Chapter 2- Dragonborn
Favnir
There were just over 15 species of dragon I had discovered, ranging from the violent Ebony Nightwing to the more docile Stonehorn. Dozens of the beasts found their way to me after Alduin's defeat, submitting themselves to my Thu'um and accepting their new place on Nirn. They always left the Throat of the World to return to their scattered lairs and territories. Yet I, through some sick twist of fate, found myself perpetually stuck with the Bloodfang Reaper who called himself Odahviing.
I really tried to listen to the Argonian standing in front of me as she attempted to explain the situation. Yet, her frantic, hushed tones were simply not enough to hold my full attention when I noticed where Odahviing had perched himself. The dragon was balanced on the top of a thin tree. Balanced was strong word; he managed to keep himself upright in the thin branches, swaying back and forth with the pine as it threatened to collapse at any moment. Soft growls left his throat each time the wind picked up, tossing him another direction.
“Can you do it, Dragonborn?” the blind Argonian finally asked, snapping my attention back to her. While the lack-of sight gave me an excuse to marvel at the stupidity of Odahviing, I found myself at a loss for how to respond to her query. My long silence followed by stuttering as I tried to explain that I had no idea what she was talking about made her snarl. “Do I not speak the same language as you? Can you not understand the dire situation?”
“No, no,” I stammered, “I just...” My explanation couldn't come fast enough before a snapping sound radiated throughout the swamp. Even the Argonian looked in the direction of the noise, despite being unable to see. The tree finally gave way to the dragon's heft, snapping in two and sending both the beast and is branches to the swamp floor.
The waves from the muck splashed in all directions, soaking my boots and the Argonian's bare feet. “Ruth Strun Bah!” he snarled as he pushed himself off the ground, shaking the water and mud from his ruby scales. He looked our direction, only embarrassed further by our amused stares.
The Argonian had pieced together what had happened by his disgruntled noises and the waves washing over her bare feet. “Our trees might be able to hold us, Kajthux, but we are much smaller than you. Your might is too great. Settle on the ground.”
“Your ground smells of decay and murk,” Odahviing grumbled, searching around for someplace not covered by water. In truth, I knew he didn't like getting wet. He did all he could to avoid the rain, hiding in enclaves or flying above the low-lying clouds. He handled snow well enough, but he was not a fan of the weather and environment of Blackmarsh.
“You'll be fine, you big baby,” I teased. Ignoring the curses he spat at me in Dovahzuul, I looked back at the Argonian. “I'm sorry, as you can see I was a little distracted. Please tell me again what I'm supposed to be doing.”
She hummed in understanding. “A great dragon has recently revealed itself near my nest. I live apart from others so it leaves me alone, but I fear for the settlement closest to me. It flies nearer and nearer every day. They have warriors, but I do not wish for anyone to die fighting the beast. If you could ask him to leave us alone, or find a new home, I will be indebted to you.”
“A dragon, huh?” I looked past her to see that Odahviing had grown interested at the mention of his kin as well. “We'll look into it, Eyes. Don't worry.” At my reassuring words, the woman smiled ever so kindly. Eyes-See-After was a very beautiful creature, even I had to admit. Her blue-gray eyes, missing their pupils, were a stark contrast to her dark brown scales. Her horns curved upward, mimicking Odahviing's. Her entire body was covered with teal, spiral tattoos, but the ones dancing across her chest and back were covered by her tribalistic shaman armor. She had proved to be a good friend and powerful ally in Blackmarsh, so I was not going to ignore her call for aid.
“Thank you, Favnir,” she muttered to me. I could already see she was much more relaxed than when we first arrived. “If you return here, I will have something for you- something to pay my debt.”
“There's really no need,” I told her, but through her persistence I finally yielded. Promising her I would return, I waded through the murky waters to Odahviing. The water sloshed in my boots as the waves threatened to fill them to the brim. The Saxheel called that place home, but it was far from the dryer, colder land that we Nords loved.
My friend lowered his head as I drew near, allowing me to climb on his neck between a set of his spikes. He rose to his full height once I was settled. I felt him take a deep breath, exhaling with an unamused growl as clumps of grass, algae, and mud slumped off his wings and belly. “Dur trumgol grul,” he murmured, flapping his wings and lifting from the ground. I chuckled softly as we rose above the trees, the remaining flecks of debris and drops of water dripping from his massive form like rain. He took note of my amusement, shaking his neck to knock me off balance. “Should I toss you into the murk? Let you bathe in the filth yourself?”
“No, I believe you,” I grinned, grabbing onto the spike in front of me for balance. He hummed, glancing back at me with a look of contentment. “Any idea where this dovah could be? Better yet, who he could be?”
The red dragon looked back ahead, his eyes scanning the ground around us. “Vexraald,” he responded, tilting his wings slightly to change directions. “A temple the Siigonis built over a burial mound. It hides among the trees, colored like the mud. I do not know if Alduin found it, but it is the only place near where a dovah would rest.” My eyes shifted to the ground as well. Between breaks in the tall trees, I could see the occasional road and grassy hill, but most of the area was covered in the tar-looking water. Mundus cast its light at just the right angle to reflect it's rays from the gently flowing streams into my eyes, making it all the more difficult to find this hidden temple.
“There,” I called to him, finally spotting the temple. He wasn't lying about the color. Despite being made of stone, the structure had a dark brown- almost black- appearance. The trees surrounded it on all sides. In fact, the only reason I was able to spot it was the spire, half-crumbled, rose just above the foliage. I immediately dug in my satchel, drawing charcoal and my journal from inside. Odahviing ceased his motion, hovering in place for me to quickly sketch the temple and mark it on my map. I nodded to him in thanks before he adjusted course, diving towards the pitch walls.
As we drew near, I was able to see it in more detail. The temple had lost it's luster through the years of time, resorting to weakening and crumbling in several places. The roof had collapsed on the east side of the main hall, allowing a small fracture of light in. The spire, which rose from that side, had pieces scattered around the swamp floor, overtaken by vines and fungi. Oddly enough, the entrance had been cleared of debris, making a whole large enough for Odahviing to slide through.
He landed on the pathway, sniffing the air as I slid from his neck. “Dirun,” he warned me. “It reeks of blood. A kill has been made.”
I gave a slight nod as I peered into the dark of the temple. “This place screams 'ambush'.”
Odahviing hummed in agreement. “Indeed. Lead the way then.”
I smirked as I looked back at him. “Afraid of the dark too now?” I taunted him, watching his lip raise into a snarl. “Fine, fine,” I chuckled, tying my hair out of my eyes and pulling up my hood. In my hand, I summoned a ball of light. His eyes lingered on the light as it floated from my palm to take its place beside me. Showered in the light, I started into the cave, comforted by the sound of Odahviing's heavy breathing behind me.
The interior was just as impressive as the exterior. The Saxheel banners were tattered and unreadable. There was a balcony that surrounded the north, east, and west sides of the main room, but many of the ledges and railings were destroyed. What I assumed were benches had been tossed about, removed from their original positions by an explosive like force. In the center of the room there were three massive holes in the ground.
“By the Nine,” I whispered softly, walking over to the holes. “These are definitely burial sites, but I've never seen three together. Where dragons buried so closely?”
My companion craned his neck, examining each grave himself. “The joor made habits of burying the dovah they worshiped. If three made their home here, then three might have been buried.” He looked back at me, his tail flicking behind him.
“Interesting,” I mused, making a mental note to write down the discovering in my journal. While I would likely remember it for years, my colleagues would want to read it for themselves. The College was more keen than ever to accept my work into their library, likely since I was only one in all of Tamriel willing to pursue this dangerous knowledge. My journals were priceless to them, but I settled for a few thousand septims per novel.
Walking around the craters, I continued further into the temple. I hesitantly stopped when the stench of blood Odahviing mentioned was strong enough to pick up on my own. Ahead of me, I saw a few corpses- some missing arms or legs, others missing the entire other half of their body. Most of the Argonians still wore their armor, meaning they weren't victims of a bandit raid, but rather dinner for a hungry dragon. I started to glance back at Odahviing before a loud scuttle of footsteps caught my attention.
The beast disappeared into one of the many passages around us before I could catch sight of it. I instinctively summoned my blade to my hand, while I heard Odahviing growl into the darkness, “Wo los hi?”
“Bo Nah Gut,” a voice hissed from the darkness, in the completely opposite direction. “Lif uv dir, Dovahvax. Reyzan hi aar wah joor?”
Odahviing growled lowly at his rival's taunting, but I spoke in his stead. “My name is Favnir Silver-Tongue,” I told the voice, cautiously looking around. “I am the Dovahkiin, the one who killed Alduin. You will answer to my Thu'um, or you will meet the same fate. Understand?”
A chorus of chuckle-like rumblings echoed around the room, making my skin crawl. “Jur mii? Lahzey Bron ahrk Dovahvax?” When I didn't respond, the voice continued, “Let me speak simply, for the one who calls himself a dovah but looks like kip-niraat. Your Thu'um may be strong, but we answer to something stronger.”
I grinned at his words, unable to stop the laugh that bubbled from my throat. “Stronger? Stronger than me?” I turned to face the voice, finally able to see the movement of the dovah as he lumbered across the balcony. “Trust me, there's no one that compares to me, dragon.”
“Krien Fahliil,” the final voice snarled from the darkness beside me. It caused me to jump from fear as I turned to face it. What could only be described as a snarling grin appeared on it's face as it crawled into the light of my spell. I immediately recognized the body as a Gold-bellied Snaptail. It's dark brown scales blended perfectly into the walls of the temple, yet its wings and soft underside were a brilliant gold. It was a smaller dragon, half the size of Odahviing, but it made up in temper what it lacked in size. As I pointed my blade at the dovah, it snarled again, “What are you to an army? What are you to us?”
At it's words, one of the other Snaptails leap from the balcony. The force crumbled the structure, taking down part of the wall with it. As light flooded in from the new opening the temple, I watched the dragon land on Odahviing, teeth digging into his neck. My initial instinct to rush to his aid was cut short as the dragon closest to me snapped, nearly catching me in his straggled-tooth jaws. I stumbled backwards, refocusing on my own battle.
“Dol Vrii Qah!” I shouted after rolling backwards, out of the way of the dragon's path. I felt my skin grow heavy and harden as my flesh took on the appearance metallic Argonian-like scales. I rushed back towards the dovah, fearless of the icy wind and frost it let loose from its maw. The shout tickled at best, but it was nothing compared to the coldest of blizzards in Skyrim.
The glowing, translucent blade in my hand ripped through the scales of its cheek as if it were fresh snow. The Snaptail reared his head back, shrieking in pain. Presented with the opportunity, I dissipated the Mage Light spell, summoning a ball of sparks. I shoved my palm against the soft underside of his throat. There was an odd sensation as my fingers felt the smooth scales begin charring and flaking from the surge of electricity. The shock jolted him backwards, reeling into one of the pillars that supported the balcony behind him.
Before I could finish him, the third dragon rushed me. Distracted by his companion, I hadn't kept track of him. Unable to move out of the way, I called out, “Fiem Zii Gron!” As his jaws enclosed around me, I felt myself become weightless. The inch long teeth simply passed through me, slamming together with a clank. My ghostly appearance caught the beast off guard, causing what almost looked like fear to appear in his eyes. I grinned beneath my hood. “Faas zey nu, dovah?” I taunted him, twirling my sword in my hand.
Ignorantly, the Snaptail shouted curses at me, attempting to freeze me in my ethereal form. My chuckles from beneath his Thu'um only heightened his fear. He backed away from me in a fruitless attempt to escape my attack, but I wasn't letting him escape into the shadows again. I ran towards him, my ghostly weight disappearing as I attempted to land a hit across his neck. I didn't expect his long, spiked tail to whip my direction, however. I cried out as the force knocked me off my feet, one of those smooth spikes piercing through my calf and out the other side. As if the pain wasn't enough, as he whipped his tail the other direction, I was slung with it, my flesh dislodging from the projection midair.
I hit the ground in the center of the temple, barely missing one of the benches. A pain-filled hiss left my throat as I tried to stand. Blood was already soaking my boot. It was an invigorating aroma for the dragons who wanted me dead. The half-pint who injured me began crawling over, his tail still waving behind him. I barely had a moment to raise a ward, blocking the blizzard that spilled from his jaws. “Zu'u dreh ni faas sahlo Dovahkiin,” it roared. “Zu'u qiilaan dii klov wah vahzah kaal!”
Unable to stand, I simply scooted backwards in a helpless attempt of escape. He was nearly on top of me when I felt a sudden wind rush towards me. The gale caught the dragon's attention as well, directing his gaze from me to the northern wall. Odahviing stood over a bloodied, broken mess of a dovah, watching its skin burn and fleck away by some unseen force. Its very soul ripped from the carcass, burying itself into my core. A surge of energy filled my lungs, giving me a breath stronger than I could take on my own. I stared directly at the awe-struck Snaptail. As our eyes met once more, I released the power that swelled in my chest into a single, precise Thu'um. “Fus Ro Dah!”
The dragon was sent flying, not given a chance to brace for the storm that hit him or retaliate with his own voice. Odahviing rushed towards rush, managing to grab the dovah's neck in his own massive maw midair. The red beast forced his smaller kin to the temple floor, ripping into his throat and underbelly. The mauling was over quickly as the disoriented Snaptail stood no chance my companion's rage.
I forced himself to stand after taking a moment to gain my senses again. The same wind rushed towards me from the body of the dragon at Odahviing's feet. I took a deep breath as the energy tingled my skin, but I wasn't allowed to enjoy it for long. The pain in my leg caused me to wince as I tried to walk. My friend looked over at me, blood dripping from his lips. His eyes lingered on the gap in my calf. “Faaz,” he mumbled in a softer tone. “Heal yourself. The wound looks awful.”
“You look worse,” I retorted, studying the rips in his neck and back.
He lumbered over to me, lowering his head to get a better look at my injury. “It is nothing. These dov cannot break my scales. Weak, cowardly, lowly. My hide is strong. You, though strong with the Thu'um are a softer skin.” He gently nudged me with his nose, murmuring, “Heal yourself. We will finish the nikriin together.”
“A-aye,” I finally whispered in return. I placed my hand against him, using him for support as I shifted the weight from my injured leg. In my free hand, I summoned tendrils of glowing, pulsing light. The magic seemed to sing with restorative energy. I drew a deep breath as I placed my hand over my calf. I had to bite my tongue to force the cry of pain back into the pit of my stomach. The muscles and vessels in my leg began to mend in violent speeds. My skin, that was left torn and hanging from the wound, lifted itself into place, mending over the partially restored leg. I used what was left of my magicka reserves to try and repair the damage, but I knew I really needed a potion and a good night's sleep to fully recover.
Satisfied, Odahviing lifted his head, looking at where the last Snaptail laid from my previous attack. Using him for support, I hobbled over to the trembling body. His skin was permanently charred where my lighting bolt ripped through his skin. Spiraling outwards, fractals of purple scars ripped off his scales. It was quite an impressive display, even if it left the beast utterly paralyzed. He panted in pain and fear, but judging how he could move his head, I knew he had enough energy left to answer my questions.
“You lay before the Dovahkiin, something you should have done from the beginning,” I taunted him, smirking as he growled. “We could have avoided this entire thing- fighting, pain, death- if you just would have listened to me to begin with.”
“Faaz nah!” the Snaptail panted, unable to lift his head from the ground. “You win this day just to die another. You killed those who fought for Alduin. No different is it to kill those who fight for the Krien Fahliil.”
“Who are they?” I asked, keeping one hand on Odahviing while juggling a ball of ice in the other. “The Krien Fahliil?”
He scoffed in response, refusing to answer, which only infuriated my friend. “The Dovahkiin asks you a question! Answer!”
“Answer for me, Dovahvax,” he responded, his breathing growing slower by the minute. “You know them as well as I. You know when they come, the Bron, the Dovahkiin, all will fall. What will be your purpose then? You will fall like I have, but submitted to the weaker kinbok.”
From the look in Odahviing's eyes, I knew he understood what the Snaptail was talking about. With no more use of him, I nodded to the dragon. I gave neither beast the option to speak before releasing the icy spell in my hand into the chest of the gold and brown dragon. Barely hanging on to life, as soon as the spike penetrated the under scales, I felt his soul rip from his body. His skin dissolved like his counterparts', but we didn't stay around to watch. Odahviing carefully led me through the temple and back into the swamp outside.
“Who are they?” I repeated the question, this time for the red dragon to answer. “He said you knew them?”
“Nid, dreh ni,” he mumbled in response, blinking a few times to let his eyes readjust to the light of the swamp compared to the temple. “I do not know them as he says I do, but I think I know who he refers. Krien Fahliil, Sun Elves, they are the elves from the Summerset Isles.”
“Altmer?” I asked in confusion, taking a moment to ponder the answer he gave. “More specifically, could he have been talking about the Thalmor?” He simply hummed in response, clearly thinking over the query presented as well. He lowered his neck for me to climb once again, and I wasted no time in doing so. I was ready to leave the swamp just as much as he was.
Airborne, he allowed me a little deeper into his thoughts. “Your allies in Skyrim, the Stormcloaks, they have done well to keep the Elven armies away. These other lands- Blackmarsh, Cyrodiil, High Rock, Valenwood- they do not fight their armies so readily.”
“Would a dragon submit themselves to an elf though?” I asked, unable to mask the appall in my voice. “They are magically talented, sure, but compared to me...?”
“Rinik pahlokaal,” Odahviing chuckled loudly, causing me to smile even if he was insulting me. “Though you are Dovahkiin, a dovah may still be foolish enough to ignore your Thu'um. You know this much. They may believe, like these did, there are forces stronger than even you. They are wrong, but they may still believe.” He glanced over his shoulder at me, the chuckle shaking his throat again. “There were those of us who refused Alduin, remember? The World-Eater himself...”
I smirked, “Aren't I glad you did...” I teased him in a sarcastic tone. “Still, I didn't think it was possible, to refuse the Dragonborn I mean.” As he hummed in understanding, I took out my journal again, writing down my discoveries from the temple below my last entry. “Odahviing,” I asked as a thought occurred to me. “They kept calling you, Dovahvax. What does that mean?”
My friend continued staring ahead, his reply just loud enough for me to hear over the wind, “Traitor of Dragons.”
I started to respond, but thought it best to keep my thoughts to myself for the time being. The title seemed to make him uneasy than I had seen him be in awhile. While he was in no way a traitor- at least in my mind- I could see why other dragons might have viewed him as such. It was thanks to him I defeated Alduin. He saved my life more times than I could count. He was a dovah through and through, but he cared too much for a mortal like me.
We landed just outside of Eyes-See-After's home not long after departing the temple. Her home, as she called it, was nothing more than a shack with a cooking fire, a bedroll, and an alchemy table- but it was her home nonetheless. As we landed on the only dry spot in that area of the swamp, Eyes wandered from the door to meet us. “I smell blood,” she responded as I approached.
“Most of it belongs to the dragons that lived in the temple,” I told her, smiling as I took her extended hand.
“Dragons?” she asked in surprise. “More than one?”
“Aye, but you don't need to worry. We took care of them for you.” My smile faltered a little as I continued. “Unfortunately, it looks like they have killed a handful of your people.”
“That is troubling news,” she sighed softly, clearly looking distraught with the idea that her friends died before she was able to help them. “Still, the dragons are dead and cannot hurt anyone else. Thank you, Dragonborn.” She started to read into her satchel, but I gently took her hand.
“There's no need to pay me, Eyes.” She looked back up at me in confusion. “You've done plenty for me already, and I learned a lot just investigating here.” I chuckled softly, slowly letting go of her hands. “If you want to repay me, how about sending me a couple more bottles of Argonian Ale to Windhelm? I'm out already.”
She snickered. “I sent an entire case last week, Favnir.”
“And it was delicious, I assure you.” I laughed softly as she lightly punched my arm, shaking her head in disappointment.
“You Nords and your drinking.” Eyes took a deep breath before nodding. “I will send you more Ale, my friend.” Her hand slipped into her satchel regardless, fetching out a folded piece of paper. “I would invite you to stay the evening, but you are needed elsewhere. It is from one 'a friend', I am told.”
I carefully took the page from her hand, scanning the hastily written note. “A dragon attacked Stormcloaks near Ivarstead?” I asked aloud, glancing back at Odahviing with a frown. “At this rate, I'll be fighting dragons as much as I did when Alduin was around.”
The red dragon grumbled softly, “Do not put that curse on us. I enjoy ripping into the flesh of men and mer much more than my own kin.”
I hummed in amusement and looked back at Eyes. “Thank you for the offer, but I cannot refuse my King.”
“Indeed,” the Argonian purred in response, a kind smile on her lips. “I will be here when you pass through Blackmarsh again. And your Ale will be in Windhelm in a few days.” At her jest, she bowed politely. “Safe travels, Honored Friend. Many thanks, as always.”
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Replies
This, as always, is amazing! You've got a really compelling narrative here, with great characters and a great relationship between man and dragon. Must've taken some serious commitment to successfully integrate dragon mannerisms and dialogue into the story, but I can confidently say it's paying off.
Can't wait to see what you've got next!
I'm glad you liked it! This story is far different than others I've written for two reasons. I'm having to imagine Elder Scrolls events beyond "Skyrim" and I'm integrating Dragons as active characters. It has been a bit of a struggle to keep up with Dragon Language and Lore, but I've enjoyed it! All of the phrases are, to the best of my knowledge, correct sentences in Dovahzuul, and can be translated at https://www.thuum.org/translate-legacy.php . They may not translate in perfect English, but the meaning should still come across.
I'll hopefully have the next chapter out soon!
I agree with Shadon here. I’m in absolute awe of reading this, especially with giving Odahviing a personality - and the hate for getting wet is a beautiful touch. Combat scene I truly enjoyed reading as well. I’m worried about what the Thalmor have got/used against the Dovah for their own ends.
That last part about being Odahviing being a/the Dovahvax hit hard. But it was a nice touch, can’t wait to see Chapter 3!
I'm hoping to reveal all the answers to the Thalmor in the next 2 or 3 chapters, so you shouldn't have to worry long! Haha.
I'm glad you caught that about Odahviing. He's dealing with a lot of guilt about being a "betrayer" even though he knows following Favnir is the right thing.