Hooray, Chapter 4 is now Here! I must apologize for the delay, This chapter gave me a bit of trouble, there are a lot of things that may seem like they fall from existence but please understand they will all come back eventually.
It was a long month for us. Lydia and I taught Time how to speak the common tongue with his actual voice instead of using the telepathy to talk to me. We decided that Telepathic talk was for when things were truly important. Eorlund had come down two weeks after the banquet; he brought Time a full set of armor like mine out of the Hylianium and a shimmering blade from the material. Time thus named his new sword Redemption. The handle was wrapped with leather and the pommel was rounded and flattened to look like a sea shell. The blade was crafted to look much like the blade of the Master Sword with the Triforce etched into just above the cross guard. What Eorlund also did was he made a metal mask for Time to wear; only one eye was carved out while the other was closed. Time adorned his new face and put the hood over his head. "This…This is my clean slate, a new beginning. I cannot thank you enough noble blacksmith." Time had said putting his hand on the armored chest and bowing to Eorlund.
The rest of the month I spent meeting people around the town, meeting with the guards every so often. I even started a garden behind my house bringing some of the plants from New Hyrule into my garden. When the new month started Lydia helped me exercise my arm a bit more as Time studied the new map. Farengar came to us the other day telling us about a relic that matched the symbol of my armor. As soon as he mentioned the words 'Strange Instrument' Time immediately wanted the details and asked about the location. Farengar told us it was out to sea just outside of Solitude. Since then Time has been endlessly studying the map, marking it down. I hear him mumbling at night "Have to find it." I'd lay awake for an hour more listening to him pace in the storage room downstairs. His past made him antsy and I can't blame him.
The time came for us to pack our bags and travel to Windhelm. I dressed in my new armor admiring each etched trim detail before strapping each piece in place. Time had helped with the arms and shoulders since I couldn't do those on my own. I pulled my pack from the chest in the room and packed a change of clothes along with a map. "Lydia…We may be gone for a time, if anyone is seeking me please tell them to leave messages with you, and if it's my parents keep them here, not forcefully of course but you get the idea." I had ordered as I summoned the Master Sword putting the scabbard on my right hip instead of normally my left since I still had trouble swinging with my right arm. "As you wish my thane, I shall remain here. Please be safe in your travels My Lady" Lydia said before she went back to her business. Time and I were finally ready to depart. I handed him the bag to keep on his back and we began to walk out to the city gate. A courier ran up to me causing Time to step in front and draw Redemption from its scabbard. The ring of the blade was loud as it was drawn from its blue and gold sheath. "Stop!" I had shouted and Time froze where he was.
"I've been looking for you; I've a letter to deliver to you." The courier said before he looked back to time and just handed him the letter. Time immediately passed it to me keeping his eyes on the poor man before he walked away. I opened the letter to find only a map marked for the top of a mountain. I shrugged at Time and we left the city. We walked down to the carriage and I had gotten the gold out for the driver telling him to take us to Windhelm. "As you wish, climb on back and we'll be off. It'll be half a day before we reach Windhelm with the path we must take to avoid the bandits. We need to head past old Helgen and between the mountains." The driver explained as Time helped me climb aboard. Once Time had been seated I handed him my bow and arrows. "Protect the carriage at all cost." I ordered quietly, Time nodded and kept and arrow knocked on the bow kneeling and keeping a lookout. "If you take the other shorter path we can defend the carriage if bandits cause trouble." I had told him, the driver nodded and started north. As we came up towards the Valtheim towers the bandits walked the bridge between the two towers looking to the carriage but they weren't brave enough to approach. They took one look at Time and his mask and decided to scurry into the tower. I quietly leaned over to him. "When I'm fully healed we'll take care of them." I had mentioned, Time nodded and the carriage continued on down the path.
Three hours past before we reached the bridge into Windhelm, the air was cold in the northern most part of Skyrim. We thanked the carriage driver and hopped off. "You don't think the rebels will have an issue with us two being here? You said before you escaped with an imperial soldier." Time had mentioned, his hand was on his sword and he was scanning the area as much as he could. "It should be alright. If anything I could say I was traveling with Ulfric by the time we were captured I wasn't given much choice." I had said knowing part of it was a lie; I only traveled with the troop to guarantee my safety. When we entered the city we happened upon an argument between a very grumpy citizen and a dark elf. The man was constantly insulting her and threatening to come to her house at night and finding out if she's an imperial spy.
I wasted no time and walked between them. "You have a problem with elves punk?" I said staring down the man who was only half an inch taller than myself. His friends started to laugh. "Yeah, they don't belong in our city, they're the reason we're in this mess and they want to parade around like they're better than us." The man continued his ranting; I noticed the guards did nothing as Time walked up behind the group. "I suggest changing your attitude, or I'll have to take it upon myself to rearrange those terrible teeth of yours." I had said coldly staring daggers at the man, He spat to the side into the cobblestone path of the city. "Oh yeah? And how are you gonna do that?" The man asked just before my fist became a blur and slammed into his jaw, the gauntlet smashed against his teeth knocking him clean to the ground before I walked over and stepped on his chest with the Hylianium steel boot. "Time, if you would be so kind as to show his friends to their homes. The two men that were with him turned around to see Time standing much taller than they were crack his knuckles before grabbing both of their jaws and lifting them from the ground before he whipped around and tossed them down the street. As they stumbled to get back up Time stepped towards them and removed his mask. The two men screamed and ran in fear before Time had come to my side. I kicked the old bigot before I leaned down to him. "If I hear about you causing trouble for anyone ever again, next time won't just be a punch in the mouth, I'll beat you with my sword and throw you over the bridge into the icy waters below. Now Scram!" I had threatened; the man held his jaw and went packing for home.
I walked over to the Dunmer woman who was still in shock at what just happened as Time readjusted the mask onto his head. "Y…You didn't have to do that." She had said, I shook my head in disagreement. "No, people like that trash need taught a lesson, this world has seen enough ugliness, it need not suffer bigots like him." I had said, Time nodded furiously in agreement as he finally took his place next to me with his hand on Redemption. "Well thank you kind lady, I will sleep safer tonight knowing you are in town." She had said before she picked up her basket and walked off. Two guards had approached us with their swords drawn. "We will only tell you once wood elf. Do not cause trouble in our city or we will throw you in a cold cell. We will look the other way this time because that man is a known drunken fool, but please refrain from assaulting our citizens any further." One of the guards threatened, I could tell Time was going to sock them one too but I put my arm in front of him just before he stepped. "That was most likely the extent of the trouble we will cause here, reel in some of these bigot fools and you won't have to warn people not to." I retorted and walked down the street towards the keep with Time following behind. I wanted to stop in at the keep to see about any light easy work that could be done.
When we entered the keep we were greeted to the loud conversation between Ulfric and someone else, the man talking sounded grizzled and raspy. As the two came out of the room, the broad man got one look at me and scowled. "Damn elves!" He said drawing his blade. "Calm now Galmar, this one is a friend." Ulfric said calmly, Galmar put his sword away and relaxed. "If you say so, but if I see them with any imperial dogs I'm killing her on the field." He muttered under his breath. "Then you would die before your thick skull hit the ground, Boy." Time growled in response. "Gentleman please, there's enough fighting going on at the actual battle fields." I had said rolling my eyes; Time stayed standing tall as he walked beside me. "From a common traveling farm girl to the Dragonborn, what brings you to my city?" Ulfric asked sitting at his throne. "Well, my companion and I are just going city to city really. We're seeing the sights while I can't really use my right arm too much at the moment, so my initial quest is on hold until I recover." I had explained leaning back against the table. "Sounds like quite the adventure so far. Did you come to support us in this war?" Ulfric asked, curious as to why I was standing at the very command of the Stormcloak army. "I'm afraid not, but only to say I am remaining neutral in this little squabble. Only while the dragons are about, then I may consider different." I had said giving the man a false hope; I didn't feel like ever joining in on their stalemate. Not to mention I didn't take kindly to someone barking orders at me.
"If you are not with us, you are against us!" Galmar said stepping forward again. Time had become a blur before any of us could react, grabbing Galmar's wrist before he could even draw his blade, I wasn't aware of how fast Time could move in that body. "Try to pull that sword on Lady Kotera and I will take that arm." Time growled still holding his arm tightly; it looked like his body was glowing as energy began to rush towards him. Galmar stood completely still, awestruck and terrified no doubt looking into the glowing red eye of the ancient hero that now stood in breaths distance to him. "Time, that's quite enough. I'm sure the man didn't mean any harm." I had ordered, Time shoved Galmar's hand away and walked back to my side his hand went to the pommel of his sword. "Well…that was something, I was going to have him stand down myself but your ward seems to have a quick mind as well as a quick step. I will honor your decision Dragonborn, I do not wish conflict with a Nord legend, and it would be disrespectful to my ancestors to harm you." Ulfric said, I guess he didn't want to take any action against Time in fear that Time would rip everyone here apart in order to protect me. "Thank you Ulfric, I had a feeling you were an honorable man when we met at the border. This situation with the war may be…unnecessary, but people are who they are. Come Time, we need to keep at it." I had said as I started to leave, Time bowed and followed behind me.
When we exited the keep one of the guards came running. "Dragonborn, I have a favor to ask of you." The man had said as he was nearly out of breath from running. "What is it?" I asked the guard, I was curious why any of the guards would ask anything of me to be completely honest. "There are rumors of a child in his home performing the black sacrament; I believe his name is Aventus Aretino, could you go and check in on the poor boy, they say he escaped the Riften orphanage." The guard had explained the situation to me as clear as he could. I nodded and was led to a small house on the other side of town. I tried the door but it was locked, I stepped away for a moment before Time stepped up and roughly shoved the door with his shoulder knocking it from the latch. "Good work." I had said to him before I climbed the stairs into the dark lit home. I heard a child chanting and decided to move quietly. I looked back at Time who was as stiff as a board, He didn't like this house.
When we came upon the child he was chanting a prayer over a skeleton strewn about the floor. "Aventus?" I had asked for him, the boy snapped his head around and quickly got to his feet. "You came! The black sacrament worked and now you came here to kill Grelod the kind!" The boy excitedly got out in a hurry; his eyes were twinkling with hope. "Slow down; tell me the story I don't think I am who you think I am." I had explained I was only checking up on the poor boy to see if he was alright, the boy just continued his story about an old abusive woman in Riften named Grelod the Kind however he was insistent that she was not kind. The boy then left the house leaving me absolutely befuddled. Time and I shrugged and we headed out again, it was time to move on to Riften.
"Well I guess we can see about this when we get there? Kid is lucky we were going to Riften anyhow." Time had pointed out as we walked to the gate; I nodded and got more gold back out. It was starting to get dark, I groaned as we made haste to the carriage driver. "Sorry, come back in the morning, I'm going to turn in for the night myself, dangerous to travel these roads at night." The carriage driver said leading his horses into the stables. Sighing in exhaustion we started heading back into the city and quickly went to the Inn. "Room for two please…" I had said to the front desk handing them the gold and they pointed us to the room. When we got inside Time helped me get out of my armor and I got a towel ready and walked over to the bathhouse next to the inn. I sat in the hot spring water for quite a while just laying my head back and watching the stars above. I looked behind the bath seeing that Time was standing guard, I envied that he never needed sleep or rest while in an undead body but I also felt sad that he was unable to rest. He's been this way for possibly thousands of years.
I traced my hand over the scar left by the dragon horn. The pain was still very present; healing magic could only do so much to a wound like this. I felt a little proud to receive my first battle scar from a dragon even if it almost cost my life receiving it. I traced the scar across my inner shoulder with my fingers for a few minutes just absentmindedly fidgeting while soaking in the spring water. "My lady you should get some rest." I heard Time say behind the curtain at the end of the room. He was right, I can't just stay here and soak I needed sleep; I never realized how quickly time flew by when I wasn't paying attention. I got out of the spring and dried myself off wrapping my hair in the towel I brought along before I dressed in clean clothes and headed out of the room to where Time was standing. He escorted me back to the room and I climbed into bed. "I'll watch outside of the door. If you need anything just tap on the door okay?" He had asked before cupping my cheek. I nodded and smiled to him before he got up and walked out taking his post just outside the door leaving me in the small room to myself.
In the morning I sat up in bed feeling the familiar soreness of the previous day. I slowly got out of bed and stretched. I noticed I could move my arm a lot better this time around as I reached down and touched my toes curling them with a satisfying crack of their joints before stretching up cracking my fingers and elbows. I got out of my bed clothes and put them away in my bag getting the days clothes out and putting each on. I decided to test the limits of my arm by swinging it a few times, there was no pain this time and the scar didn't hurt at all. I excitedly started getting my armor on falling back onto the bed. Time almost busted down the door with Redemption in hand hearing me fall over. He helped me up and assisted me with getting the steel armor settled. "Now we go to Riften then?" Time had asked looking down at me, I nodded and handed him my bag which he quickly slung over his shoulder. "Let's get to the carriage." I had said excitedly heading for the door, thanking the Innkeeper and departing from Windhelm.
We paid the carriage driver and hopped aboard before I pulled the maps from my bag. "It says here I can look into buying some spells from the court wizard at the keep in Riften, so we're definitely going to do that. When we get home I'll also ask Farengar about buying some." I mentioned looking over the town map I had bought each from the last Inn. "Spells huh, so you're able to do magic?" Time had asked me, I completely forgot I've never showed him the spells I was able to use. "Oh right, you haven't seen yet. In Nirn there's a force called Magika which allows everyone to use magic if they learn the spells. Learning the spells can be difficult or as simple as picking up one of the spell books, if I kept the one from Helgen I would give it to you and see if it would work but I guess I can buy it in Riften." I started explaining hurriedly before time put his hand on my mouth. "Slow…Down…" He had said I giggled and sat back. "Sorry, I got a little over excited. You'll absolutely HATE reading the books. When I did it I thought I…You know what, I'll let you discover that." I joked before sitting back in the carriage. "I'm not going to like the result of opening a spell book am I?" Time asked in an annoyed expressionless tone. "Short answer…Gods No, Long answer it's like getting slapped in the eyes with wet leather." I saw time shudder as I explained the feeling of opening one of the spell books of Nirn.
While we were distracted the carriage quickly came upon Riften. We hopped out and walked the rest of the way before the sky began to rumble loudly. "DOVAHKIIN!" A roaring shout pushed through the heavens and the energy slammed into my back pushing me over. "Ughh, Why now?!" I groaned as the force almost knocked the wind out of me, Time quickly helped me back onto my feet. "What was that?" Time said looking around the area, I shrugged and brushed myself off. "Well what ever in Oblivion that was…They're an asshole." I grumbled as we walked to the gate to Riften. "Halt, if you wish to enter the city you need to pay the toll." The guard at the gate laughed as we neared the closed gate. I glared at the man and motioned him towards us. When the guard got up to us I motioned at Time and he slammed his fist into the guards gut, knocking the wind from the man and sending him to his knees. "Thank you…" I told Time as he nodded, the other guard didn't bother doing anything about that he just quickly turned around and unlocked the gate knowing they weren't going to fool us with a shake down. "Yeah lad, that's for the better, I'm in no mood for childish nonsense." I had said as we walked into the city and I had finally caught my breath from being knocked on my face. I stretched and we started into the little lake town.
"I don't know you…You in Riften lookin' for trouble?" A tall man leaning against one of the support beams to a building grumbled at us. "What is with everyone today?" Time had asked before he stepped up to the man. "Look punk, we're not looking for trouble but if you want to start some I wouldn't mind dragging your face in the mud." Time grumbled at the man still standing much taller than him. The man didn't even flinch. "Don't say something you'll regret. The last thing the Black-Briars need is some loudmouth meddling in their affairs." The man growled, Time was getting very impatient with the man as he stepped even closer. "Don't." I simply said and Time backed away putting his hand on his sword. "Threaten us again and I'll tell him to take that tongue out boy." I said before we walked on, the man kept his mouth shut then as we passed by. I remembered what Aventus had asked us back in Windhelm and looked around for the orphanage. I pulled out the Riften town map and found it was near the keep itself. "Alright it'll be across the way over there; we can poke out heads in and see about the old crone." I had mentioned before going to put the map away. My hand met another as I looked back in a flash to see a man looking me in the eyes having been caught reaching for my gold. "Uhh…" The man had begun before Time nudged me aside kneeing the man in the jaw before climbing onto him and raising his fist. "I Yield!" The man yelled. I grabbed Time's clenched fist as quick as I could before he was able to bring it down on the thief.
The growl from Time was loud and low as he held the collar of the man in his other hand ready to knock his teeth out. Time let go of the man and without another word we moved on, I figured silence was enough of a lesson for the thief that tried to pocket my money. "I don't like this town, full of scum." Time sent to my mind, I nodded as we reached the orphanage. "Well at least try not to kill anyone if you can help it, we don't need to spend the night in a cell." I sent back, Time only nodded as we entered the small orphanage. We heard the voice of an old lady grumbling to the kids and decided to stay in the entry way out of sight. The woman talked of beatings and to cast out the thought of being adopted, immediately I understood what Aventus wanted and I sympathized with the poor boy. Across the hall was a younger woman who looked distraught hearing the old woman speaking so harshly. When we heard the woman walk away I told time to watch where she went. "She's gone into the back bedroom; I assume the old crone is going to sleep, what's your plan?" He sent to me quietly in question about our next move. I summoned the glass dagger to my hand and held it out to him. "Get out of your armor back to the draugr gear run in and make it convincing that you're just another mindless zombie and push the blade in her heart, don't delay." I sent, Time obediently and very quickly got out of his armor, handing it to me I put it into the void storage of my gauntlets.
Time took a moment to psyche himself up before in a gurgling madness ran in the decaying hobble a normal draugr would sport. Bursting through the back room door we only heard the scream before a sickening crunch of the knife hitting home and breaking ribs. Time then ran out again towards the entry way causing everyone in the orphanage to run towards the back room in fear of getting in the draugr's way. Time was giggling to my mind hysterically as we quickly had him dawn his armor and mask again and run back out asking what happened. The kids were cheering about the old woman's death while the young assistant cowered in the corner holding her head curled up as small as possible. I walked up to the woman and put my hand on her shoulder. "Ma'am, everything is alright now, whatever it was is gone…I guess you're the owner of this establishment now." I had mentioned, the woman moved her hands to look into my sapphire eyes. "Y..Yes I suppose so…" She had said still curled in the corner, without another word Time and I left for the keep. "We are leaving a lot of people on the silent treatment." Time had sent to my head, I shrugged and chuckled. "I mean…not much to say to these folks, it's either the scum of the earth or whatever you want to call what we just did." I sent back. Time nodded and we climbed the stairs up to the keep. I made it a habit to turn around and look over the view when I could but when I turned around I only saw the small fishing village, there was nothing else of merit to Riften.
When entering the keep, the Jarl of Riften was busy arguing with someone. So we quietly snuck around over to the court wizard's area. "Can I help you with something?" The woman asked seeming disinterested in our presence. "Hello, I'm just here to purchase spell books." I had whispered quietly trying not to disturb the rest of the court. "Certainly, what type of magic were you thinking of or are you just browsing?" She had asked seeming a little more interested. "We're just going to see all of them thanks." I had whispered to the woman who led us over to the bookshelf showing many different colored books, the names of the spells written on the binding. I looked through the yellow tomes seeing two that peaked my interest, the books Healing hands and Fast Healing; I picked the two up before continuing to browse while Time stood at my back watching over me. I picked up flames, frostbite, and sparks from the destruction school even though I already knew two of them I was going to let Time read them and learn them as well. I noticed more advanced books titled, Firebolt, Frostbolt, and lightning bolt picking them up as well. I decided to pick up Fireball as well and decided that was enough in the destruction category.
In the last school she had available I picked up Mage light, water breathing, and Telekinesis. With that I took the books back over to the woman and she looked them over before wrapping them in cloth. "That'll be two thousand gold." She had told me, I reached into my coin purse pulling out my earnings from doing odds and ends in Whiterun and handed over the amount. She thanked us and we quietly skulked out with our picks. "Hungry?" Time had asked me, I nodded and we walked over to the market stalls to find the thief from before holding his jaw. "Learn your lesson huh?" I had asked, the man nodded and just grumbled. "Well if you didn't try to steal her gold, I wouldn't have hit you so hard boy…keep that in mind next time you try to steal someone's gold." Time lectured as I browsed the market buying a sweet roll and some fruit. The two were still talking and it seems like Time relaxed a little with the man. "Getting along already?" I had asked, and the man only nodded. "The thievery was a little unnecessary I apologize Lass, I was trying to scrounge some gold for the guild but your friend here gave me the idea you aren't someone to steal from. Things could have gone a lot worse for me. Perhaps you'd consider joining us?" He had asked, I shook my head holding the basket of fruit and our recently purchased spell books. "As much as I love helping others I can't. I am already on a quest that I will be returning to after returning to Whiterun, taking on anymore would just make everything a pain." I had said, the man nodded and slid me a note. "That's the address whenever you change your mind, have a courier bring a letter there and I'll have someone seek you out." The man said, I waved and we headed back to the carriage.
We paid the man to take us back to Whiterun, the road back Time and I lay in the back of the carriage watching the clouds as the noon sun shone bright in the sky. "Alright, let's try some of these, I'll hand you these two first before I dive right in." I had said handing Time the Sparks and Flames books. As soon as he opened flames, Time shouted loudly almost throwing the book, I kept my hands ready and caught the book as he quickly covered his eyes and writhed on the carriage floor. "Hylia's Golden Hair you weren't kidding!" Time shouted rubbing his eye as best he could. "I told you…its rough reading these." I had said bracing myself closing my eyes tight as I picked up fast healing. Opening my eyes the same time I opened the book, Time braced my shoulders as the bright light took my vision. The second time around wasn't near as bad as the first experience. We continued this until we both went through all the books. We then lay in the back of the carriage and tried to keep our eyes closed for the remainder of the journey. It was slowly becoming night as we reached Whiterun, I couldn't help almost drifting off to sleep lying in the back of the carriage cart. Time shook me awake and we hopped from the cart, I dragged my feet as we walked to the city gate. "Alright…" Time said before picking me up onto his back carrying me the entire way to the house. I guess he was getting impatient was my only thought before I drifted off into a dream.
Oddly I dreamt of my parents again, it felt like another memory. I was out at the garden box with my mother, the sun was sweltering. It was the day Father Ander came up to our house to announce the white-gold concordant that forbade any worship of Talos. Mother was crushed because Bruma use to be the center of worship for Talos. Every now and then Thalmor would come along and take someone with them and we'd never hear from them again. I only understood later that the Thalmor would torture and kill these people under the guise of righteousness. Father Ander was the most distressed of this because he loved everyone in Bruma, he thought of everyone as family in one way or another and it pained him to learn this knowledge.
I woke up in my bed as the morning sun was shining through the window. I sat up feeling like a lot of my energy had returned; my arm was no longer in pain as I rolled my shoulder and stretched. Time was standing in the corner; His eye was dark barely glittering. Perhaps he was meditating I thought, I got up and crept downstairs as to not disturb him I got on my leather boots and walked out to the quiet morning in Whiterun. Barely anyone was out and about but I thought I'd pay the Jarl a visit to let him know I was back in town. The morning air was brisk as I walked up to the keep, I blew air into my hands and rubbed them together to warm them up before I reached out and opened the door to go in. The echo of the keep was almost unsettling though I've never come up here this early in the morning.
I heard talking from above. As I climbed the stairs I saw the Jarl arguing with two other people. "You heard the shout too, how can you sit in denial that the greybeards have called the Dragonborn." I heard the more stout man say as he was in disagreement with Proventus. "Say what about me now?" I had asked, the three jumped from where they were sitting and eating to look at my face. "Dragonborn, you've returned already?" The Jarl asked settling back down in his chair. "That I am. You guys were saying something?" I had asked, The Jarl looked to the other two distraught by the argument. "Well, just yesterday we heard the thundering shout from High Hrothgar, the Greybeards have called you. We suspected you would have gone to them by now." The Jarl explained I thought back to the thundering noise that knocked me on my face and grimaced remembering the sudden pain from the shock. "So that's what hit me yesterday, so this High Hrothgar, how do I get there if it's on top of the mountain?" I had asked walking up to the three. They seemed taken by surprise not from my words but the fact I wasn't in my armor. "Well, Ivarstead is the base of the mountain where the seven thousand steps begin. You should start your journey there, it is a great honor to be called by the Greybeards. They should not be ignored Dragonborn."
The Jarl was persistent about this subject; he went on for another few minutes about where I needed to go and offered to pay for horses to hasten the journey. He wanted me to get there as soon as possible. After leaving a courier ran up to me. "Good Morning Kotera, I have a letter for you. From someone wearing all black, gave me the creeps." The short man had said handing me the letter. "Thanks, take care of yourself." I had said, the man smiled and ran off again. I opened up the letter only seeing a handprint in black ink with "We Know" written below. I grumbled and tossed the letter into the fire of one of the braziers that lined the Keep. Whatever this was about, someone was trying to be a wiseass and would regret screwing with me if this was some kind of joke.
I walked back to the house and picked up the watering can. I walked down to the stream by the gate of the city and filled the watering can before taking it to the back of the house and watering the garden. The multicolored garden now glistened with life as water sustained the plants and flowers that called the box home. I sat down on the bench after watering the plants and looked up at the mountain. "Those nutcases want me to scale the whole way up there? Where I won't be able to breathe the same way…Yeah I'll get right on it, not like we're busy." I grumbled out loud to myself staring at what I thought might have been the building near the top of the mountain where I was to climb. "Perhaps there's something we need up there, and to learn about your skills it may be helpful. But I think you should visit New Hyrule first." I snapped my head around to see Time leaning against the side of the house. "Perhaps you're right but what would be the point of going to New Hyrule at the moment without another dragon soul to offer?" I had asked, Time shrugged and walked over pushing off from the house. "Well you didn't go and visit that shrine that appeared in Hyrule. Perhaps something there can aid you." Time mentioned, I nodded and in that moment I vanished into New Hyrule without him leaving him at the house. I made sure to smugly grin at him before I did it.
I was getting much better at controlling that energy. It was almost as if my Hylian power was growing as days passed. I looked at my hands and the gauntlets were suddenly there even though I didn't put them on this morning. I looked around inside the quiet sunlit temple as I gained my bearings again. "Well that's strange…Faron are you here ancient one?" I had called out; a golden light had appeared before me as the spirit came into form. "Yes Child, what is it you wish to ask?" Faron the great spirit of the forest asked the monkey spirit was almost blinding as he arrived at my call. "Time said I should look around here for something to aid my quests." I had said bluntly before I began to leave the temple. "Ah yes, how silly of us to forget this. Hero we were to give you this book in order to place a marker down at places you wish to return to. Though we know you figured out you can at will come to New Hyrule and back from where you were standing prior to using that power. However this spell itself allows you to place markers at each place you choose, however you must return here in order to go between the markers. Hyrule is the conduit for your natural power, Kotera." Faron began to explain, a book materialized on the altar where I received the bow. I walked up and hesitantly opened the book; golden energy flowed into my hands and up my arms.
"Hyrule spell books are…way better than Nirn's." I joked putting the book back down. "Nirn's magic is an incomplete construct, it may be useful to you as a living being Kotera, but Hylian magic is far greater and far more powerful. I pray you find the spell books you need on your journey. Those books are as scattered as the Triforce is." Faron almost talked as normal as I did but I understood what he meant. "And as long as it's scattered throughout Nirn and the fragmented Hyrule, the old can't be put to rest?" I had asked, the spirit only nodded and a strange sadness filled my heart. "Yes, the Triforce must be returned to its rightful place. I pray the two wishes you use are meaningful." Faron said as he hung upside down on the glowing ball of light he appeared from. "Wishes? I thought as soon as the Triforce was returned then everything would begin to appear here and the fragments would merge as one." I had said confused about the entire thing, I've been told many things and it seems to change quite a lot.
"The Triforce indeed will make New Hyrule take place of the old, but the Triforce still serves its original purposes. You will be granted two wishes upon its revival." Faron claimed still idly hanging from his ball of light. "I'll have to think on that then. Thank you for the time Faron. I take it the Goddess is still reviving?" I had asked, Faron looked worried but nodded. "I assumed after the first dragon slain she would be brought back in full but her power is weak and she cannot yet manifest entirely. She is but a watching presence for the time being. I surmise that the more dragons slain the more she will come into her power as well as the birth of New Hyrule." Faron explained as I sat in the chapel pew. "When New Hyrule finally takes the place of the old. Does that mean the force connecting here and Nirn is severed?" I had asked, Faron shrugged looking unsure about the question. "We do not know for certain how this will play out. This is the first time Hyrule has been fragmented into ruin that a New Hyrule must be created. But If I were to guess I would say you would be correct, the parallel worlds were to have never met in the first place. Nirn is inferior to Hyrule in every way. Where Hyrule is a land of peace, Nirn is a land of destruction and greed." Faron grumbled, He didn't like Nirn at all and it was obvious the spirits shared this opinion together.
"I should head back, Time must be worried sick at this point, I don't want to keep him waiting." I had said standing up and stretching. "Before you go Kotera, a word of wisdom…You have given him a new body once. But this may only happen once more. Use this knowledge with wisdom child and go forth. Destiny waits for no one." Faron said before he had vanished, I sighed and looked around the temple before I focused appearing back at my home in Whiterun, I walked in the door to see Time sitting at the table munching on bread. "I didn't even know you needed to eat." I had said walking upstairs and bringing my armor down to the table. Time looked over and shrugged. "Merely a pass time, I don't need food to sustain this body while I'm already technically dead food doesn't offer me anything." Time explained putting his bread down and helping me get into my armor. I threw the map on the table and opened it. "If we travel through around Helgan we can get to the base of the mountain where the seven thousand steps lie. The Jarl gave us specific allowance of horses to get us there swiftly. There's only one major problem with that." I had begun hesitantly as I pointed around the map trying to note down our path.
Time looked at me knowingly as he leaned back to look my armor over. "You can't ride a horse can you?" Time asked looking me in the eyes. I bet I was as red as a tomato, Time was quick to guess out the one issue I had that in my whole life I couldn't ride a horse. I was never taught because we never really needed to back home. "Yeah…I can't ride." I explained, Time only sighed as he got up from the table. "Well then you'll just have to hop on the same horse with me." Time said before he went and grabbed his sword from the other room.
I knelt down at the floor before we left the house and focused my energy leaving a mark just at the inside of the door. When I looked at Time he seemed confused. "It's to be able to come back here after we reach High Hrothgar, I'm going to place one there too. I'll explain on the way." I had said, Time only nodded in understanding and we left the house. I told Lydia to watch over the house again and that we'd be back as late as four days and we left the city gates. I put the Master Sword on my hip and kept my left hand leaning against it as we walked out to Whiterun stables. The stablemen brought out a horse at Time's behest and Time skillfully hopped onto the horse before offering his hand to me. As soon as I took it I was heaved up onto the horse and made to sit in front of Time my legs hanging off the right side of the horse. Time clicked his tongue and the horse started walking along the road, he told me how he was always good with horses and from the time he was young the horse he had was one of the best companions of his life he only wished he could have said goodbye.
It wasn't long before we were back to Riverwood; it was three minutes from Whiterun on horseback. On the way past we didn't even see anyone from the town, Time was explaining how to ride a horse to me as we rode towards the mountain pass. For the most part it sounded simple until he handed me the reigns and scooted back. Fear climbed all across my spine as I tried to keep the horse under control and on the path passed Helgan, Time laughed as he watched me struggle before I finally got a hang of it. "How does anyone just up and control an animal like this?" I grumbled still holding onto the reigns in a death grip. "You get use to it, as you and the horse bond the horse will listen to commands like any common house pet." Time mentioned in a matter-of-fact manner. "Well, that's quite smart then." I said as the horse seemed to finally calm down with me holding the leather of the reigns.
Before I even noticed we were approaching Ivarstead, the mountain seemed to reach the heavens as we looked upon it from the entrance of the town. "Hylia's lyre even Death Mountain isn't this large!" Time exclaimed as he had to tilt his head to look up at the large peak. "Death Mountain? Hyrule has a mountain named after death?" I had asked as we dismounted from the horse leaving it at the stables. The guard at the stables nodded and led the horse under the roof of one of the stalls. "Yeah, Death Mountain is the largest mountain in Hyrule, the Gorons called some of the inner caves home for a time. I don't know if that lasted the generations but some use to call me brother." Time had described, almost sounding like the memory saddened him, he cleared his throat and we headed toward the stairs at the foot of the mountain. "Making the climb again Klemmek?" A man had said to an older balding man, his aged face scrunched up a little in disappointment. "No, these old bones aren't up for the climb this time I'm afraid. Not sure how these goods will get up to the Greybeards though." Klemmek had mentioned. My ears pricked up as I listened to the loud conversation, they had mentioned the Greybeards so this could have been my ticket in.
"I could take the goods up the mountain; it's where I was headed anyway…" I spoke up as we began to approach the two. "Would you really? Why are you headed up the seven thousand steps?" Klemmek asked curiously as he slowly turned to face me almost taking a few steps back as he looked to the towering frame of Time standing behind me. "The Greybeards called for the Dragonborn and apparently as is my duty I am to appear before them." I explained bowing politely to Klemmek. The old man looked surprised that his forehead wrinkled when he raised his eyebrows. "That would be nice of you, thank you kind lady!" Klemmek said excitedly before holding up a large sack of goods. "The only thing you need to do is place them in the chest at the entry way of High Hrothgar, they should handle it from there, and here is some gold for the trouble." Klemmek explained before passing a few hundred gold to me after I had taken the supplies. I was becoming richer at a faster pace than I thought it would take. "It's no issue since we were headed up the steps in the first place." I had waved off handing Time the sack of supplies he quickly took the rope tying it around his shoulder.
"Safe travels Dragonborn!" Klemmek shouted as we headed for the steps. The climb felt intimidating as we began to ascend the steps. "I'm bored…" I had joked; Time turned and looked back at me, I couldn't tell what look he had on his face but I knew he was annoyed. "You literally just went up only five steps…" He pointed out angrily as he turned back around and started moving again. "If I can climb a mountain you can climb ten!" He shouted in annoyance, I giggled to myself and followed him, as we got higher and higher Time quickly backed up to me and threw a cloak over my shoulders. "What's this for?" I had asked only just then feeling the chill bite my fingers. "Less talking, the air grows frigid and thin. We're almost there." Time explained quieting his own voice, I began to notice what he meant as my chest started to hurt even trying to take a deep breath. The air was frigid and felt like knives against my neck, we tried to make quick work of the rest of the climb, a troll was eating nearby that we only managed to sneak by before it leapt down to sniff at the blinding white snow as the noon sun shone brightly against it.
We kept still for a few minutes while watching the troll sniff around before it climbed back up its small ledge and sat down in a loud huff. We snuck off and were soon at a dark old castle. The outside looked decrepit and run down but it still looked like it was all in one piece, I did as Klemmek wanted and put his goods in the chest outside, it was lit with candles sitting around it. I guess they came out to light the candles once in a while. Time led the way up to the door before waving me up, I walked into the castle with Time quickly following behind with his hand on his blade as an old man cloaked in grey approached us. "You are the ones that summoned me here?" I had asked, my voice echoed in the old halls as I spoke to the old man. "I certainly hope so if you are truly Dragonborn, let us taste of your voice." The old man spoke with such a calm voice. I had no idea what he meant; this was all still new to me.
"Can you please explain it a little better to me? I am not…sure what you mean by tasting of my voice." I asked worried I would be thrown out if I did something wrong. "Your Thu'um, let us feel the shout you are capable of." The old man explained, the memory shot to my head of when a word soared the air when I first killed a dragon. I mustered the same energy and felt the heat in my throat before the shout hissed forward "FUS!" I shouted loudly, the energy nearly knocked the old man off his feet. He looked a little shocked and confused for a moment before he shook his head. "Welcome Dragonborn, I am Master Arngeir. I speak for the Greybeards; tell me what brings you here?" Arngeir asked me, admittedly I was confused. "I already said I was answering your summons master..." I had pointed out; the way the old man talked told me he was slowly losing it.
"We always welcome the Dragonborn into these halls." Arngeir simply said before leading me towards the center of the room. "We know you have the ability to shout, but let's see if you are able and willing to learn." He said before nodding to one of the others, "Ro." The older man whispered, letters appeared on the ground with the same energy I had witnessed inside Bleakfalls barrow. As I approached Time grabbed my arm and squeezed a quiet 'be careful'. I leaned towards the word on the floor and it's like the energy shot into my mind as the word was as clear as day. "You learn words like a master; Now Master Einarth will let you tap into his understanding of Ro." Arngeir said before the old man named Einarth bowed, his energy raced into my body and immediately I turned away from them "FUS-RO!" The shout thundered the ancient hall, I felt the power push me back against my heels.
"Your Thu'um is…Abnormally powerful, tell me child what are you aside from knowing you are Dragonborn?" Arngeir had asked as he looked around before turning his graying eyes met mine. "She's a Hylian half-breed, her mother was a bosmer as your people call them, a wood elf while her father is of Hylian blood which flows through her veins." Time interrupted before I could say anything. "Interesting, we have not heard of the Hylians for centuries. That explains why your Thu'um carries such weight behind it, Hylians are born with an innate talent for powerful magic even Nirn itself has not even tapped into." Arngeir explained before he walked over to a table and grabbed a book off it and held it out to me. "This book was written by a Hylian that came to our order more than sixty years ago, when I was a young monk just beginning my training in the way of the voice, Domic Kilyerd was a stern man, he said if he trained here on the mountain he could finally help put to rest those who are lost…whoever he meant. We have not seen him since. None of us have learned Hylian Tongue in order to read it so maybe you can?"
Arngeir's words froze me to the core. "Kilyerd? I am Kotera Kilyerd, Daughter of Duris and Kalyia." I had announced to him I looked back at Time who I felt had a look of shock behind his mask. "The famed Red Dagger Flash lives?" Time asked as if he had seen a ghost unlike himself ironically. "Yes, I assume he is old and grey by now though since that was more than sixty years ago. Did you know him Ser?" Arngeir asked Time quietly. "Domic 'The Red Dagger Flash' Kilyerd was one of the Sheikah that protected the royal family but that was even long before the collapse of Hyrule. This doesn't make sense how he could have still been alive more than six hundred years!" Time breathed out walking over and taking the book from my hands. He skimmed the pages before looking up at me, "I am cursed for my transgressions against Hylia. I am casted out of my home and faith for staining my blade with the blood of innocents and Hylia has cast me out. I have turned into a monster that feeds on the blood of those who had done no wrong, but this thirst doth not quench, this hunger doth not satiate. Even the warmth of the sun abandoned me in pain." Time read aloud to us, I shuddered at the words. "I am related to I assume his brother Ilgrad." I had explained to Arngeir who rubbed his chin.
The old man seemed puzzled mostly by the words Domic had written. "This is indeed a unique situation; High Hrothgar is open to you. Initially we were going to ask you to retrieve the horn of the master of our order but since you are a Hylian, We must approach your training differently." Arngeir explained, I let Time sit and read the book while I followed the four outside where they taught me the first word of Whirlwind sprint as they called it. "WULD!" I shouted and was sprung forward into the arms of Master Borri who kept me from launching off the mountain side. "Thanks…I guess." I had said straightening myself and getting my balance again, the old man nodded not saying a word before I walked back to Arngeir. "As you can see Dragonborn, your blood allows you to learn and use the Thu'um as easy as breathing, As a Hylian your Thu'um is as strong as a dragon's because of your inborn magic talent." Arngeir explained before I heard the word 'Dah' whispered by one of the others. The word rushed to my brain and I felt the power well inside of me.
We went inside and a ceremony took place, the greybeards all spoke at once making my very bones shudder and shake, Time had a hard time keeping his balance and was mostly pushed onto his back. When it was over Arngeir patted my shoulders. "High Hrothgar is Open to you; you are Ysmir now 'Dragon Of The North'." Arngeir had told me with a smile on his wrinkled face. "May I choose a different Dragon's name?" I had joked; Arngeir looked confused for a moment. "Kilavera, the Hylian Dragon." I had stated, the stones of High Hrothgar shook as I spoke. "Ah, a fitting name Dragonborn, It will be so. We will announce it to the heavens that the dragons may hear your name on the wind." Arngeir bowed politely before heading off, I walked towards the door but remembered something before I was about to leave. I placed my hand to the floor at the main entrance leaving my Hylian mark by the door. I could now travel from New Hyrule to here at will like my other marker at home.
I took a deep breath and looked over at Time who was slouched against the wall still reading. "Come a long Time, we have work to do." I had said Time nodded and held my shoulder before I willed us into the temple in New Hyrule where I had chosen to go back into the sword's chamber and meditate on my current standing as Dragonborn.
This is a pretty cut and dry chapter and I apologize if it's a little rushed or boring, I had a bit of trouble with this chapter but I think I might be able to get things back on track now.