Like a figure straight out of a dream, Cura lashed forward and blasted the skies with her sundering voice. "JOOR ZAH FRUUL!"
The energy smashed Alduin with the force of a rushing comet, driving through his being.
The Dragon was throttled and a loud gasp escaped his damaged throat. He slowly beat his wings as he lowered himself, humbled, to the ground.
His red eyes met with Cura's green eyes as they stood some distance away. "Dovahkiin... a thousand -thousand curses upon you..."
"Enough of that. You're done! I banish you here, in the name of Stendarr!" Cura thrusted her arm to the side aggressively.
"YOL--"
Cura held up her shield and hunched forward, ready to cover herself from the blaze.
"--TOOR SHUL!!!"
The beast was helpless on the ground, but he tried with one last ditch attempt to kill Cura.
The fire blasted her greatly, but Spellbreaker guarded her from the greatest of the embers. She pushed back against it and laboured forward.
Once the flames subsided, Cura rushed forward and drew Dawnbreaker. It was specially made for combatting the undead, but a sword was still a sword.
She leapt forward and Alduin attempted to swallow her whole. This proved to be his fatal mistake, as Cura drove the sword in its entirety down his throat, cleaving it open from the inside.
The Tongues applauded with great amusement as Cura carved her way through the World-Eater's mouth and neck brutally.
With a gurgling gasp, Alduin hunched forward as blood ran down his being.
Cura leapt out of his neck and healed herself. After the final blow was dealt, Alduin writhed and thrashed, screaming in defiance of his fate: "Zu'u unslaad! Zu'u nis oblaan!"
His flesh began to alight with flame and it slowly began to flake off, leaving behind a wispy, golden-illuminated black skeleton which quickly faded away as the energy of all the souls he'd absorbed flowed into the air.
Cura's Elven Mace dropped out of the air and landed on the bloodsoaked grass.
The gloom that hung over the heavenly land subsided and the land glowed bright once more. The sky changed to a brighter gradient of pink, white, yellow and blue, and the constellations shone ever brighter.
"My debt is repaid at last." Hakon breathed a sigh of relief. "I'll look for you, friend, when at last you return to Shor's hall. The honor will be ours when you rejoin the ranks of Sovngarde." he proclaimed to Cura.
"Our ancient debt for Alduin's reprieve is now repaid - the long night is ended!" Felldir proclaimed as he turned to face Cura, also. "Many thanks upon you this day, Dragonborn. T'was only possible by thine intervention."
"Even here, where heroes throng, few can match this mighty deed. What glory! The gods themselves must envy us this well-earned honor!" Gormlaith hung her sword upon her back. "Felldir speaks true; it is because of you, Cura the Dragonborn, that the World-Eater now sleeps. Let those that watch from Sovngarde envy us this day!"
Come to think of it, she didn't absorb Alduin's soul. Why didn't she? Where was it?
Cura's legs finally gave way and she fell backwards and landed on her behind in the dirt. She watched the sparkles rise up into the divine sky as a feeling of relief and bittersweetness overcame her.
Her long journey, that eclipsed her life for the past two years, was now over.
She sat there in the grass to recuperate as she reflected on everything that led to this point. Again, she looked at her left arm.
Shivers ran through her. She feared what she was going to see when she returned to Nirn.
Tsun left his post at the bridge, and other heroes exited the Hall. They all approached Cura, prompting her to quickly stand up once again.
Tsun placed a hand on her shoulder. "That was a mighty deed! The doom of Alduin encompassed at last, and cleansed is Sovngarde of his evil snare. They will sing of this battle in Shor's hall forever. But your fate lies elsewhere. When you have completed your count of days, I may welcome you again, with glad friendship, and bid you join the blessed feasting."
The lost souls of Sovngarde left their secure Burrough and circled around Cura and the Tongues. Lydia, Hilda and Torygg stood at the forefront. In one voice, all proclaimed: "All hail the Dragonborn, hail her with great praise!"
Cura blushed and avoided eye contact. "Th-thank you..."
Lydia embraced Cura. "My Thane, little doubt had I that you would prevail. Congratulations!"
Cura reciprocated the embrace. When she closed her eyes, she envisioned them in front of Dragonsreach, after they'd first met, under the warm sun, overlooking the Wind District below.
Then her eyes opened and she was back in Sovngarde, surrounded by the greatest warriors the Nords had ever known, and the less renown but courageous and worthy just the same.
Vigilant Hilda approached Cura and hugged her as well. "They shall write songs of you, I know it."
Tsun turned around. Something had caught his attention. By the Whalebone Bridge, light was beginning to gather; energy released from Alduin began to take shape before their very eyes.
Cura grew nervous. No... there was no way! She just defeated him!
The light's shape, thankfully, was not draconic, but more humanoid. Tsun's eyes lit up and he looked back at Cura momentarily as the light finished manifesting there.
The figure that stood before her was that of an Elderly man with a long, white beard and navy blue robes similar in fashion to the Greybeards', laced with chainmail, with an ornate Drinking horn fastened around his waist and a large, very familiar Aedric Warhammer mounted on his back. He wore a circlet with sapphires adorning it. He shone brightly and his eyes were pure white light. He was a tad taller than Tsun, and wider, and wore a mystic shield on his left arm and had a long, chainmail cape running down his back and over his shoulders.
He stood before the Whalebone Bridge and looked at Tsun and Cura.
Cura's jaw hung open when she immediately surmised who this was. Suddenly, everything around her disappeared and only she and he remained, as far as she could tell.
Stendarr.
Cura knelt before the God of Mercy and lowered her head. She pulled down her hood respectfully and leaned forward on her right knee as she looked to the floor.
Tsun lowered his head in respect to his brother. "Stuhn - Sovngarde is made even brighter by your presence. How many moons have passed?"
Lydia's jaw hung open, and Vigilant Hilda went down on her knees and lowered her head.
"Far too many, my brother." Stendarr responded. He looked down at Cura and held up a hand. "Arise, Vigilant."
Cura slowly pulled herself upright. "Lord Stendarr... it... it's an honour!"
Stendarr placed a gentle, strong hand on Cura's head. "My child, you have fulfilled your duties admirably; the World-Eater is no more. Your destiny is fulfilled, and you are no longer bound. From this moment forth your life shall ever be yours to decide." Cura was silent, and the Aedra continued. "And, from the bottom of my heart, I thank you."
Cura's heart leapt with joy and excitement upon hearing such praise, though she felt unworthy of it. "I was not perfect, my Lord. I made mistakes, I..."
"You understood my tenets well, and though you stumbled on occasion, you persevered into the end, and now Tamriel may continue to exist, as we decreed." Stendarr commended her. "Your name will be remembered forevermore. In Tamriel, may they hereby name thee St. Cura the Dragonborn."
Cura's eyes grew wet. "I am unworthy of it..." She recalled Markarth, and Cidhna mine, and her darker moments sprinkled in between. She was as much a sinner as anyone else.
"Anything you would ask of me, this once, I shall grant it." Stendarr stated. "Your mighty deeds have earned my favour."
Cura's eyes widened. "Wait..." she needed to make certain that she'd heard correctly. "You... you would grant me anything?"
Stendarr nodded. "If it is reasonable and aligns with my values, I shall honour it." He clasped his hands together over his abdomen and stood up straight.
Cura nodded in response. "O-of course!"
Instinctively, she looked at her left arm; ghostly and absent. She could wish for a new arm here and now, and she would not have to worry returning home.
Then she turned her face and looked at Lydia, and at Hilda. She considered restoring them to life, but then she considered what they'd gone through, and the joy they had now that they could rest in Sovngarde.
It would be cruel to send them back corporeally to Tamriel.
Then Cura looked at Stendarr's Hammer which hung on her back and her heart froze for a second.
Keeper Carcette.
Her thoughts returned to the poor Breton, who was going mad in the cage beneath Fort Dawnguard. She was barely hanging onto her humanity with each passing day, and was on the verge of losing herself becoming entirely feral.
It broke Cura's heart to see her mentor and guardian reduced to that.
Cura closed her eyes and resolved herself. She nodded as she conversed her ideas, and decided. She approached Stendarr closer. "I've decided on what I want."
"Merely speak the words and I shall make it so. With energy returned to me upon Alduin's defeat, I may do so again." Stendarr extended his arms forward in a welcoming gesture.
"I want Keeper Carcette to be cured." Cura proclaimed boldly. The poor woman has suffered enough.
Lydia and Hilda were both confused by the statement, but Stendarr smiled.
"I knew you would ask me that." Stendarr declared, amused. "Carcette has always been a devoted servant; she has suffered long and hard in my service, though her duties to you in youth she fulfilled admirably. Day and night she has prayed to me for respite, and now I may deliver." He reached for his drinking horn, slung over his shoulder. "I require an empty flask."
Cura quickly opened her satchel and took out an old Health Regeneration potion and emptied its contents onto the floor, and presented it to the God of Mercy.
Stendarr held the open flask in one hand and his Drinking horn in the other, and he slowly began to pour out a luminous, golden liquid from his horn into the flask. "Present the waters of life to the Keeper and her vampirism shall from her be expunged."
He closed the top off by folding the cap and handed it to Cura. "Here you are; give it to her, with my blessing."
Cura placed the flask in her satchel joyously. "Thank you, my Lord."
Stendarr slung his drinking horn back over his shoulder. "Tell her that all is well, and take that to heart, as well. I offer you my blessing and I forgive you of your sins. Now, you may return to Tamriel a hero; a Champion of the Divines."
Stendarr waved his hand over Cura and a blue whirlwind of light surrounded her. She felt a sense of comfort and empowerment overshadow her.
Tsun next approached her. "Tarry not too long - the land of the dead is not meant for mortals to linger."
Cura looked to Lydia and Hilda. "It was so great seeing the both of you again." and she looked to High King Torygg. "Do you have anything you would wish of me to tell Elisif, your majesty?"
Torygg nodded. "Yes; tell my wife that even in death, I love her forevermore and I await her arrival."
"I will." Cura promised. She walked up to Tsun and Stendarr both. "I'm ready to return to Tamriel."
"Return now to Nirn, with this rich boon from Shor, my lord: a Shout to bring a hero from Sovngarde in your hour of need. Hun, Kaal, Zoor." Tsun presented her with the gifted Shout.
Cura immediately looked at Lydia as she registered the words. Words that would allow her to invoke a hero of Sovngarde any of whom she desired.
"Hun"
"Hero."
One who seeks to do what is right, no matter what they have to sacrifice in the process.
"Kaal"
"Champion."
A fighter who defends the honour or fights on behalf of another.
"Zoor"
"Legend."
A hero, champion, or even a monster who has faded into the pages of history, their deeds, good or ill, to be remembered forever, even if their names are forgotten.
Cura stepped forward to the Divines. "I'm ready."
"I shall ever be with you." Stendarr assured Cura.
"NAHL...DAAL...VUS!" Tsun shouted and a column of light rained down from the sky like a spotlight over Cura.
She bid farewell to Lydia and to Hilda as she was elevated higher and higher into the skies.
Her last sight before vanishing was Shor's Hall, standing tall over the hills before her vision went black.
The sounds of roaring lifted through the air around as the cold winds kissed Cura's cheek. She opened her eyes and saw Paarthurnax's large face in front of her, and she was startled momentarily.
"So, it is done. Alduin dilon. The Eldest is no more, he who came before."
The Dragons at the Throat of the World flew circles above the mountain, chanting in a vigil.
"Alduin mahlaan
Sahrot thur qahnaraan
Alduin mahlaan
Dovahkiin los ok dovahkriid
Alduin mahlaan
Thu'umii los nahlot
Alduin mahlaan
Mu los vomir."
Cura pursed her lips. "Yes, Alduin will trouble the world no more." She went to touch her left arm, and felt nothing there. As soon as she looked down, she witnessed a stump, ending at her left elbow. It caused her to shiver.
Spellbreaker was mounted on her back.
"Indeed. Alduin wahlaan daanii. His doom was written when he claimed for himself the lordship that properly belongs to Bormahu - our father Akatosh." Paarthurnax stated. "You did what was necessary. Alduin had flown far from the path of right action in his pahlok - the arrogance of his power." Paarthurnax looked away from Cura and gazed over the valley sadly. "But I cannot celebrate his fall. Zu'u tiiraaz ahst ok mah. He was my brother once. This world will never be the same."
Cura sympathetically touched the elder Dragon's wing. "I'm sorry, but I had no choice. It was my destiny."
"Indeed, you saw more clearly than I - certainly more clearly than Alduin. Rok funta koraav." Paarthurnax expressed.
"The world won't be the same, but that doesn't mean it will be worse." Cura tried to be optimistic, though difficult it was at this point.
"Perhaps. At least it will continue to exist. Grik los lein. And, as you told me once, the next world will have to take care of itself. Ful nii los. Even I cannot see past Time's ending." Paarthurnax responded in kind. "Perhaps now you have some insight into the forces that shape the vennesetiid... the currents of Time. Perhaps you begin to see the world as a dovah."
Cura nodded. She was beginning to understand the greater scheme of the world after having seen Sovngarde.
And she was kind to both Dragons and the races of man and mer.
Paarthurnax continued. "But I forget myself. Krosis. So los mid fahdon. Melancholy is an easy trap for a dovah to fall into. You have won a mighty victory. Sahrot krongrah - one that will echo through all the ages of this world for those who have eyes to see. Savor your triumph, Dovahkiin. This is not the last of what you will write upon the currents of Time."
Paarthurnax seemed to have great faith in her, for a half-elf with half an arm. The gray Dragon took flight and hovered above Cura and the Word Wall. He spoke clear his intentions: "Goraan! I feel younger than I have in many an age. Many of the dovahhe are now scattered across Keizaal. Without Alduin's lordship, they may yet bow to the vahzen... rightness of my Thu'um. But willing or no, they will hear it! Fare thee well, Dovahkiin!"
Cura waved to the old Dragon. "May our paths cross again, Paarthurnax! I'll never forget you!"
The elder dragon took to the skies and soared eastward with a roar of freedom as he would search the lands and instruct his brethren in the Way of the Voice.
Suddenly, Odahviing landed in front of Cura with elated eyes. "Pruzah wundunne wah Wuth Gein. I wish the old one luck in his... quest. But I doubt many will wish to exchange Alduin's lordship for the tyranny of Paarthurnax's "Way of the Voice". As for myself, you've proven your mastery twice over. Thuri, Dovahkiin. I gladly acknowledge the power of your Thu'um."
Cura was surprised, and joyful. "I accept your service, Odahviing. I will call upon you when I need you."
Odahviing nodded and took to the air and began to fly westward.
Cura held her missing arms and descended the mountain. She was weary and her footsteps strained her as she pushed through the heavy snow.
She had a question for Arngeir.
Cura entered High Hrothgar and sought him out. The old man was meditating in the western hallway until he saw her approach, stained with dried blood and missing an arm, but very much alive.
Arngeir jumped up and raced over to her. "I can see it in your eyes - you've seen the land of the gods and returned. Does this mean... is it done? Is Alduin truly defeated?"
Cura was exhausted. She slowly took a seat on the chair nearby. "Yes. I went to Sovngarde and killed Alduin there."
Arngeir took a deep breath and wiped his brow with his sleeve."At last. It is over. Perhaps it was all worth it, in the end."
Cura did not mince her words. She needed a second opinion on what occurred back at the end of the fight. "Is Alduin really dead? I didn't absorb his soul when he died."
"Dragons are not like normal mortal creatures, and Alduin is unique even among dragonkind." Arngeir proposed. "He may be permitted to return at the end of time to fulfill his destiny as the World-Eater. But that is for the gods to decide. You have done your part."
"I see..." Cura almost felt as though her victory was minimized, but then again, Alduin was no ordinary creature.
However, the gods determined that their world deserves another chance. The future was looking brighter for Skyrim. And perhaps for Tamriel, even in the midst of this war.
"You've shown yourself mighty, both in Voice and deed." Arngeir praised her before slipping into caution. "In order to defeat Alduin, you've gained mastery of dreadful weapons. Now it is up to you to decide what to do with your power and skill. Will you be a hero whose name is remembered in song throughout the ages? Or will your name be a curse to future generations? Or will you merely fade from history, unremembered?"
Cura was confident that she would be remembered well for her deed. Stendarr told her as much. Why would her god lie?
"Let the Way of the Voice be your guide, and the path of wisdom will be clear to you. Breath and focus, Dragonborn. Your future lies before you." Arngeir capped it off with a positive message.
"Thank you, Arngeir. I couldn't have done it without you. All of you. I will ever appreciate what you've done for me." Cura expressed her gratitude to the Greybeard as she walked to the door. "Sky above, voice within."
Arngeir watched as the Dragonborn closed the door and lowered his eyes. "Go in peace, Dragonborn."
A special Shout-out (pun intended) to DrWandel, who predicted that Alduin would-be defeated on Chapter 100! xD You were right!
Thanks for enjoying this far, and for your reviews ~