The Legend of Zelda: Skyrim - Chapter 13: Out of the Horn, into the Dragon's Maw
Yeah. I know. Two months, but I am still working on this!

Link felt extremely sickened by the sight before him, yet, he couldn't stop looking at it - the burnt carcass of a horse, strung up on a wooden pike over a smoldering campfire.

The exploring of Ustengrav hadn't been a complete loss, as he had acquired useful items and more Septims, however, the fact that someone had been there before him and had stolen Windcallers horn was albeit mildly infuriating. Link had, after raiding the vault behind the tomb, eventually left Ustengrav via a secret passage and walking back through the Nordic Ruins. It had been early evening when he pulled open one of the twin wooden doors and stepped out into the stone laden pit. From there, he had climbed the stairs and greeted Epona as she trotted up to him. Foolish as it was, Link had decided to try to race the sun in order to get back to Whiterun before nightfall, but that was not to be the case. Five hours later, Ustengrav was well behind them and the nearest resting place was a giant camp, known as Bleakwind Basin.

And that was how he ended up in the current situation.

As Link got up from the flat rock he had been sitting on for the past few minutes and slowly approached the charred horse carcass, he realized the horrifying implications of the giant trying to steal Epona away at the bandit camp, and he stopped walking for a moment. 'It's certainly a good thing that I killed it.' Since he was close enough, Link decided to inspect the dead horse to determine how it died, and, after walking around it a few times, determined that it had died naturally; whether it was from sickness or from old age, he couldn't tell, but there were no broken bones or signs that the horse had suffered, which was good.

His stomach then reminded him that he hadn't eaten anything in at least five hours and he felt faint for just a moment but the feeling passed. 'Well, I know it's a horse and all but it died naturally, it's already cooked thoroughly…' Link reached to his side and drew Dawn, looked at the fiery dagger for a second, flipped it around so the blade was facing outwards, and then remembered Epona was standing somewhere behind him. The Hylian half turned to face his horse, waiting to see how she'd react, but the mare merely nodded her head and pawed the grass with a lone hoof. In other words, she didn't mind at all. "I mean, you eat meat, too. Remember when I gave you some cooked Cucco that one time?"

Epona nodded again and trotted up to Link, then gently nudged him with her head.

"Alright, alright, I get it."

Link stepped up to the charred horse, raised the dagger, and attempted to cut into the side of the dead horse. However, it didn't work very well. The Hero of Twilight stepped back a few paces and then decided to cut the carcass before him from the pikes. After he did that, he dragged the dead horse off of the campfire by a leg and then tried to cut into its' side again. This time he was a bit more successful, though not by much, and Link lowered the dagger. 'Well, I have two options. Either I use the greatsword, or I turn wolf. Turning wolf seems the better option to me.' And that's exactly what he did.

Moments later, the black fog dissipated and the wolf stepped up to the dead horse, then bit into its' side, eventually tearing off some meat. He dropped it to the grass before him, then went off in search of other food. Link eventually found what appeared to be some sort of cheese in a leather barrel with three sticks, so, after returning to normal, he took what he could carry and returned to where he had dropped the meat. The Hylian sampled the cheese first, finding it to be somewhat musty but yet palatable. 'Not bad. I think it'd go well with Honey Nut Bread and Spiced Cider.' He then, after some hesitation, sampled the horse meat. 'Interesting. Certainly has a unique taste.' Link then glanced up at Whiterun, which was just visible in the distance, and then looked back at the setting sun to the west, scratching his cheek. He then looked at Epona, who was now laying beside him. "How about we rest here for a bit?"

A lone guard was patrolling his post outside the gates when he saw a horse and her rider approaching. He stopped them by raising a hand and the rider stopped, having been revealed to be a man no older than seventeen at best. "Isn't it a bit early for one such as yourself to be out at this hour? State your name and reason for being here."

The horse shifted beneath the young man as he spoke. "I live here. In Breezehome, and my name is Link Faremanne."

"You're the new Thane, aren't you? My apologies, it's just that I didn't expect you to be so...Young. How old are you, if you don't mind me asking?"

"Seventeen."

The guard nodded. "Only seventeen, eh? You've got some growing up to do, I reckon." He stepped forwards, up to Link's mare. "I've never seen a horse like this before. Do you know her breed?"

"Hylian Thoroughbred."

"Never heard of it." The guard stepped back and waved a hand. "Reckon you've got things to do, you being the Thane and all. Carry on."

Link nodded and nudged his mare in the side, to which the horse started walking, then trotting, and then ended up galloping down the stone road towards Whiterun.

Link entered Whiterun a few minutes later and said hello to various passerby as he walked towards Breezehome. He thought about talking to Adrianne and Ulfberth but decided not to; Link instead found the spare key hidden under a nearby stone and opened the door to Breezehome, then stepped inside and closed the door. He stood in the entranceway for a moment, taking in the sights before him, before he shrugged off his knapsack and placed it on a nearby wooden table, then started to rummage through it and take out what he didn't need.

"Link?"

He froze, holding a potion of health before setting it down on the table. Lydia was standing at the foot of the stairs, watching him.

"It seems you've been on quite an adventure, haven't you?"

Link placed more potions on the table - a potion of the knight, one stamina potion, one weak healing potion, and one draught of the healer. He then placed the Chaurus Egg, two spider eggs bone meal, lavender branch, purple mountain flower, flawless garnet and ruby and the non flawless garnet on the table as well. He also added the book he had found, which was a copy of Mystery of Talara V2. "I wouldn't call it that, more like exploring places."

Lydia smiled, walked over to Link, then looked over the items on the table. "More alchemy ingredients... Do you plan to make more potions any time soon?"

Link shook his head. "Not right now. I need to return Nettlebane to the priests at the temple and give Amren his sword back."

His bodyguard picked up the alchemy ingredients and stepped back from the table. "You're leaving now?"

"I guess. Don't worry I'll come back to see you before I head for Riverwood."

"Riverwood? Why are you going there?"

Link hesitated. 'Nay it, should I show her the letter? ...No, I won't.' "I need to pick up something there."

If Lydia caught the lie, she didn't say anything. "Samson and Swift have been asking where you went, by the way."

The Hylian was already standing on the eighth step up but he half turned and gave Lydia a nod. "Okay. I'll go talk to them."

He then took the last six steps two at a time, took a right, walked down the short hallway and entered his room. After thinking about it, Link left half of his Septims - seven hundred and twenty five - in a nearby chest, then stood there for a moment. 'I really don't want to admit it but Breezehome is a lot nicer than my tree house back in Ordon.' Link then left his room, walked back the way he came, down the fourteen steps, said goodbye to Lydia, then left Breezehome.

"Armen!"

The Redguard turned around to see Link walking towards him, and he hailed the Hylian. "Hello, Link, what can I do for you?" Link held up the sword he had been carrying and Armen's eyes widened. "You found it?! Thank you!"

Armen took the sword from Link and drew it, then smiled at him.

"So, you took down all those bandits by yourself?" As Link nodded, Armen grinned openly. "I want to repay you somehow. Ah, I know, I'll teach you a sword and shield technique my father was known for, as well as giving you those twenty five Septims I promised."

A few minutes later, Link had learnt the technique, received the twenty five Septims, and said goodbye to Armen; he was now walking towards the Temple of Kynareth when he heard a familiar voice.

"Link! There you are!"

Samson waved him over to his and Swift's stall and when Link approached, Swift hugged him and he returned it, then stepped back. The Khajiit grinned. "Heard you went tomb raiding. How'd it go."

"Somewhat successful. I mean I found a garnet and a flawless ruby I can sell for Septims."

"Wait." Swift interrupted Link and he patiently waited for her to speak. "You found flawless gemstones?!"

"Yeah. I've got a feeling I'll find more, too."

Samson's grin grew wider. "If and when you find more, save some for us, will you?"

Link waved a hand. "Yeah. Maybe."

"Maybe?"

Swift gave Samson a look and he grew quiet, then spoke again. "So... uh, what do you plan on doing now?"

"I have to go to the Temple of Kynareth to give them this" he showed the Argonian and Khajiit Nettlebane and their eyes widened. "I found it in a Hagraven nest at Orphan Rock."

"What will it be used for?"

Link handed Samson the dagger and he inspected it, with Swift looking over his shoulder, then the cat handed the object back to Link. "Apparently it's to be used in restoring the Gildergreen, though I don't know the exact details."

Swift nodded and pulled on Samson's arm to lead him back behind their stall. "We won't keep you waiting then. You can come back later if you need help with something, we'll be happy to help."

"I will." Link started to walk away, then stopped, walked back, stepped behind the stall to hug Swift and shake Samson's hand (the two hugged afterwards), and then left the stall for the Temple.

Link felt oddly at home as he stepped inside the Temple of Kynareth. From where he was standing, he saw several wooden benches in the middle of the room, three healing altars, a mosaic tiled pattern in the floor, and two people being treated by healers. One of them was wearing armor and when Link approached, the man simply looked up at him with a glazed over and pained look before looking up at the ceiling.

"What happened to him?"

The healer tending to the man before Link lifted their head a bit and spoke. "He was stabbed while fighting off bandits. His wounds will heal, although the healing process will take time." The priest stood upright and looked down at Link. "And you are? Wait, don't tell me. Yes, you're Link, aren't you? What are you doing here? You don't require healing, do you? I'm Jenssen, by the way, I'm the Acolyte here."

"Fortunately, no, I'm just here to talk to Danica."

Jenssen waved a hand. "She's talking to someone right now but you're welcome to walk up to her if you want. Maybe she'll notice you."

"Thanks."

"No problem, if you have any other questions, just ask."

Link left the man to heal the guard and walked across the room over to Danica, who, just as Jenssen said, was talking to someone.

"What is it... what has happened to the Gildergreen? I have traveled long here to worship beneath its branches." The man speaking stepped close to Danica, who shook her head.

"It was taken by a lightning strike. Wish I had time to deal with it, but it's hard enough with all these wounded from the war." She looked past the man and across the room before moving her gaze back to the man before her.

"Please, don't just let it stay like this. It's disgraceful."

Danica sighed and threw her hands up for a moment before dropping them to her sides. "I really don't have time to deal with you right now. Please just let me get back to my work."

"But this is supposed to be your work." However, the priestess had turned away from the man, and as he walked away, Danica noticed Link and motioned for him to come closer.

"So, have you gotten Nettlebane back from those filthy Hagravens yet?"

He nodded. "I've found Nettlebane for you."

Danica adjusted her robes a bit and then smiled. "Oh, I... well, I honestly didn't expect you to come back. Of course, I'm glad you did!" Upon seeing the dagger in person, the smile faded a bit. "Now... I don't really want to touch that thing, though. Do you think you can handle the next steps?"

"What needs to be done?"

Danica nodded. "Eldergleam's sanctuary grove is to the east of here. You can use Nettlebane to retrieve some of its sap."

As Danica left Link to deal with the wounded soldiers, the man she had spoken to earlier got up from the chair he had been sitting in and walked up to Link. "Was I correct in hearing that you were traveling to the grove of the Eldergleam?"

"Can I help you?"

"I am a traveler. A pilgrim. I follow the voice of Kynareth wherever it can be heard. I've dreamed of seeing Eldergleam for years. Might I travel alongside you? I promise not to get in the way."

Link debated not taking someone with him but then decided that if something were to happen along the way, it would be better than dealing with whatever happened by himself. "You're welcome to join me."

The pilgrim smiled warmly. "I thank you for your kindness."

Link left the temple with the pilgrim following him.

"I suppose you don't know my name, it is Maurice Jondrelle. If I am to travel with you, I would like to know your name."

Link stopped walking and looked up at the dead tree towering overhead before he glanced towards Maurice. "Link Farmanne, and just to let you know, I have something that needs to be seen to in Riverwood before we can go to the sanctuary. You don't mind if we go there first, do you?"

Maurice shook his head. "Not at all. Should we leave at once, then?"

Link nodded and he led the pilgrim through Whiterun, until he stopped at Samson and Swift's stall in the market.

The Khajiit saw him first and waved. "Hello, Link. Where are you going?"

"First to Riverwood to deal with something, then I'm taking Maurice" - here the pilgrim bowed in greeting - "with me to the Eldergleam Sanctuary."

Swift spoke up, her blue eyes flickering between the clothing she was mending and Link. "You're going there? That's great. Sam and I haven't been but I've heard the entire place is amazing."

Link and Maurice rode into Riverwood on Epona. They hadn't been attacked by anything while traveling, and so they were able to get to Riverwood faster than Link anticipated. After finding some place to house Epona, Link looked around Riverwood, noting that nothing had changed since he had left the village seven days ago, then stepped into the Sleeping Giant Inn and took out the letter he had found in Windcaller's tomb.

Dragonborn -

I need to speak to you. Urgently.

Rent the attic room at the Sleeping Giant Inn in Riverwood, and I'll meet you.

- A friend

'Well, I'm here... Guess I rent the room now.' Link thought as he scratched his chin, folded the letter and returned it to his knapsack, then looked around.

People of all sorts of races and backgrounds were seated at wooden tables, drinking and talking to each other. Towards the back of the room was a counter, in the middle of the room was a fire pit, and three doorways leading to unknown rooms.

Maurice decided to get a drink and sit at a nearby table as Link walked across the room, past the fire pit, and up to the counter, where a woman was counting Septims. "Yes? How can I help you?"

"I'd like to rent the attic room."

The woman looked confused. " Attic room, eh? Well...we don't have an attic room, but you can have the one on the left. Ten Septims. Make yourself at home."

The woman led Link to the left room and left him to his own devices.

Strangely enough, there was no one in the room and Link wondered if the letter had been addressed to someone else. He then heard footfalls behind him and he turned, only to see the barkeeper standing in the doorway.

"So you're the Dragonborn I've been hearing so much about. I think you're looking for this." The woman was holding an aged horn and she held out to Link, who took it. The woman then stepped back out of the room. "We need to talk. Follow me."

She led Link from the rented room, across the tavern, and into another room, and then instructed him to close the door.

As he did so, the woman opened the room's wardrobe and used a false panel to reveal a hidden passage behind the wardrobe, with steps leading down into some sort of basement.

Before she descended into the basement, the woman looked back at Link. "I never got your name."

"Link Farmanne. Yours?"

"Delphine, now, follow me, there's much to discuss."

After walking down the stairs, Link found himself in a well lit room with a central table and walls lined with bookshelves and chests.

Laying on the central table was a map of some sort and a copy of the Book of the Dragonborn. Link stepped up to the table to get a closer look at the map but Delphine stepped in front of him.

"Now we can talk. The Greybeards seem to think you're the Dragonborn. I hope they're right."

Link took a step backwards to put some space between both of them. "The Greybeards are right. I am Dragonborn."

Delphine gave Link a cynical look. "I hope so. But you'll forgive me if I don't assume that something is true just because the Greybeards say so. I just handed you the Horn of Jurgen Windcaller. Does that make me Dragonborn, too?"

The Hylian narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms in a defensive position. "So what's the part you're not telling me?"

"Dragons aren't just coming back, they're coming back to life. They weren't gone somewhere all these years. They were dead, killed off centuries ago by my predecessors. Now something's happening to bring them back to life. And I need you to help me stop it."

"What makes you think dragons are coming back to life?" Link asked, wondering.

Delphine nodded. "I know they are. I've visited their ancestral burial mounds and found them empty. And I've figured out where the next one will come back to life. We're going to go there, and you're going to kill that dragon. If we succeed, I'll tell you anything you want to know."

At this, Link let his arms fall to his sides and he attempted to look at the map, yet Delphine didn't move from where she was standing. "How did you figure all this out?"

"You should know. You got the map for me. The dragonstone you got for Farengar, remember?"

This got Link's attention. "The dragonstone was some kind of map?"

"Yes. A map of ancient dragon burial sites." Delphine stepped aside and let Link look at the map on the table. "I've looked at which ones are now empty. The pattern is pretty clear. It seems to be spreading from the southeast, starting in the Jeralls near Riften." The woman pointed at Kynesgrove's location on the map. "The one near Kynesgrove is next if the pattern holds."

"So Kynesgrove is we're headed?"

Delphine looked down at the map and nodded again. "Yes. If we can get there before it happens, maybe we'll learn how to stop it."

Delphine sighed in annoyance. "I can't wait around for you to make up your mind. I'll meet you at Kynesgrove. Don't waste time getting there."

The two left the room and returned to the main hall. Maurice looked up as Link walked up to him. "Well?"

"We're leaving."

The pilgrim nodded and he followed Link outside as Delphine walked down the steps in front of them, then turned around.

"I suggest we split up. I'll go to Kynesgrove now, and you do whatever you need to do before you join me there."

The woman whistled for a horse, leapt into its saddle, and took off before Link could say anything. He felt Maurice staring at his back and he half turned to face him.

"Kynesgrove? What is at Kynesgrove?"

"Nothing you need to worry about. Let's get to the sanctuary."

The hot springs were certainly interesting. Epona took her time crossing them, going out of her way to avoid stepping in the hot pools of water on some occasions. Link was currently reading his own copy of the Book of the Dragonborn, having been reminded he had picked it up during his escape from Helgen twelve days ago. 'Have I really been in Skyrim twelve days?' He looked down at the last page and reread the passage called "The Prophecy of the Dragonborn". 'So this prophecy involves me? I'd like to think so. I'll talk to either Delphine or Arngeir when I next see them.' Link reread the passage again, then closed the book and put it away in his knapsack before he looked up at the sight before him. 'Let's see... After I leave the Eldergleam Sanctuary, I suppose I'll take the horn back and then get to Kynesgrove.'

"Kynesgrove... Why does it sound so familiar." Link must have said it a bit louder than anticipated because Maurice answered him.

"Kyne is Kynareth in the Nordic pantheon. Kynareth is from the Imperial Nine Divines, and Kyne is her equivalent. The other Divines have different names here as well."

A distant roar got their attention and both of them looked up.

"What... What do you suppose that was?" Maurice asked, looking afraid.

Link narrowed his eyes and set his jaw as he saw something moving in the clouds. "I have a pretty good idea." He stopped Epona and then leapt down, Maurice panicking.

"What are you doing? Why are we stopping?"

"That's for me to know, and for you to find out. Stay here." With that, he started to walk away and stopped around fifty paces from the horse and pilgrim, then reached to his side and drew Numinex's Bane.

The shape in the clouds soon revealed itself to be a dragon and the beast soon circled and then flew down to land before Link, its head held high and its eyes locked onto him.

"Dovahkiin. It would be an honor to Grah (battle) you. Let me taste your Thu'um, Kiir!"

Link grinned, flipped his sword around, and merely said "Sure", before he Shouted. "Fus, Ro!"

A shockwave hit the dragon and sent it stumbling back, before it recovered, growled, and used a shout Link hadn't heard before.

"Ven... Gaar Nos!" A powerful wind slammed into Link and threw him back a few feet, leaving several gashes on his face when it dissipated. "You do not know a full Shout yet, do you?" The dragon eyed him for a moment, then rushed forwards, maw open wide.

Link waited until the last second, then kicked off the ground, sword raised, and attempted to stab the dragon in the head.

The sword bounced off, and the dragon shook its head and threw Link to the ground before it, then pinned him with its wing-claw. "Your Zun will not harm me." The dragon then reared its head back and brought it down, only to ram it into Link's shield. "Ruth!" it cursed, shaking its head before it growled and breathed fire.

Before the fire reached him, Link Shouted again. "Wuld!"

A second later he was a few feet from the blood dragon and standing, eyeing the beast with determined eyes. The dragon turned to face him and roared, then charged at him.

Link went to stab the dragon but then the beast shouted. "Feim!"

To his surprise his attack went right through the dragon it as became see-through. Link nearly fell but caught himself just in time for the dragon to swat him away with a wing as it became solid again, causing him to actually fall this time. The dragon then breathed fire.

Link threw himself to the side to dodge the dragon and when he got back up he saw Maurice punching the dragon's side. Before he could say anything the dragon hit the pilgrim with its wing and the man dropped, then got up with an excited look on his face. "Haha! I love a challenge!" he yelled before ducking to avoid another wing swipe.

Link merely stared at him before shaking his head slightly and then noticed that the dragon had left itself open. The Hylian took the distraction as a sign to attack the dragon and so he ran up to it and stabbed it in the mouth with his sword, the blade piercing the roof of the dragon's maw, causing the beast to shake its head and throw Link backwards.

He was now without a sword but then he got an idea. Link unhooked the Fire Rod from his shield, primed it, then aimed the weapon at the dragon's open mouth. He then fired the weapon and a column of fire shot from the rod and into the dragon's mouth, setting it on fire, then the beast started to burn from the inside out.

As the dragon's flesh burned away, white tendrils of energy began to flow from its skeleton towards Link and surrounded him, then vanished. Link was struck by... something, 'Fade...', he not only knew what 'Feim' meant, he knew what Feim meant, 'Can I...?'

"Feim!" He didn't feel at all different, but Maurice was looking at him with wide eyes.

"You... You're Dragonborn?! Why, you must be, you killed that dragon and must have absorbed its soul... And now look at you, it's as if you're a spirit!"

"What do you mean?" Link asked in confusion.

Maurice pointed at him. "Your body is almost see through. Look."

The Hero of Twilight raised his left hand a bit and saw that it did appear to be almost see through. He realized what this meant a second later. 'So I can't be harmed when I'm like this? I get the feeling that, perhaps, if someone tried to cast a flame spell, I wouldn't be hurt, but I could run towards them and hurt them instead.'

He returned to normal and after deciding to ask the Greybeards about this later, Link walked up the dragon's corpse and retrieved his sword from its mouth, then turned to look at Maurice. "I can heal you if you want."

The pilgrim smiled slightly. "Oh, I suppose you think you're better than me just because you can cast a few spells?"

"No." Link walked over to Maurice and used Healing Hands on him, then helped the pilgrim up onto Epona's back, leapt into her saddle and they continued towards the sanctuary.

While he kept his eyes to their destination, Link smiled, "You know, Maurice, I didn't know you had it in you to fight like that." Link heard the pilgrim chuckle behind him as Epona kept walking.

"You'd be surprised. Even though I carry no weapons, I think of myself as someone skilled in hand to hand combat."

They both shared a laugh and kept moving.

Link and Maurice stepped into the cave, having left Epona to wait outside. There wasn't much to see, just rock walls and a somewhat steep gravel incline before them.

"Are you sure this is the right place, Maurice?" Link questioned as he gave the pilgrim a confused look. The man nodded.

"Yes, I am certain of it, just walk down this path and you'll be in the cavern shortly."

Link took his time walking down the gravel incline, but nothing prepared him for the awesome sight of the cavern when it opened up. Various plants and flowers that he had never seen before were everywhere, waterfalls cascaded down rock walls in the distance and there was a massive tree that towered over him at the far end of the cavern.

"Remarkable, isn't it?"

He turned to face Maurice and could only nod, unable to find the words to describe the sights around him. The Pilgrim smiled.

"I'm also awestruck."

Link turned back to face the cavern and took a few steps forward, then finally spoke. "I think I could stay here all day."

Maurice walked past him and kept walking. "You may come here as often as you like. I see a wooden bridge over here, I believe we cross it."

The two found said wooden bridge and began to cross it when they were hailed by a man who was sitting on a ledge. "Hello there, friend. My name is Sond. Have you come to enjoy the sights and sounds of this beautiful sanctuary, as I have? Truly remarkable, isn't it? If you have any questions, speak to Asta, she's just sitting over there, by the pool up ahead." The man waved a hand to his left, past the bridge, and then stood up from the ledge and walked away.

Link crossed the bridge while Maurice decided to go on ahead and eventually found a woman sitting by a pool fed by a waterfall. The woman looked up as he approached and smiled. "Hello, my name is Asta. Amazing that such beauty could exist in a place as desolate as the volcanic tundra. Praise Kynareth for allowing such beauty in the world."

Link looked around him. "What is this place?"

"You are in Eldergleam Sanctuary - just a small glimpse of what beauty Kynareth has to offer. Wonderful place, isn't it?

Link sat down next to the woman and looked up at the tree overhead. "Yes. And that tree, is that the Eldergleam?"

Asta nodded. "Yes, my friend. Though no one has been able to get close to her for as long as I can remember."

"Why not?"

The woman waved a hand upwards. "As you can see, Eldergleam's roots are large and stretch far, blocking any path to her trunk. Though, believe it or not, there are rumors of a weapon that even Eldergleam herself would lift her roots for, more out of fear than respect."

'One weapon, huh?' "You mean..." Link reached to his side and drew Nettlebane. "This?"

Asta's eyes widened. "The rumors were true... I beg of you, don't harm the tree! Nothing good can come of it."

"I'm not going to harm the tree, I promise. Thank you for talking to me." Link got up and left Asta, returning to the dirt path, where he found Maurice standing were the roots blocked the way.

As soon as Maurice saw Link approach, he started to lift his hands a bit. "Where did you find that?"

"Orphan's Rock. Stand back, I don't know what Eldergleam is going to do." Link approached the first branch tentatively, raised Nettlebane a bit, and reached out to rest the dagger on the first root. A second later, the root recoiled from fear and the way was opened slightly. 'Okay. That works.'

The rest of the roots followed suit and as soon as the last one recoiled back, Link heard Maurice angrily address him. "I had no idea you were a man of violence, Link! What exactly are your intentions in this blessed place?"

The Hylian half turned and looked down at Maurice, being that both of them were standing on an incline. "Well, Danica told me to get sap..."

Link took a step back up the incline as Maurice began yelling at him. "You would violate this marvel of Kynareth's glory to fix that half-breed stump in Whiterun? That's abominable. Barbaric. I'll have no part in this. Why didn't you tell me what you intended?"

The Hylian mulled over what the pilgrim had said. 'Well, he is right.' He glanced up at the tree overhead before looking back down at the man a few feet away. 'I can't damage the tree. Even I feel drawn to it somehow.' Then he spoke. "Do you have a better idea?"

Maurice gazed up at him, then nodded. "Well ... yes. There is something. It won't repair the tree back at the temple, but we could bring them a new one."

"What did you have in mind?"

Maurice walked up the incline past Link and waved a hand. "Follow me, I think I can convince the tree to help us."

Link followed the pilgrim up the incline and up to the tree. Maurice knelt before Eldergleam and silently prayed to the tree for a few minutes. Then a tiny leaf appeared in the soil before the tree, and it, over the course of a minute, grew to the size of a sapling.

Maurice looked up at Eldergleam, nodded, and stood. "The Eldergleam has blessed us with a sapling. You should take it to Whiterun. Danica will want to see that the true blessings in nature lie in renewal, not a slavish maintenance."

Link looked down at the sapling, wondering how to safely transport it back to Whiterun before he got an idea, knelt down, placed the sapling on the ground before him, placed his knapsack next to the sapling, rummaged around until he found an empty potion flask, placed the sapling inside the flask, sealed it, placed the flask inside his knapsack, tossed it over his shoulder and stood up.

"What will you do now?"

Maurice looked up at the tree overhead. "I believe I'll stay here and bask in Eldergleam's warmth a bit longer." He took a few steps towards the tree, then half turned to look back at Link. "Good luck on your travels. May Kynareth's wind carry only the sweetest scents."

Link nodded, turned to walk back down the incline, then turned around and walked up to Maurice. "Thank you."

The pilgrim turned to face him and smiled. "Not at all, Link. I apologize for the slight misunderstanding earlier."

The two shook hands and went their separate ways. Maurice remained nearby the tree while Link began to walk down the incline back towards the entrance to the sanctuary. A reflecting golden light got his attention and he turned around, only to see a golden patterned-dyed blue sword scabbard resting against Eldergleam's trunk.

'No. No, it can't be.'

He approached the sword scabbard and knelt before it, seeing himself in its reflection. The royal crest of Hyrule was emblazoned at the top in the triangular notch, albeit scratched and dented.

'...I found it.'

Link reached out and picked up the scabbard, then stood, running his hands over it while checking for more scratches and dents.

'If the scabbard is here, then where is the Master Sword? I hope nothing happened to it.'

Link looked down at the scabbard before hooking it to his belt beside Numinex's Bane and then continued walking.

As Link rode into Ivarstead on Epona an hour later, he noticed a crowd gathered around three people wearing strange masks and robes. As he approached, one of them spotted him and motined for the crowd to step back.

"You there! You're the one they call Dragonborn?"

Epona tossed her head and pranced backwards five steps before Link quieted her and leapt down from his horse's saddle, handing the reins to whoever was closest nearby.

"I... I don't know what you're talking about."

The woman (Link could tell by the voice) raised her arms while the other two drew their weapons. "Your lies fall on deaf ears, Deceiver! We know you are the False Dragonborn! You shall not stand in the way of the true Dragonborn's return. She comes soon, and we shall offer her your heart! When Lady Miraak appears all shall bear witness. None shall stand to oppose her!"

Link merely drew his twin daggers in response and the three masked figures rushed him.

Thankfully, a few guards ran up to him and led one away, leaving him with two to deal with. Link blocked a sword with his shield, then received a deep cut to his lower right arm. He faltered, wavering a bit, before Shouting towards the one who had injured him. "Fus, Ro!"

The woman was sent backwards through the air, slamming against a house where she fell to the ground and didn't get up.

Meanwhile, the guards had managed to kill the one they were fighting, but some were shocked by the surviving attackers lighting and were put out of commision. The robed figure tried to stab Link but he was faster, and attempted to stab the person in the upper chest, however, they dodged.

Then a sword appeared, the tip of the blade stopping a few inches away from Link. The body went limp and the sword vanished, causing the corpse fall to the ground. A guard was standing there, holding the sword that had killed the attacker and he nodded to Link. "Good work. Although maybe you should get that arm looked at."

Link nodded and used Fast Healing on himself before another guard walked up to him, holding a note. "One of those freaks was carrying this. Does anything said in it look familiar?"

Link took the note from the guard and looked it over.

Board the vessel Northern Maiden docked at Raven Rock. Take it to Windhelm, then begin your search. Kill the False Dragonborn known as Link Farmanne before he reaches Solstheim.

Return with word of your success, and Miraak shall be most pleased.

Link looked up from the note and found the guard waiting for an answer.

"No."

The guard nodded and waved a hand. "Very well, come on you lot, help me clean this up."

As the other guards started to clean up the area, Link said goodbye to Epona, once again paid the necessary Septims to board her for at least an hour, then started to walk towards the seven thousand steps, pausing before the first one.

'Miraak... Should I ask Arngeir who that is? Maybe I shouldn't. I'll decide when I get up there.'

Arngeir was the first to greet Link as he stepped into High Hrothgar. "Ah! You've retrieved the Horn of Jurgen Windcaller. Well done, Link. You have now passed all the trials. Come with me. It is time for us to recognize you formally as Dragonborn."

"What do you mean, formally recognize me?" asked Link in confusion as the Greybeard smiled.

"You will know shortly, follow me."

The Greybeard led Link to the center of the room, where Wulfgar, Borri and Einarth were waiting. Upon reaching them, Arngeir turned to face Link.

"You are ready to learn the final word of Unrelenting Force, "Dah," which means "Push."" He smiled. "I can see the excitement in your eyes, you feel it, don't you?"

"Feel what?"

The Greybeard waved a hand for Wulfgar to step forth. "You will know it."

Wulfgar said "Dah" and the word inscribed itself on the floor before Link. Arneir then spoke.

"With all three words together, this Shout is much more powerful. Use it wisely. Master Wulfgar will now gift you with his knowledge of "Dah.""

The symbol on the floor glowed and disappeared, the word 'Dah' now in Link's head.

'Just like last time.'

Wulfgar smiled and bowed to him, the Greybeard's own understanding of the word entering Link's mind.

He then 'understood' Dah.

'So 'Fus' means 'Force', Ro means 'Balance', and Dah means 'Push'. Fus... Ro... Dah... I did it. I know a full Shout, I feel amazing... Am I supposed to feel like this?' Link eyed Arngeir. "Am... Am I supposed to feel like this?"

"I assume you mean wanting to test the full might of Unrelenting Force? Then yes, it will be normal to test fully learned Shouts after you learn the last word. After all, to truly know a Shout, you must use it fully for the first time. It will take you some time to fully master Unrelenting Force, but you will. Go ahead Link, Shout at me, I will not be harmed, I assure you."

And so, believing the Greybeard, Link faced him and Shouted.

'Wait for it... Now.'

"Fus... Ro Dah!" A shockwave of air hit Arngeir and he fell, only to wave a hand as Link approached.

"I am fine." The Greybeard rose to his feet and smiled warmly. "Well done Link. Remember, the more you practice a Shout, the sooner you will become a master at it. You have completed your training, Dragonborn. We would Speak to you. Stand between us, and prepare yourself. Few can withstand the unbridled Voice of the Greybeards. But you are ready."

Link gazed at Arngeir in confusion before walking to the center of the room and waited.

The Greybeard smiled as he and the three others gathered around Link in a circle, then started Shouting at him.

"Lingrah krosis saraan Strundu'ul, voth nid balaan klov praan nau. Naal Thu'umu, mu ofan nii nu, Dovahkiin, naal suleyk do Kaan, naal suleyk do Shor, ahrk naal suleyk do Atmorasewuth. Meyz nu Ysmir, Dovahsebrom. Dahmaan daar rok."

Link was unprepared by the sheer force of the four Greybeards Shouting at him, and he lost his balance and fell to his knees, where he remained until he heard Arngeir say his name, lifting his head to look up at the Greybeard.

The man smiled and helped the Hylian up, then made sure he could stand on his own before stepped back and bowing. "Dovahkiin. You have tasted the Voice of the Greybeards, and passed through unscathed. High Hrothgar is open to you."

The other three Greybeards bowed to him before leaving the main room, however, Arngeir stayed where he was, looking at him expectantly.

"What was that ceremony all about? Were you Shouting at me?"

The Greybeard nodded. "We spoke the traditional words of greeting to a Dragonborn who has accepted our guidance. The same words were used to greet the young Talos, when he came to High Hrothgar, before he became the Emperor Tiber Septim."

"What did you actually say?"

"Ah. I sometimes you forget you are not versed in the dragon tongue as we are. This is a rough translation: "Long has the Stormcrown languished, with no worthy brow to sit upon. By our breath we bestow it now to you in the name of Kyne, in the name of Shor, and in the name of Atmora of Old. You are Ysmir now, the Dragon of the North, hearken to it."

Far away from High Hrothgar, Alduin perched on a broken Word Wall, his horned head tilted back and eyes closed as he soaked in the warm sun rays. Then he heard the Greybeards. His eyes slid open and his head turned, looking in the direction of the Throat of the World. His eyes narrowed and he hissed, "Dovahkiin", before roaring, and the World-Eater took to the skies and started to fly in the direction of Kynesgrove.
It's time to wake an old subordinate up.