The monastery was completely made of stone with twin staircase leading up into the monastery. On the landing was a chest and offerings around it. Lydia placed the deliveries into the chest as we walked up to the door. My stomach seemed to flutter as we walked into the monastery, which was thankfully much warmer than the outside. Several fires and torches were lit around the main entrance. As we shook off the snow from our cloaks, robed men came over to us. Lucia hid behind me as they came over.

"So...a Dragonborn appears, at this moment in the turning of the age," one of the men said.

"I've been being called that but what does it mean," I replied to him.

"First we will see if you have the gift," he lead up to the center of the room, "Show us, Dragonborn. Let us taste your voice."

"Um are you sure," I looked between the older men, "The first time I did I almost knocked down several guards."

"Do not be afraid. Your Shout will not harm us."

I gave a unsure nod back to him making sure Lydia and Lucia were behind me before I opened my mouth,"FOS!"

My shout echoed though the stone halls making the men stumble back a step. I couldn't see their faces under their hoods but as they rightened they seemed excited.

"Dragonborn. It is you. Welcome to High Hrothgar. I am Master Arneiger. I speak for the Greybeards."

"You can call me Sif. This is my...housecarl-companion Lydia and my daughter Lucia."

Arneiger gave a bowed nod to each of us as I introduced us, "Welcome to you two as well. I'm sure you have questions for us."

"I have a few," I nodded back, "Who exactly are you? What does it mean to be Dragonborn?"

"We are the Greybeards, followers of the Way of the Voice. You stand in High Hrothgar, on the slopes of Kynareth's sacred mountain. Here we commune with the voice of the sky, and strive to achieve balance between our inner and outer selves. We are here to guide you in that pursuit, just as the Greybeards have sought to guide those of the Dragon Blood that came before you."

"Wait you mean I'm not the only Dragonborn? Are there others, where are they? How many before me?"

"You are not the first. There have been many of the Dragon Blood since Akatosh first bestowed that gift upon mortalkind, many ages ago. Whether you are the only Dragonborn of this age... that is not ours to know. You are the only one that has been revealed thus far. That is all I can say."

I sighed, crossing my arms over my chest, "Not sure if I have more questions now or fewer. But least I'm not completely in the dark with this Dragonborn stuff. So what next?"

"Without training, you have already taken the first steps towards projecting your Voice into a Thu'um, a Shout," Master Arneiger said guiding me to the center of the room as the other Greybeards surronded me. One moving in front of Lucia and Lydia as he did, "Now let us see if you are willing and able to learn."

"I am," I nodded back to him.

He gave a nod back, "When you Shout, you speak in the language of dragons. Thus, your Dragon Blood gives you an inborn ability to learn Words of Power. All Shouts are made up of three Words of Power. As you master each Word, your Shout will become progressively stronger. Master Einarth will now teach you "Ro," the second Word in Unrelenting Force. Ro means "Balance" in the dragon tongue. Combine it with Fus - "Force" - to focus your Thu'um more sharply."

As the Greybeards taught me, Lucia and Lydia watched a safe distance behind us. Between my own shouts as I trained I could hear Lucia attempting it as well. Though not as succeful as me.

"Impressive," Master Arneiger stated, "Your Thu'um is precise. You show great promise, Dragonborn Sif. We will perform your next trial in the courtyard. Follow Master Borri."

I followed Master Borri out into the courtyard, the others following behind us. It had warmed up a little outside and less windy than in the front of the monastery.

"We will now see how you learn a completely new Shout. Master Borri will teach you "Wuld," which means "Whirlwind."

"Wuld..."

"You must hear the word within yourself before you can project it into a Thu'um. Approach Master Borri and he will gift you his knowledge of "Wuld. Now we will see how quickly you can master a new Shout. Master Wulfgar will demonstrate Whirlwind Sprint. Then it will be your turn. Master Borri."

I gave a nod as I absorbed the shout. I watched Master Borri, "Wuld... Nah...Kest!"

In the blink of an eye Master Borri was a blur across the court yard.

"Woah," I gasped at the speed.

"Now it is your turn. Stand next to me. Master Borri will open the gate. Use your Whirlwind Sprint to pass through before it closes."

"Okay," I gave a nervous nod before stepping up to Master Arneiger. Master Borri opened the gate and I took off with the Shout but tripped halfway to the gate, launching myself face first into the snow, "Ow. Can I try that again?"

"Of course," Master Arneiger nodded as Lydia came over to help me up, "As you shout keep your body relax and let the energy flow through you."

I went back to his side trying again, this time relaxing my body as I shouted. Everything around me blurred as I ran past the gate slowling down to my normal running speed.

"Your quick mastery of a new Thu'um is... astonishing. I'd heard the stories of the abilities of Dragonborn, but to see it for myself..." Master Arneiger said when I walked back to him

"I don't know how I do it, it just happens," I replied.

"You were given this gift by the gods for a reason. It is up to you to figure out how to best use it. You are now ready for your last trial."

"Thank you, Master. What's my last trial? "

"Retrieve the Horn of Jurgen Windcaller, our founder, from his tomb in the ancient fane of Ustengrav. Remain true to the Way of the Voice, and you will return."

"Master do you know why are the dragons returning? Does it have something to do with me?"

"No doubt. The appearance of a Dragonborn at this time is not an accident. Your destiny is surely bound up with the return of the dragons. As it often is for the Dragonborn. You should focus on honing your Voice, and soon your path will be made clear."

"Thank you, Master. I will continue my training."

"Good. Then you will be ready for whatever lies ahead."

"Master, what does it mean to be "Dragonborn" anyway?"

"Dragons have the inborn ability to learn and project their Voice. Dragons also are able to absorb the power of their slain brethren. Few mortals are born with similar abilities - whether a gift or a curse has been a matter of debate down through the centuries. Others must be given the gift by a dragon themselves which is more rarer than the first. What you have already learned in a few days took even the most gifted of us years to achieve."

"Dang it," Lucia groaned as she tried shouting like me, making the masters smile at her.

"Some believe that Dragonborn are sent into the world by the gods, at times of great need. We will speak more of that later, when you are ready."

I gave a nod back as Lucia came up to him, "Can you tell me about the Greybeards?

"Of course, young one," he nodded back to her, "We study the Way of the Voice, according to the teachings of our founder, Jurgen Windcaller. Very few are allowed to study with us here at High Hrothgar. But in your case, daughter of Dragonborn, it is a privilege to guide you and your mother towards mastery of the Voice."

"Why don't the others talk," she asked as we went back inside.

"Their Voices are too powerful for anyone not trained in the Way to withstand. Even a whisper could kill you."

"Really wow."

"Why are there only four of you," I asked.

"Five. Our leader, Paarthurnax, lives alone on the peak of the Throat of the World. When your Voice can open the path, you will know you are ready to speak to him."

I gave a small sigh as I nodded back to him, "Very well Master."

Once inside the monastery, Master Arneiger showed me where I could retreive the horn on my map before we made our way back down the mountain. Thankfully it took us less time going down the steps than it did going up, but by the time we returned to the inn the sun had began to set. Just in time for a hot dinner.