Cura waited for Paarthurnax to arrive, and looked at her dumbfounded friends with amusement. They were searching for him at their eye level - expecting him to be a Human. She'd purposely kept this information from them with a desire to watch the look on their faces once the truth revealed itself.

"Paarthurnax! I've returned! I have the Scroll!" Cura called upwards to the skies.

Vilja took in the luscious scenery of the Province below them, spanning over the horizon with its many lovely colours, especially leading towards Riverwood and Whiterun. "Wow... the view is really beautiful up here. It would almost be a perfect place for a picnic if not for the potential avalanches." She pointed to the tall rock bluff that stuck upwards to the top of the mountain like a series of jagged blades coated in thick snow and stone adjacent to the Word Wall.

"I haven't been this high since my skooma days." Inigo joked as he felt the high altitude of the Throat of the World take effect.

"So... this Paarthurnax fellow... he won't mind us all being here?" Lucien asked sheepishly as he touched both index fingers together. "I'm sure he's used to silence up here."

"Oh, no; he enjoys a good tinvaak." Cura was all too happy to reassure him. "It's an honour to meet the Master of the Greybeards, and they don't allow it to people. However, I invite you here as my guests. Please keep yourselves in check."

"A tin rock?" Vilja scratched the back of her neck. "What on Nirn is that?"

Cura shook her head and quickly began to explain. "Not a 'tin rock'. A 'tinvaak. A chat. A conversation."

"You have been studying the Dragon tongue, have you?" inigo asked. "This is good. Maybe now you can convince a Dragon into setting itself on fire! Do try that next time."

"Yes! I'd love to see that! Could you do it?" Vilja excitedly clapped her hands together. "Oh, that would just be rich! It would make my week! Oh, won't you do that?"

"Not for this one." Cura said plainly.

Lucien shifted about where he stood momentarily before confronting Cura. "Can I see it? Please, can I see the Elder Scroll? I've wanted to hold one all my life... and it's... right there."

"Well, you could have asked back when we were with the Dawnguard." Cura raised an eyebrow. "And you know it isn't safe without the gods' blessings."

"I was so squeamish back then." Lucien confessed. "But I'm ready to ask. And I've asked, so... pretty please?"

"Lucien -"

"Oh, obviously I'm aware of the risks. Blindness, madness, and all that. But surely just a peek won't hurt..." the Imperial allowed his curiosity to override his judgment.

Cura shook her head. "It's not safe, Lucien. Even I'm going to read it with one eye open."

Lucien looked disappointed. "But... but... I suppose you're probably right. I'm sorry. It's just... right there, you're holding an artifact from beyond time and space. The secrets of creation could be written on that Scroll. As a scientist... I wanted to look. But it's not worth risking my sight... or my sanity."

As if the deranged Septimus Signus wasn't enough of a cautionary tale.

A hollow roar came up the side of the mountain, alarming Cura's friends. Their pleasant expressions morphed into fear as the gray old Dragon ascended the mountain and hovered above them all.

Vilja shrieked and Lucien yelped as the Dragon came into view.

Inigo shook Cura frantically. "Do it now! Talk it into burning itself!"

From her allies' perspective, Cura was strangely calm and collected. She hadn't drawn her weapon, and instead she looked up pleasantly at the Dragon.

"Cura, do something!" Vilja fearfully goaded her. "It could have eaten Paarthurnax! We may have to do like that story of the girl in the red hood who's grandmother was eaten by a wolf and cut open its stomach!"

Cura could barely contain her amusement, and let out a belly laugh. "Hahahahaha!" She held a hand to her chest as the laughter burst forth like water from a dam.

Inigo, who had his bow ready, looked at her with bewilderment. "My friend, have you finally lost your mind?"

Lucien walked forward. "Wait... the Dragon isn't hostile... could it be..."

Vilja finished the sentence. "...Paarthurnax?"

"Drem yol lok. Greetings." Paarthurnax slowly reduced his altitude and planted his feet on the ground before them. He folded his wings and leaned his head forward to speak to Cura directly. His head alone was almost as long as Cura was tall. This intimidating figure caused Lucien to shy away behind Inigo, and Vilja, as well.

Cura bowed her head in respect to the elder Dragon. "Drem yol lok." As each word came out of her mouth, Cura was astounded at how much her pronunciation had improved. All those mornings of meditation were not a waste. She smiled at the elder Dragon.

He was just so cool!

Paarthurnax's gaze immediately directed itself to the scroll mounted on Cura's back. "You have it. The Kel - the Elder Scroll. Tiid kreh... qalos. Time shudders at its touch."

Cura reached around her back and presented it to the old Dragon. "We went through some... interesting events to get it, but I'm glad we managed without so much trouble." Indeed, for she knew her troubles were only beginning.

Lucien turned to Vilja and Inigo. "Well, that was a plot twist and a half. The leader of the Greybeards is a Dragon. Did not see that one coming."

At the same time, Inigo declared. "THe leader of the Greybeards is a dragon? I did not see that coming."

Lucien laughed. "Jinx!"

Inigo shrugged in response. "It is pretty surprising. He seems pleasant enough, though, and having a Dragon on our side is probably a blessing."

Vilja stared at the Dragon with a gaping mouth. "Wow... they can actually talk!"

Cura waited on Paarthurnax's words.

"There is no question. You are doom-driven. Kogaan Akatosh. The very bones of the earth are at your disposal." Paarthurnax slowly sat upright to find a comfortable position. "Go then. Fulfill your destiny. Take the Scroll to the Time-Wound. Do not delay. Alduin will be coming. He cannot miss the signs."

Lucien's eyes widened. "He-he's coming? Here? Now?" He began to look around frantically.

Vilja too became increasingly nervous. "The... the World-Eater himself is coming? Oh, gods... this was a big mistake! I'm too young to die!"

Inigo put his foot down and began to chastise their friends. "Do you have no faith in Cura at all? She has come this far, and has slain a Dragon before your very eyes and you think it is hopeless?" he turned to Cura and gave her a reassuring nod as he patted his chest, over his heart. "You can do anything, my friend. I believe in you! Read that Scroll and learn the ultimate Shout and send Alduin screaming into Oblivion!"

"Sorry, Candle..." Lucien apologized to his friend. "It's not that I doubt you... I just-"

"It's okay, I understand." Cura reassured her friends. She knew they meant no harm by it. "I'm afraid, too. Truth be told, Alduin has been a constant looming shadow over my life for the last two years. I wasn't sure if I was powerful enough to defeat him, and I've slowly measured my skills and my progress. But now..." She held up the Elder Scroll and walked over to a part of the mountain where she felt a large cluster of energy converging into itself in response to the scroll's presence. "...I think I might stand a chance."

"Be careful, please." Vilja warned her. "There's no telling what that thing will do to you."

"I'd suggest we bring in Dexion or Agmaer, but they've already gone through the effects." Lucien shuddered as he recalled their blindness. "Please be careful."

Inigo reassured her. "You are the Champion of Stendarr. I do not think the God of Mercy will allow you to lose your sight or sanity mow. And if he does not care, you also have Mara, Akatosh, Meridia, Azura, and Arkay on your side. Did I miss one?"

Cura held up the Scroll, and initially closed her eyes. "Well, wish me luck. Stendarr, Mara, Akatosh, Arkay, Meridia, Azura, and Kynareth, grant me your protection, as your emissary of light!" She then opened the Scroll, slowly unravelling it, and opened her eyes to look upon the forbidden text, placing her complete trust in the gods. It was as if lightning struck her body, shaking her to her very core. Her eyes were flooded with knowledge from all ages; seeing events and things she'd never known.

She saw visions of heroes long past; of Pelinal's slaughter of the Ayleids, of the Nerevarine destroying the Heart of Lorkhan to Dagoth Ur's dismay, to the fall of the Lich King Lysandus, to Martin Septim's shattering of the Amulet of Kings and transformation into Akatosh. Time began to spiral like a cyclone and Cura found herself caught in its winds as she circled around and around as runes of light filled her vision, surrounded by abstract patterns and water surrounded her.

This was what Septimus was talking about!

Before she could question what was going on, she was pulled down sternly, and her feet were planted onto the throat of the world. Her vision went black, causing her heart to momentarily skip a beat. Thankfully, it returned quickly enough. However, her vision was lined with the runes and archaic imagery of the Scroll. The scene surrounding her could best be described as apocalyptic. A Dragon was there, and three brave Nord warriors confronted him under a blood red sky, on bloodsoaked snow.

"The Tongues!" Cura couldn't help herself but to exclaim. She was locked firmly in place and could not move from where she stood.

The first warrior, a Nord with dark brown hair and an eyepatch, prseumably Hakon One-Eye, turned to the woman in the entourage. "Gormlaith! We're running out of time! The battle..."

The Dragon before them hissed. "Daar sul thur se Alduin vokrii. Today Alduin's lordship will be restored. But I honor your courage. Krif voth ahkrin. Die now, in vain."

Hakon One-Eye lunged forward vicariously with his greatsword, splitting the fiend's throat. "For Skyrim!"

Gormlaith joined the attack and split the Dragon's collarbone open, causing its lifeblood to spill out. "Know that Gormlaith sent you down to death!"

After killing the dragon the two sheathed their swords and rejoiced in the fast victory. "Hakon! A glorious day, is it not!" Gormlaith expressed with a lilt in her voice.

Hakon disapproved. "Have you no thought beyond the blooding of your blade?"

Gormlaith laughed. "What else is there?"

She reminded Cura quite a bit of Aela the Huntress, she could not lie.

Hakon peered over the horizon from the peak. "The battle below goes ill. If Alduin does not rise to our challenge, I fear all may be lost."

Gormlaith waved it off. "You worry too much, brother. Victory will be ours."

At this point, Felldir the Old; the third Tongue; joined them from behind where Cura stood, effectively passing through her to reach them.

Hakon gestured to his friend. "Why does Alduin hang back? We've staked everything on this plan of yours, old man."

Felldir scratched his grey beard. "He will come. He cannot ignore our defiance. And why should he fear us, even now?"

Gormlaith pointed her bloodsoaked blade in the direction of the fallen Dragon laying on the ground. "We've bloodied him well. Four of his kin have fallen to my blade alone this day."

"But none have yet stood against Alduin himself. Galthor, Sorri, Birkir..." Felldir recounted a list of fallen warriors and shuddered at the thought.

Gormlaith shook her index finger and parked her sword over her shoulder. Her arrogance knew no bounds. "They did not have Dragonrend. Once we bring him down, I promise I will have his head."

"You do not understand. Alduin cannot be slain like a lesser dragon. He is beyond our strength. Which is why I brought the Elder Scroll." Felldir held up the ancient artifact, causing Cura to look at herself to ensure she was still holding it.

Hakon was aghast by the sight of it. "Felldir! We agreed not to use it!"

"I never agreed. And if you are right, I will not need it." Felldir said firmly as his eyes watched a meteor soar over yonder. It was not a good sign. Their decisive moment was coming sooner than they'd liked.

Hakon pushed the Scroll down while the old man held it. "No. We will deal with Alduin ourselves, here and now."

Gormlaith, who had walked over to the ledge of the bluff behind the Word Wall, came running back with urgent news. "We shall see soon enough. Alduin approaches!"

Hakon sighed and gave his greatsword a twirl in his right hand. "So be it."

While the Nords drew their weapons, Alduin landed atop the Word Wall, perching on it like a jagged Raven, and spoke. "Meyye! Tahrodiis aanne! Him hinde pah liiv! Zu'u hin daan!"

It came naturally to Cura, the onlooker. She translated the wyrmspeak as it came out: "Fools! Traitors! You shall all wither! I will be your doom!" Cura knew the words were empty, but they still sent a sharp pain her way.

Alduin lifted himself up off the Wall and hovered threateningly before them.

Gormlaith thrust her sword into the air. "Let those that watch from Sovngarde envy us this day!"

In unison, the Nords Shouted.

"JOOR"

"ZAH"

"FROOL!"

"Mortal, Finite, Temporary". Under any other circumstances, these would just be normal words to describe the inevitable end of life. But these were word designed to attack the Dragons' very essence as children of Akatosh. Beings never meant to experience such things. Certainly, the Dragons knew the words, as "Joor" was a term they used to refer to men and other living creatures, but when put into a Shout, the concept is made manifest, itself.

Knowing fire exists and touching it yourself are two different things, after all.

Each word shook the world around them like a hammer striking a nail. It created feelings within Cura herself unlike anything she'd ever experienced. The words brought near tears to her eyes. A great darkness and the throes of misery consumed her all at once, just from hearing the words. The words contained the dolors of man, and the restless souls of all who'd been consumed and tormented by the Dragons - and the lamentations of their families and their friends, and thrust primal rage forward in a teal blur of ravaging spite that struck the Black Dragon.

Those words were hatred incarnate. The Greybeards were right.

In the skies, Alduin shook as the concept of mortality rose through his entire body and was immediately compelled to land as he grew sickly with each passing second. The Dragon's stark red eyes were filled with a sudden panic as he was forced to feel a sensation he'd never known before. His voice shuddered as he spoke. "Nivahriin joorre! What have you done? What twisted Words have you created?!"

His terror was palpable. The Black Dragon heaved and darted his gaze around pleadingly until he forced himself to feel rage to counter it. He thrust his neck upwards to see Paarthurnax soaring the skies above, watching the spectacle. "Tahrodiis Paarthurnax! My teeth to his neck! But first... dir ko maar. You will die in terror, knowing your final fate... To feed my power when I come for you in Sovngarde!" He immediately disregarded the other Dragon and scurried along the ground like a bat as he came for the heroes.

Gormlaith stepped forward and outstretched her arms mockingly. "If I die today, it will not be in terror. You feel fear for the first time, worm. I see it in your eyes. Skyrim will be free!"

The three Nords then proceeded to attack the World-Eater, but to no avail. Their swords did little more than aggitate the Wyrm as his strength began to slowly return. Alduin violently gnarled Gormlaith between his teeth and shook her around in the air before flinging her to the jagged stones on the right of him, killing her instantly.

Hakon screamed in anguish as he saw his friend's demise. "No, damn you! It's no use! Use the Scroll, Felldir! Now!"

Felldir quickly lifted the Elder Scroll high into the air. "Hold, Alduin on the Wing! Sister Hawk, grant us your sacred breath to make this contract heard! Begone, World-Eater! By words with older bones than your own we break your perch on this age and send you out! You are banished! Alduin, we shout you out from all our endings unto the last!"

Alduin began to feel a strange sensation pour over him. "Faal Kel...?! Nikriinne..."

The surprised Alduin then attempted to futilely breathe fire at Felldir before a portal cracked open below him and yanked him down into the flow of time.

Felldir collapsed onto one knee as the energy was pulled from himself. "You are banished!"

Hakon helped his friend stand back up again. "It worked... you did it..."

Felldir wiped the sweat off his brow. "Yes, the World-Eater is gone... may the spirits have mercy on our souls." The two began a slow walk down the side of the mountain, passing by Cura.

"Cura? Are you okay?" she heard Inigo's gentle voice and snapped out of the vision to see his blue hand waving up and down in front of her face.

The Dragonborn was silent as she slowly closed the Elder Scroll. She looked at the jagged stones, where Gormlaith had been tossed, then at the Word Wall, where Alduin was perched, and then at Paarthurnax, who stood in front of her. "I... I learned the Shout. It was... horrible." She held a hand to her breast. "I have to use that?" she looked at Paarthurnax with concern. "I know I do - my Thu'um is strong enough now, I hope, but... such evil. It's pure evil."

"A Shout can be evil?" Vilja asked. "Is it a swear word, or something blasphemous?"

"It may as well be." Cura informed her. "It's blasphemous against the Dragons at least, for certain. Would - would Akatosh be okay with this?" she turned to Paarthurnax for guidance, as the cost felt too heavy for her to process. "It doesn't feel right."

For her entire life, Cura was always taught to cherish, honour and respect the Nine - or "Eight"- if there were Thalmor in the area. If she were to use that Shout and take on all that hatred, all of that sadness, all of that suffering and unbridled calor into herself, would she be committing an atrocity?

Would it be like her rampage in Markarth, but worse, and would she take on those evil feelings for as long as she lives?

The thought shook her to her core.

But if it were the only way, she'd have to do it. There were no other alternatives. There was no turning back, and half-measures would not suffice. She had to become Hatred Incarnate to purge the World-Eater from Nirn.

Cura touched the elder Dragon with a gentle hand on his wingtip. "Paarthurnax... could I come back from this? If I used that Shout... would I... would I not be able to return to who I was? Would I become a being of hatred?"

"No." Paarthurnax told her softly. "You will be whatever you determine yourself to be. It is not a Shout that makes the Dovah... but a Dovah who determines the meaning of their Shout. Dragonrend to you may not be the same Dragonrend to the Tongues. Find the meaning of it to yourself and project your dilah - argument to Alduin."

The Words of Power were named as such for a reason. They were concepts made reality. When the Tongues cast "Joor - Mortal", they had in mind the desire to kill the Dragon - to strip away what made Alduin himself. To take away the life he had.

If Cura were to expel the same word, "Joor - Mortal" could instead refer to her desire to protect the mortals around her from him. It was one word, but contextually it had many different angles to be viewed from. She could instead take out her honest feelings and weaponize them.

Lucien felt a chill come over him and he walked towards the Word Wall in attempt to find a hiding place. "Something's coming... oh, dear. I feel something dreadful from over there. I'm most certainly not going to see what it is..."

"No, Lucien! Not there!" Vilja rushed to pull him back as Alduin ascended like a bullet from the cliff's edge and spun in the air before unfolding his wings and staring down Cura.

"By Stendarr..." Lucien shuddered.

Vilja's heart froze in place as the black Dragon loomed overhead. She quickly rushed with Lucien in her grip and the pair hid behind a large rock tower.

"Alduin again. You are like a thorn between two toes!" Inigo insulted the World-Eater point-blank.

The dark entity ignored the Khajiit's sass and directed his conversation to the Dragonborn."Bahloki nahkip sillesejoor. My belly is full of the souls of your fellow mortals, Dovahkiin. Die now and await your fate in Sovngarde!"

Cura bit down on her lower lip and her hand shook uncontrollably. Around her she could see the screaming people at Helgen and the flames rising into the sky. She closed her eyes tightly as her heart threatened to leap out of her chest.

Why did he have to be here?

Why did she have to be the Dragonborn?

Why was this her fate?

Her fearful thoughts were screeched to a halt when she felt Inigo's hand hold her own. She looked over at her Champion and he gave her a reassuring nod with eyes aflame. A sudden warmth festered within and her worried expression subsided, replaced instead with a look of fierce determination.

Alduin would not hurt those she cared about. That was what she needed to focus on.

Paarthurnax spoke up to the fiend. "Lost funt. You are too late, Alduin! Dovahkiin! Use Dragonrend, if you know it!"

"Suleyki mulaag, Paarthurnax. My power has waxed, while yours has waned. Aav uv dir. Join me or perish with your mortal friends." Alduin gave his brother an ultimatum.

Paarthurnax downright refused. "Unslaad hokoron! Never again!" He unleashed a mighty breath of fire onto the World-Eater. "YOL TOOR SHUL!" After the fire hit, Paarthurnax lunged forward and bit into Alduin's neck and the two began to tangle and claw at one another in a dogfight above the lands.

The two spiraled and then separated, and breathed a mighty torrent of flame in the other's direction. Once the waves of powerful energy converged and formed an explosion, the two flew in a sideways arc and again bit into one another with ferocious snarls.

Alduin's bite was considerably more powerful, drawing blood on Paarthurnax's collarbone, causing the gray Dragon to howl.

Cura readied herself and watched the Dragons duke it out. She was hesitant to jump immediately to Dragonrend, at least until Paarthurnax was out of the way. She did not want to hit him by accident with such horror.

"Dovahkiin, you call yourself? Arrogant mortal." Alduin snapped at Cura as he tailwhipped Paarthurnax into the mountainside. The old Dragon hit the snow and slid across the ground and into the rocks. "Bahloki nahkip sillesejoor. Paarthurnax is weak. I am strong."

As soon as Cura saw that, something in her snapped. How dare he! "You just made a stupid mistake." She ran forward and Shouted the forbidden Dragonrend now that an opening was made. "JOOR ZAH FRUUL!"

Alduin laughed arrogantly. "You may have picked up the weapons of my ancient foes, but you are not their equal!"

As soon as the energy of the Shout connected with him, it caused a massive shockwave that resounded through the skies. All pretense of arrogance was now gone.

Rather than focusing hatred onto the Shout, Cura focused instead her fear of the demise of her loved ones. The image of Inigo, Lucien, Vilja, Carcette, Serana, Mjoll, Lydia, and everyone else, living or dead being consumed by this devil was abhorrent to the Dragonborn. Her fear of Alduin would be her blade against him.

"Now, Dovahkiin! Now he is vulnerable!" Paarthurnax shouted from afar as he slowly pulled himself upright. "This is your chance, Dovahkiin! Strike with all your force!"

"You will not touch them!" Cura growled with the ferocity of a lioness as the Dragon was forced to land. She rushed forward, and with all her strength, drove her mace diagonally and struck the World-Eater in the head.

The force of her blow was so solid that the Dragon's head snapped back in reaction to the impact, and he roared in anguish.

Cura batted him again and again, thrashing the beast, roaring like a Nord possessed all the while.

Alduin's strength then returned and he butted her away with his horns, which cut into her flesh through her armour. He then blasted Paarthurnax away with a mighty Fire breath Shout.

Cura flew backwards and skid across the white snow, leaving bloodied patches in the white. She jammed her mace into the terrain, using it to steady herself.

The Dragon's snapping jaws came for her next, but Cura blocked it firmly with her shield, which she managed to hold his teeth off with.

"Leave her alone, you smelly old gasbag!" Inigo fired useless arrows at the fiend. Each arrow was like a tiny pebble knocking off the fortress wall that was Alduin.

"Hrrrg... persistent, aren't you?" Alduin turned his sights to Inigo, who continued to hail him with arrows.

Alduin spun around and tailwhipped the blue Khajiit, sending Inigo hurdling backwards. The sharp scales tore into the cat's flesh and Inigo hit the ground with a thud.

"INIGOOOOO!" Cura wailed in horror as Alduin crawled over to him. "NOOOOOO!" She shrieked as her Elemental bolts did nothing to the Dragon.

Lucien heard the scream and joined in the effort, throwing elemental spells at the immortal terror.

"You will pay for your defiance!" Alduin summoned meteors down from the sky as he'd done in Helgen.

Vilja grunted as she narrowly dodged the impact of one, but was caught by the force of its impact and flew over the rock.

Cura was frozen in panic and her heart was racing.

No.

No.

No!

In the heat of the moment, she strung together the closest words she could conjure mentally and expressed her heart, laying it bare.

"VOKRAS!"

"LOKAAL!"

"JAARIL!"

Cure, Love, Protect.

To Cure is to remedy the suffering of another. The reflection of kindness and a sense of caring. It is the charity of the soul. To destroy that which causes harm to another.

Love is the purest of emotions. In its truest form, it seeks the wellbeing and peace of all, beyond its possessor.

To Protect is an expression of care and love; it is the inevitable end of the two. To guard and to preserve all.

With these desperate words, Cura lost consciousness and her Dragon Soul left her body. It was an energy formed of white fire, and its eyes emerald green. It resembled much Alduin; sharp, long, and threatening, with wings to cover the mountain. Cura's mortal body collapsed into the snow, creating a white cloud of powder as she thudded onto it.

"What on Nirn?!" Lucien's jaw hung open at the spectacle. The white Dragon towered over the mountain, almost as if it were Akatosh himself.

"Joor... what game are you playing now?" Alduin slowly backed away as the white Dragon covered her allies with her powerful wings.

Inigo looked up at the White Dragon from where he lay. "My friend... i-is that really you?" He felt a warm sensation cover him from head to toe as the White Dragon's wings began to emanate a golden aura in the surrounding area.

Vilja hurried over to Cura's unconscious body. "Cura! Can you hear me? You're not dying until you help me get those ingredients!"

Alduin roared and snapped at Cura's soul, but it only whacked him back with its mighty wing. "My teeth to your neck, Dovahkiin!" The World-Eater Shouted at her. "YOL TOOR SHUL!"

The fire hit the white Dragon, and it resisted the staggering effect, but sustained a burn. She would not release her friends, however.

Instead Cura's Dragon Soul retaliated. "JOOR ZAH FRUUL!"

The Shout struck Alduin and caused him to fly into the Word Wall, demolishing it.

The World-Eater was awakened and began to gasp for air. "No... this cannot be!"

The White Dragon could not move and leave her friends unprotected.

Once Alduin regained his flight, he bitterly took to the air. "Meyz mul, Dovahkiin. You have become strong. But I am Al-du-in, Firstborn of Akatosh! Mulaagi zok lot! I cannot be slain here, by you or anyone else! You cannot prevail against me. I will outlast you... mortal!"

In a moment of furious cowardice, the ancient terror howled into the sky as his black form soared high into the sky and vanished from view.

Cura's Soul receded back into her body, as it could no longer sustain itself. The White Dragon folded its wings inward and slowly draped back into her chest.

"Oh... my... gods! Candle, you did it! You beat him back! That... that was amazing!" Lucien exclaimed, clapping his hands applaudingly.

Vilja helped Cura up to her feet. "Please tell me you can still walk. You can't beat that big bastard lying down!"

"My friend, you were incredible! How did you do that?! Where did that white Dragon come from? I swear it was like a projection of your very soul!" Inigo bombarded his friend

Paarthurnax slowly crawled over to see the group. "Hil do faal Dovah. That was most unwise of you, Dovahkiin; but very effective."

Cura massaged her forehead as she came back to. "Hrn... ooh... that felt... passing strange. What happened?"

"Kusah. You have projected your Dovah sil - your Dragon Soul - into your Shout." Paarthurnax explained. "Your desire to protect your Ragnavir - Family - was made manifest in your words. You have reached the Hil - Heart - of the Way of the Voice."

Cura was stunned to hear this. "I... I did? I did! That must have been what I felt!" she quickly looked at all her friends. "Are you all okay?"

"I am more than okay, my friend. I am a bird in an egg energized by the golden yolk!" Inigo flexed his arms.

"I feel quite fine." Lucien admitted. "Quite alive, somehow, even though I stared down at death."

Vilja nodded. "So you went out of your way to protect us? Thank you so much! I was afraid of becoming that ugly monster's lunch."

Cura placed a hand on her forehead, which was dripping with cold sweat.

The Greybeards came up from the mountainside and Arngeir was first to approach.

"Alduin... we heard the Dragonrend Shout from here... you defeated him?" Arngeir hurried to Cura directly.

Cura shook her head ardently. "No. He fled, but I don't know where exactly."

"That is just as well." Arngeir said plainly. "Your purpose is not yet finished." he turned to his master. "Master Paarthurnax - how fare you?"

"Krosis. I have grown weary from Alduin's Iidah." Paarthurnax sat himself down in the snow, and turned to Cura. "Dovahkiin, the rest is up to you."

"How am I supposed to find Alduin now?" Cura asked.

"As much as it pains me to say it, you may have to consult the Blades. No doubt those barbarians have studied Alduin's movements as of late." Arngeir proposed.

"Perhaps." Cura considered it. "I've nothing to lose. I'll talk to Esbern."

"Yes, because Delphine's face most likely scared Alduin away before they could study him." Inigo laughed.

"Oh, wonderful. Another pitstop. Why don't I get to lead us somewhere fun for a change?" Vilja asked as they began to walk.

"Because now is not the time for fun and games." Cura put it plainly.

"Dragonborn, wait." Arngeir reached out to her, prompting Cura to turn and face him. "When you speak with the Blades, take care to search your heart. They may aid you, but I implore you weigh the cost of it."

Cura nodded. "I will. I promise."

"Kynareth guide your steps." Arngeir dismissed her with a blessing.

The group Fast Travelled to the top of Sky Haven Temple, where Esbern and Delphine were training in the yard and discussing something amongst themselves concerning the Skyguard, but Cura couldn't quite make it out.

However, the timing couldn't have been more perfect.

"Well, well, well. Look who's back." Delphine remarked as she sheathed her two swords.

Cura rushed up to Esbern and cut right to it.

"I defeated Alduin, but he escaped. I need to find him." Cura stated bluntly, causing both Esbern and Delphine to blank out for a second before they processed what she just told them.

"You... defeated Alduin?" Delphine spoke with astonishment. From the look on Cura's face, she could surmise the seriousness of her claim. "By Lorkhan, you're serious!"

Esbern cleared his throat and reflected on the lore he knew of the beast. "He must have returned to Sovngarde to feed on the souls of the dead. If you don't find him soon, he'll return, stronger than ever!"

"Oh, isn't that wonderful." Lucien sung sarcastically. "I suppose next thing you'll tell us is that the Civil war is what's feeding him." a stern glare told him all he needed to know and Lucien's expression fell. "Oh. It is, isn't it?"

"Yes." Esbern brushed him off. "We must think. He must have some means of travelling to and from Sovngarde. But no tale tells where that might be."

"His Dragon allies must know where this portal is..." Vilja proposed. "Filthy rat bastards often work in groups."

Delphine pointed at Vilja. "And who is this, now? A member for the... ugh... Skyguard?"

Vilja placed a hand on her hip. "I don't know what you're talking about, you old Hagraven, I'm just traveling with her."

"Old Hagraven?!" Delphine snapped. "Listen here, you little hussy -"

"Delphine, keep yourself calm." Esbern reminded her before noting the point and turning to Cura. "Your friend has a legitimate point. Hmm. I wonder... do you know the Jarl's palace in Whiterun?"

"You mean Dragonsreach?" Cura clarified. Of course she knew Dragonsreach! That was Jarl Balgruuf's palace. She'd been there or near there many times.

She could definitely say she's been to the Cloud District quite often.

She'd enjoyed lunches and breakfasts from time to time with the Jarl and his Court during her time with the Companions.

"Yes, exactly! Most people don't know that it was originally built to hold a captive dragon - hence its name." Esbern explained with great endearment. It was a topic the elder had very much fancied, it seemed.

"What's the Jarl's palace have to do with this?" Vilja asked. She couldn't see how the past related to now.

"I believe I see where he's getting at." Cura stated as she recalled the mounted Dragon skull on the wall above the Jarl's throne. "Just as Olaf One-Eye captured Numinex, perhaps I could replicate it with another."

She wondered if Olaf and Hakon One-Eye were related, now.

"I thought there weren't any dragons until Alduin came back." Vilja asked.

"Oh, this was thousands of years ago, before the Akaviri crusaders cleansed Skyrim of dragons. Skyrim's mountains were still infested with dragons." Esbern called back to history. "One of the early Nord Kings caught a Dragon and kept it in Dragonsreach, as Cura explained."

"He did more than that." Cura said dryly.

"I'm pretty certain there was a red Dragon in Hammerfell well past that era, though. What was his name - Nahfahlaar? Nafaalilargus?" Lucien attempted to recount something he'd read a long time ago.

"So if I could lure a dragon into Dragonsreach..." Cura proposed.

"You could trap him there, exactly." Esbern stated. "Although... it might be difficult to persuade the Jarl to allow you to use his palace as a dragon trap... I'm sure you'll manage it, though. If you can defeat the World-Eater, surely sweet-talking the Jarl of Whiterun isn't beyond you."

"I have a good relationship with Jarl Balgruuf." Cura said. "I'm sure he'd be on board with the plan."

"To Whiterun we will go, to Whiterun we will go, hi-ho the Da-ri-o, to Whiterun we will goooo..." Inigo sang with a little dance.

"Dragonborn, there's some news I have for you." Delphine caught her attention. "I've gathered a couple of potential recruits for the Skyguard. I thought you might like to meet them before we proceed."

Cura was shocked. "Already? Wow! Sure, I'd love to meet them!"

Delphine led her inside the temple and into the main hall, where two figures stood in shadow.

"Alright, you two. I'd like you to meet our leader; the one and only Dragonborn." Delphine brought Cura to them.

One of them immediately spoke up. "Cura? Wow, is it really you?"

His voice was soft and oddly familiar. Once the figure stepped into the torchlight, Cura's jaw dropped when the recognition set it.

Erik from Rorikstead!

"I know you!" Cura pointed at him. "You're the innkeeper's son from Rorikstead! Err... Erik! Erik! That was it!"

"Erik the Slayer. As soon as I heard Delphine asking around Riften for potential Dragonslayers, I signed up. I'm ready to take the fight to them." Erik proclaimed with a tightened fist.

The second figure emerged from the shadows; he was an Imperial wizard with dark skin and hair slicked back into a ponytail, wearing yellow Adept Robes.

"This is Marcurio." Erik pointed to the wizard. "We met in Riften and hunted down some bears together near Ivarstead."

"Uh, I can introduce myself, you know!" the wizard snapped at his ally. "I am Marcurio, powerful wizard and distinguished mercenary. Why hire a common soldier to protect you when you can have a master of the arcane?"

"Hah!" Lucien laughed aloud from afar. "There's no way that's who I think it is!" he came hurrying down the stone steps.

Marcurio crossed his arms as Lucien came into view. "Well, well, well, if it isn't the university's own Mama's Boy."

"What on Nirn are you doing in Skyrim, Marcurio?" Lucien shook his hand and pulled him into a half-hug, which the latter reciprocated.

"Oh. I take it you two know each other?" Cura gestured to both Imperials.

"Know each other? He was my bloody roommate for years." Lucien proclaimed. "Don't listen to his boasting though: he tries to impress all the ladies by saying just how magnificent a wizard he is."

Marcurio scoffed. "And this fellow has no spine to even talk to a woman who isn't his mother."

"That isn't true." Cura chuckled. "We met in Falkreath. He initiated the conversation."

"So your balls finally have dropped! Good for you!" Marcurio tapped Lucien in the arm.

Delphine loudly grunted to get their attention. She gestured for Cura to come with her, and they walked to the corner of the room. "This is your call, Dragonborn. Do you think they'd be good Skyguard material?"

Cura pondered it. "I'd like your input on this, Delphine."

"Really?" the older Breton looked surprised by Cura's offer.

"Of course! No doubt you've served with great warriors in the past - you could spot the inclination in people, I'm sure." Cura respected Delphine's experience. "You'll be a better judge of that. You are my Skyguard's Grandmaster, after all. I trust your judgement."

The expression on Delphine's face was one of bewilderment, but also of contentment. She accepted the compliments and offered her insight gently. "I think they might. They're pretty experienced, and from what I've heard around the Rift, they've hunted quite a few nasty creatures. Bears, Spriggans Matrons, Bandits. They don't belong to any particular mercenary organization like the Companions. I think they could serve us well."

Cura nodded. "I'm willing to give Erik a chance, personally. I remember years ago when I met him in Rorikstead. All he wanted was to leave the farming life behind him. I helped him with that."

"Two years ago, more or less." Delphine counted the timeline.

"Yes." Cura confirmed. "A month after we first met, you and I."

"And what about the wizard? I find him grating, personality-wise, but I could break him out of it, given enough time." Delphine reassured her. "His spells are quite powerful and he and Erik are a team."

"If they both want to join, I'd be happy to have them." Cura smiled kindly.

Delphine looked at the small group composed of the potential recruits chatting with Cura's friends. "Are you sure? I'll need to ask them to take an oath to leave their old life behind and stay here from now on."

"As long as they do so with full knowledge." Cura said. "I don't intend to be deceptive, or to mislead them into taking vows they don't understand. If they're going to do this, I want them to know why."

"You won't be deceiving anyone, don't worry about it. This is serious business, and transparency is important. I understand that." Delphine reassured her as she walked over to the group. She quickly singled out the two volunteers.

"You there. The Dragonborn wishes to give you the chance to join the lost guardians of Tamriel. The dragon slayers. The protectors of the Empire. The Skyguard. Do you wish to become a Blade of the Dragonborn?" Delphine approached Erik and Marcurio directly.

They'd already requested to join long before Cura stepped inside. Now it was time to make it official.

Marcurio bowed his head. "I do."

Erik also bowed his head. "I do."

Delphine raised her left hand. "Are you willing to trade away all claims and titles of your former life? To live here and devote yourself to protecting Tamriel from danger?"

Marcurio hesitated for a second, but ultimately decided to nod his head. "I do."

Erik spoke up quickly. "I do. If I can be in service to something greater, I will."

Delphine smiled and gestured for the two of them to stand upright again. "Then by my right as acting Grandmaster, I name you both the first Blades of the Skyguard, with all the privileges, rights, and burdens that brings. Godspeed."

Inigo, Lucien, and Vilja applauded as the small ceremony ended, and the two new Blades looked upon one another.

"Okay, even I will admit that "Blade of the Skyguard" is a pretty badass title." Inigo confessed to Delphine.

"I figured I would bring the best of both worlds." Delphine explained. "You don't mind, Dragonborn?"

Cura shook her head. "Not at all. It's perfect."

Again, Delphine was surprised by Cura's agreeability this day. Normally there would have been some sort of backtalk. "What's going on with you?" the older Breton demanded to know.

"A lot of things, honestly." Cura informed her.

"You're... pretty much letting me take the reins today. What's with that? What's going on with you?" Delphine asked.

Cura crossed her arms. "About the recruits, you mean? I've explained it to you. You have more wisdom when it comes to recruiting warriors for an organization like this. I'm busy dealing with other things; I don't have time to wean out applicants."

"Fair enough, but you're okay with me calling them Blades?" Delphine asked. "What changed?"

"Nothing." Cura raised an eyebrow. "You can keep it as a title, but the Organization is the Skyguard. Blades of the Skyguard. You got it exactly right."

Delphine fell silent for a moment and watched Erik and Marcurio head into the barracks. Esbern entered the area from outside and approached the two of them. She returned to Cura. "There is also another matter I need to speak to you about. You're not gonna like it."

"Ah, Delphine, you've recruited them now? Good, that's good." Esbern remarked with elation. "It is beginning to feel less lonely in this place already."

"I was about to discuss another important matter with the Dragonborn." Delphine informed him.

"Mm. Yes." Esbern responded curtly. He knew immediately what she was about to say.

"What is it?" Cura asked, growing a tad concerned by the odd reaction around her.

"We know about Paarthurnax." Delphine said abruptly.

Cura tried to play dumb. She didn't like how this sounded. "You know... what?"

Delphine was beginning to look annoyed. There was no use in Cura hiding it. "Paarthurnax. The Dragon, that the Greybeards have been protecting for all these years."

Cura shrugged, not seeing an issue with it. "Okay, so he's a Dragon. But he helped me."

"That's fine. We needed his help. Now we don't, and it's long past time for him to pay for his crimes. And he's not just any dragon. He was the right hand of Alduin. He committed atrocities so infamous they are still remembered, thousands of years later." Delphine lectured her.

"What atrocities? You mean the wide, varied ones that Dragonkind collectively did? I don't recall learning about the Dragon Paarthurnax who specifically did anything especially evil to be distinguished from the rest." Cura waved her hands as she spoke. "In fact, quite the opposite. We know for a fact that he sided with Humanity against Alduin."

"There it is." Delphine smirked as Cura's belligerence reared its head at last. Of course she couldn't cooperate fully.

Cura was not hearing it. "Paarthurnax is our friend."

"He needs to die. He deserves to die. And it falls to you to kill him. Until he's dead... well, I'm sorry, but we would dishonor our oaths as Blades if we continued to help you." Delphine put her foot down.

Cura was horrified at the idea. "Why does he need to die?"

"Here's the big picture. He helped Alduin enslave our ancestors. He may have betrayed Alduin in the end, but that makes him worse, not better." Delphine expressed her disdain. "We can't afford to give Paarthurnax the opportunity to betray us in turn, and return to his old master."

"He's atoned for his sins." Cura stated firmly. "Leave him alone!"

Delphine wasn't there. She didn't see Paarthurnax's open defiance of Alduin; the wounds he sustained fighting that monster at the Throat of the World. The risk he took in betraying the World-Eater.

"Make your choice, Dragonborn. You're either with us or against us." Delphine finally found an opening to exploit.

"Do you really want the Dragonborn to be against you, Delphine?" Cura reclaimed her power in a span of mere seconds.

Delphine stared at her in silence for a few seconds as she weighed the words there before them. She then turned to Esbern. "Maybe you can explain it to her. I can't get through that thick skull of hers."

Esbern cleared his throat. "He was Alduin's chief lieutenant in ancient times, and was responsible for terrible atrocities. It's true that his crimes are long in the past, but justice does not count the passage of years."

Cura shook her head. "You're lecturing a Vigilant of Stendarr about Justice. Interesting." she crossed her arms. "I'm going to rebuke you the same way I rebuked my own Keeper: not all Dragons are deserving of death. If they have a desire to change, to repent, they deserve to live. Case closed."

Esbern kept grilling the topic. "The Blades have been hunting him for centuries, but he was protected by the Greybeards and then the Emperors. Justice demands that he die for his crimes. Until he is dead, I'm afraid my oath as a Blade prevents me from offering you aid and comfort."

"That's fine. I have other people who can offer me aid and comfort." Cura looked to Inigo and the others. "In fact, from what I've seen, it's been me aiding and comforting you! You want to forego our relationship over this?"

"Dragonborn; it is not what I want; but what honour demands." Esbern sighed as he tried to reframe the issue.

"She's thick-headed." Delphine shook her head irritatedly.

"True, he turned traitor to Alduin and helped overthrow the Dragon Cult, but that does not excuse or expiate his previous deeds. Whether or not he has truly repented, or merely acted to save himself, justice demands that he pay with his life." Esbern explained. "Justice can be harsh. But it is still justice. Paarthurnax deserves to die."

Cura wasn't getting through to them. She would need to illustrate her point.

With a quick swipe of her hand, the Dragonborn drew Dawnbreaker and held it to her own throat.

"What are you doing?!" Vilja shrieked from afar.

"By the gods!" Lucien exclaimed.

Inigo almost rushed to Cura, but she shook her head at him, signaling for her allies to not interfere.

"I too have committed atrocities. I deserve to die, as well, then." Cura pressed the sharp edge tightly to her flesh.

Delphine lunged forward in attempt to stop her, but halted mid-motion. She realized that it was a slippery position.

"No, Dragonborn. You -" before Esbern could complete his statement the half-Elven Vigilant cut him off.

"-are important alive?" Cura finished his sentence. "I knew you would say that. I've slaughtered the city guard of Markarth in a violent rage. I've murdered a captive in a shack. I've crippled a young man in Whiterun. I'm not innocent, myself." Erik and Marcurio returned from the barracks in Blades armour and listened with surprise along with her group as she slowly removed the blade from her neck and returned it to its sheath. "You only think I deserve to live because you're tethered to me. Your glory hinges on my success. Skyrim needs me."

"That isn't fair!" Delphine snapped at her. "It's nowhere near the same thing!"

"Do you have any idea how much more we would lose if we killed Paarthurnax?" Cura pointed out. "He has wisdom of ancient times. He is the Master of the Thu'um. Killing him would not only be detrimental to us, but to Skyrim as a whole... to the Way of the Voice itself."

"More of that Greybeard tripe. How much have they indoctrinated you, Dragonborn?" Delphine grew bolder. "You're afraid to get your hands dirty now because some old priests touched your little heartstrings?"

"Because a kind old Dragon touched my little heartstrings." Cura admitted. "And I don't want to kill the potentially only Dragon friend I have."

Delphine looked at Cura's Vigilant uniform and rethought her argument. "All right, then. He did teach men the Thu'um, and that was a good thing. But he sat idly by during the Oblivion Crisis, now didn't he. He may have helped save lives in the distant past, I'll give him that, but at the same time he could have saved more if he would have started killing Dremora when the gates opened up all over the Province. Parthurnax, while seeming to look heroic, is still not worthy of praise. He could have easily helped keep Martin Septim alive, too. Hell, he probably knew all about the Daedra overrunning Cyrodill. He didn't acknowledge it. He didn't care then. Where was his kindness then?"

"He was cloistered atop the Mountain." Cura countered. "He was living in peace for all this time, with the Greybeards. None of them had knowledge of what was going on in the world until I used my Thu'um for the first time."

"Can we just hold up one fire-breathing minute? They want you to kill Paarthurnax. Paarthurnax. The one friendly dragon in all of Skyrim." Lucien stepped closer to the argument, and was trying to wrap his head around the inanity of it all. He held his head in his hands as a migraine overtook him.

Cura looked at him straight. "And you know my stance. I wouldn't."

"I should hope not! he's stood by us for all this - he fought with us against Alduin! The Skyguard will just have to deal with that." Lucien spat as he looked back to Delphine and Esbern. "What is wrong with you people?"

Erik the Slayer stepped up to Cura. "A friendly Dragon, you say... I remember Sissel - back in Rorikstead - she had a dream about an old, gray Dragon who was kind."

"She dreamt of Paarthurnax." Cura confirmed. "And so have I before meeting him."

Erik tapped his chin. "I don't know whose side to take. Cura, if it wasn't for you, I'd still be a lifeless farm boy. But I literally just swore an oath to the Skyguard."

"And I lead the Skyguard." Cura informed him. "Delphine is the Grandmaster, but she's clearly forgotten that the Skyguard is there to serve the Dragonborn. Esbern, as well."

Vilja furrowed her brow. "I have no clue to what is going on here, but the whole lot of you are crazy. All I know is that the old gray Dragon was helping us. If you kill him, you are killing an ally. That's stupid in and of itself."

"All right, all right." Delphine waved both of her hands in a gesture to signal an end to the discussion. "I'll come to a middle ground; this... Paarthurnax Dilemma can wait. At least until Alduin is dead. He's the bigger threat, anyway."

"Finally you are speaking some sense! It is like hearing a broken Nirnroot singing normally again; grating on my eardrums, but less painful." Inigo pushed his index fingers into his ears.

"Do we have a deal, Dragonborn?" Delphine extended a hand. "This topic will be put aside until a later date."

Cura sighed. It seemed right for the time being. She had enough to worry about as is. "All right." she shook her hand. "Peace, for now."

"See the Jarl of Whiterun about setting that trap." Esbern stated. "We will ready ourselves to aid in any way we can. Just give the word."

Cura nodded and looked to her Skyguard before leaving the temple with a deep exhalation. "All right."

As soon as she stepped outside, she looked at the bust of Reman Cyrodiil, which she caused to move using her blood on the seal long ago. "Reman... did your Dragonguard give you a hard time, too?"

Her allies descended the stairs and joined her there.

"My friend, all that nonsense aside, I want to talk to you about that Shout you used in the fight with Alduin. Not Dragonrend - the big, White Dragon from Aetherius thing." Inigo opened the topic.

Cura moved her bangs back into their proper place behind her ears. "Er - yes. I honestly don't know what I did. It all happened so fast, and I shouted the first words that came to me."

"It was quite incredible. You lit up the skies, Candle." Lucien swayed as he stood. "You protected us from the meteors and the World-Eater himself. Did you see the world from a different view up there?"

Cura tried to recall, but her memory failed her. "I'm not sure. I blacked out. I suppose it was my spirit acting on its own."

Vilja's jaw hung open. "I heard incredible stories about you... but this time I was there to witness it. You really are incredible, even if you suck at prioritizing things."

"Thanks, Vilja." Cura responded dryly.

Vilja looked at Lucien. "And you, Lucien, right? I wanted to thank you for saving my life, back in Blackreach."

"Oh, it was nothing, Vilja." Lucien waved it off. "I'd do it again in a heartbeat."

"Well, I wouldn't want to go through it again, but thanks." Vilja replied with a lightherted chuckle.

Cura looked to her allies. "If I had it my way, I'd appoint all of you to be my Skyguard; but it's your choice at the end of the day, and I wouldn't force you."

"My friend, I am your Friendguard." Inigo laughed. "I do not need an oath to tell me to guard your life. I would do it voluntarily."

"Best of luck to the other two chaps, though." Lucien expressed. "I just never thought I'd see Marcurio actually take something seriously in his life. I suppose the Skyrim wilderness changes us all."

"How long do you think it will be before the Thalmor investigate the Skyguard?" Inigo wondered.

"Hopefully after Alduin is dealt with." Cura walked towards the grounds below the hole in the cavern ceiling. "Are we ready to go to Whiterun?"

"Ready." Lucien proclaimed.

"All set!" Inigo exclaimed.

"Oh, why not?" Vilja sighed.

The four joined together and casted Fast Travel, leaving Sky Haven Temple behind them.