Dorcas, All Around The Watchtower

 Dorcas, All Around The Watchtower

       As I was regaining a sense of where I was, I felt a pair of molten eyes wake in the back of my head. I looked at them wondering who or what this was. It was then it introduced itself.

     "Greetings Dovahkiin, finally you become aware of yourself and so I am able to come forward and be what I was placed here to be."

     "What is that if I may ask?"

     "The blessing Lord Akatosh gave unto you to quicken your becoming."

     "Assume I know practically nothing of what you speak of, which is not far from the truth."

     "Krosis, forgive me, I have been submerged within you from before you were born, and so I forget how much you do not know. It will be part of my task to help you learn and fill in the gaps within your knowledge. It has been a long time since I held such tinvok with another.

     I am the Dovah soul Akatosh placed within you to enable your Dragonblood. The ability you have seen firsthand now in reading the Rotmulag clawed into the Dragonword Wall came from my presence within you. As will other gifts when you encounter them. But the experience will not be as painful as this was for now that I am awake, I can shield you from most of it.

     Ah, I see you carry Kyne's favor, you will be able to go farther than most of the previous Dragonborn who came before you, and all dragons with the exception of Alduin.

And I think even he should fear you. But is there anything else I can answer for you?"

     "Did you know my father and mother?"

     "Indeed, I did. I fought for your father along with others of my brothers, although he did not get the chance to bring about peace between dragon and mortal as he wished to do. Perhaps you may finish what he started if Lord Akatosh wills it. As to your mother, I was not close to her but watched from a distance. Her life was tumultuous, full of pain, which she stoically endured. It is a testament to her that she is still remembered, although much of her history is clouded. There is more I can tell you later, when you may have the time and skills to take up the burden of that knowledge."

     "Will you tell me their names?"

     "If you will promise me that you will keep such knowledge to yourself until it serves you best to reveal it, yes, I will."

     "Then I give you my word, upon my very soul, I will abide and keep this knowledge secret until it serves me best to reveal it."

     "Your parents' names are Talos and Alessia."

     "You mean..."

     "Yes, those spoken of in the history of your people."

     "Now I see why the need for secrecy. But there must be more to it than that."

     "There is indeed more to it, those you call the Thalmor if they knew, would stop everything else they are doing and hunt you."

     "But why?"

     "Because your very presence undermines everything they are trying to do. They did not ban the worship and deny the divinity of your father simply because they disagreed with it. No, the reasons go much deeper than that and will have to wait until you have more time to contemplate them. You will need to learn the history of the Altmer people, then you will have the base upon which understanding will grow. Now you need to gather yourself and take the young Rigmor with you when you leave here. Go to Riverwood, and give the 'golden claw' to he who trades in the town. Then return to the Jarl in Whiterun, you have more to do with dragons there."

     Time seemed to speed up around me, and I wondered if the Dovah soul had something to do with that. A faint rumbling chuckle came from deep in my mind, as my eyes opened and beheld Rigmor holding on to me.

     "Are you all right now, you had me so scared, I did not know what to do."

     "It is all right now. Things are a bit clearer to me now, in some respects, anyway. But we need to be going, I need to return the 'Claw' to its rightful owner, and then give the Dragonstone to Farengar."

     "Ok, lead on then."

     We got to our feet and started looking for a shorter way out. We found a tunnel at the top of the steps from the dias where the Word Wall was placed. Following the tunnel led us to another small chamber with a door at the far end. The door led out to a ledge, where we could see mammoth bones half-buried in the ground. They looked to have been there for a long time.

     I looked around the ledge and found a way down without too much trouble. We went down and followed the river toward Riverwood. I saw Anise's shack just as Rigmor saw it and wanted to check it out. I had to stop her and tried as gently as I could. She most assuredly did not like it, and I had to be a bit more forceful.

     "Look, there is more going on with her there than you want to get involved in, so just let it go and we can move on to Riverwood."

     "But you went there to get some of the supplies for when I was wounded."

     "Yes, and Rose explicitly told me not to go down into the cellar. She had very good reason for that, and if I do not have to start trouble I prefer not to."

     "What kind of trouble could you start with her, she is just an old woman? Isn't she?"

     "No, she is not. And let it go. She has done nothing to warrant my interference and I want it to stay that way."

     "Not until you tell me what is going on!"

     "Ok then, she is a witch, hagraven, ok. Now let us move on."

     "Hagraven! How can you let..."

     "She has not threatened us or anyone else around here, nor has she attacked anyone. Therefore I am going to leave her alone until there is a need to do something. If she remains as she has been, there will be peace between her and those around her. There is no need to stir things up."

     "But she is a..."

     "Who has done nothing wrong. Do not presume to judge someone on what they might do, if you must judge, do it about what has been done. To judge and kill because she might be a threat without clear evidence that she has threatened or harmed someone is murder, not justice or defense. Besides to all appearances she is not a part of a coven, and even then, they do not all follow the same gods.

     Look at it this way, you kill the Thalmor for what they did to you and your family. You have justification for that. But you do not go and slaughter all Altmer, even though the Thalmor are almost all Altmer, are they not?"

     "Yes, I think I see what you are trying to say."

     "The crimes of the Thalmor, have gone beyond the Great War. They should have been settled with the war's end. But it has not been and they continue to exact a toll on the people involved beyond what the war was officially about. What they are about, goes beyond what has been said, and will have to be addressed when the Gods say it is time."

     "And when will that be?"

     "When they tell me it is time. For a while, I must separate in their eyes, who I am. For now, I am your Guardian and protector, and they need to know nothing different from that. Later will come a time, when they will find out just who I really am, and then. Well, then the Gods 'Will' be done and their judgment will come for them. Punishment for their crimes against all of Skyrim, Elswheyr, Valenwood, and everywhere else they have set foot will find them and there will be nowhere they can hide."

     Rigmor is amazed by what she is hearing and does not understand where this is coming from. But she does see a connection between what happened at the Word Wall and what she is seeing and hearing right now.

     "Can you tell me what this is about?"

     "Not just yet, but very soon, yes. You will see things that will allow you to understand more of what is happening, what will happen in the near future, that will involve the both of us to one degree or another."

     I looked at her eyes, and said, "this story is so much deeper than what we first thought, goes farther, and involves so much more. You have a part in this, and mine is greater in the whole. I will see your part completed, and then I will have to go on with what the Gods have for me to do. Later we will come together once more and weave our story into the larger story. The very future of Nirn will revolve around us and what we do", I took a hand and cupped the side of her face, "and I would have it no other way."

     "What are you saying?"

     "The pieces will fall where they will. There is more that I will have to speak of this soon as other pieces join and we can see more. Now, will you come with me to Riverwood and Whiterun?"

     "Yes, just be certain you do not forget to tell me what this is all about as soon as you can."

     "I promise you, I will."

     "Then let us go."

     Within Anise's hut, she has been sitting quietly, listening to the conversation with Rigmor and Dorcas. She thinks to herself, 'that one called Dorcas, has a good head on her shoulders. If it stays there she will go far, and so I must call those who are my sisters to watch for these two, and aid them if they can.'

     We walked into Riverwood, then moved aside to let the Whiterun Guard detachment go by on their rounds. One paused to ask if we had seen any sign of that dragon that has been sighted at Helgen. We replied no we had not. The guard said, good, maybe we scared it away. Rigmor looked at me but I just kept my mouth shut and let the guard think whatever he wanted.

     We walked into the Riverwood Trader, the owner was behind the sales counter. I put the 'golden claw' up onto it and asked how much would he give me for it. "You found it, you found the 'claw' that was stolen. I cannot thank you enough. Please, I have some gold from the last shipment I sent to Whiterun, here, take it, I want you to have it." The gold was substantial and would help keep us fed and warm for a while. I thanked him and turned to walk out. His sister stood up from her chair by a firepit, walked over to me and gave me a peck on the cheek, then whisper very faintly, "if you are interested, come and find me later at the Inn", turned and walked back to her chair.

     Rigmor looked hard at me and I simply shrugged my shoulders, and said a little louder than necessary, "come on, we need to get to Whiterun to see the Jarl" and walked out. As we started, I could hear loud voices from inside the shop. Rigmor started to turn back, but I shook my head and went on. As we were walking out from the north gate, Rigmor asked if his sister had propositioned me.

     I quietly said, yes. And when Rigmor started to turn back once more, I said, "why do you think I said that we needed to go see the Jarl in Whiterun like I did?"

     "You mean you said that as a way to turn down her offer gently?"

     "Yes, I did. I do not want to be with anyone else."

     "And when did you arrive at that conclusion?"

     "In Bleak Falls Barrow."

     "You really mean that?"

     "Yes, I do."

     "What about Rose?"

     "The Gods told me Rose was not the one for me when she escaped before we got there. Also, I was told by another that they approved of you for me."

     "Who? There was no one else in there except us!"

     "My birth father and mother."

     Rigmor stops dead still. "You know who they are now?"

     "Yes, and I am still in shock from having them named, but I can understand the secrecy behind it. It is a secret that can get people killed if it is suspected that they know."

     "That is what you meant..."

     "Yes."

     "Well don't keep me in suspense, I might die before I find out."

     I looked for a log or a rock to sit on, finding a rock near a stream turning into a waterfall as it flows off the top of the hill we are on. I motion for Rigmor to sit and I take a spot next to her. "I must ask that you keep this to yourself for now. If it becomes known that you have this knowledge, the efforts of the Thalmor to find you will consume every bit of their attention."

     "Ok, I promise."

     I take a deep breath and let it out slowly before saying, "My father is Talos."

     "By the Gods!"

     "Exactly."

     "And your mother?"

     "Alessia."

     "Now I understand, why the skirting around. This is truly explosive. You are right, if the Thalmor finds out, they will stop at nothing to kill us both. But there is more isn't there?"

     "You know history says they were both 'Dragonborn'?"

     "You mean...?"

     "Yes."

     "But how did you...your eyes... they are glowing!"

     "That is what it means to be 'Dragonborn', I have the soul of a dragon given to me by Akatosh, in my case, before I was even born. My father told me that means I am a 'Dragonchild'."

     "I mean I have read of those who were 'Dragonborn' in history books. But I never suspected, I mean it has been so long since the last one. Everybody thinks the bloodlines died out."

     "There are a couple of things to understand that a lot of the scholars get wrong. The bloodlines only indicate those who are and carry the 'Dragonblood' within their ancestry. That does not make them 'Dragonborn'. Alessia was one like this, her descendants are 'Dragonblood', along with all those others gifted with it during the Dragon Wars.

     But to become 'Dragonborn' you must first be of the 'Dragonblood'. Then the blessing of Akatosh, by his gifting of a dragon soul, causes a 'Dragonblood' to become 'Dragonborn'. This usually happens in the very late teens or early twenties of age. Those very few who are gifted before birth are called, 'Dragonchild'. And they can, but not always do display the 'Dragonborn' gifts at a very young age."

    "But you did not, did you?"

    "I was deliberately sheltered to prevent it. It is why I was able to learn from the Rotmulag scratched into the Dragon Word wall without ever having been close to a dragon or tested by the Greybeards. That 'Wall' was the very first one I have ever seen. So I am 'Dragonblood' from both my parents and 'Dragonchild' by the anointed blessing of Akatosh."

     "This is amazing!"

     "It is also trouble!"

     "I'm sorry, you are right, the Thalmor must not know of this."

     "If I am right, and I hope I am wrong, it will also be dragons that will be hunting me."

     "But why?"

     "It has to do with the prophecy of the return of Alduin. You see, when I was at Helgen about to lose my head, it was him that interrupted and destroyed the town. I sensed him on top of that tower and looked to see him staring directly at me. He felt my presence in Skyrim and came to see for himself. He then 'shouted' and drew down the fireballs out of the sky, while he flew around spewing Dragonfire everywhere.

     By the prophecy, only a 'Dragonborn' has the power to stop him from consuming this Kalpa and starting a new one. So it then stands to reason..."

     "That he would want to kill you to protect himself."

     "Yes, but there must be more to it. He could have done it himself directly, more than once, but he did not. Why? I do not know, I am not sure anyone knows. Unless there is some celestial drama that must be played out concerning this. But I am certain that he will likely send lesser dragons to test me and be certain that I do indeed have the abilities that 'Dragonborn' are said to have. And he will keep sending them until either they kill me, or I kill him."

     "So what are you going to do?"

     "Take this dragonstone to Farengar, see if he knows anything, then if the Gods are willing, go with you to Riften."

     I was looking at the water flowing on and down the waterfall, so I did not see Rigmor lean into me and kiss me on my cheek, and as she drew away, I heard her whisper, thank you.

I also heard her chuckle and judging from the heat coming from my face, I must have been blushing hard. She stood up and pulled on my hand, "come on, let us go to Whiterun then, and see what awaits us."

     We made our way on down the road to the crossroads, then turned west by the Honningbrew Meadery, some farms, and then an offroad back north to the walled city of Whiterun. We went through the main doors. 

     Almost immediately I saw a pair of Redguard warriors, Alik'r, the thought crossed my mind, yet I had never encountered them before, then I thought of my newly awakened companion in my head and it made sense. They were asking after a Redguard woman wanted back in Hammerfell. Even though I had not seen Redguard before, my studies in history allowed me to make some opinionated judgments about these two. And I surmised that if I had the opportunity to find this woman and assist her in dealing with the Alik'r, then I would do so. No one sends mercenaries of this level just to capture a woman unless she is wanted very badly indeed.

     I wondered if the Thalmor had sent them to look for her. Anyway, we moved onward to a big Nord talking to the smith who had her shop near the main doors. She remarked about the size of the work he wanted to be done, saying it was far too much for her to do alone, and suggested he ask someone called Eorlynd Greymane for help. The Nord said he would rather bend a knee to Ulfric before doing so, and I thought, 'politics! The bane of cities everywhere, and the source of more trouble than you can think of.'

     I herded Rigmor along the main road until we needed to turn to go toward the palace. Once there, we entered the main hall and walked to the room where Farengar had his equipment set up. I noticed him talking to a woman in leathers, her face obscured by a hood. When a break in the conversation came about I handed the 'Dragonstone' to Farengar, who made some appreciative comments about my abilities to acquire it, then showed his ignorance about my part being done and his, the job of the mind was just beginning.

     The woman hearing that we had just come from Bleak Falls Barrow, remarked that it was a task worthy of recognition to go in there and get that 'stone'. Just then Irileth showed up and called to Farengar that the Dragon had been sighted near a watchtower south of the city. She told him to attend to the Jarl, then seeing Rigmor and I told us to come as well. We went back into an area behind the main hall.

     The guard that had run from the watchtower to inform the Jarl of the sighting, recounted what he had seen. The Jarl commanded Irileth to gather up more troops and lead them to the watchtower. Then he faced me and asked for my help by going with Irileth. He said that by my surviving Helgen, I had more experience with dragons than anyone else here. He also did not forget my retrieval of the stone and rewarded me with the option to buy property in the city. 

     As he turned away, I motioned to Rigmor for the two of us to get moving. Somehow I knew this was related to our being here and that I needed to deal with it. We moved back through the city quickly and went out the main doors, Irileth, and the guards just behind us.

     I said to Rigmor, 'up for a run?', to which she replied, 'to see you kill a dragon? Last one there is dragon poop!' and started at a quick clip. It was not long till we showed up, signs of a dragon attack were quite evident to me. I spoke to a single guard left as he talked about two of his fellows having been snatched up trying to make a run for the palace. Then he saw the dragon coming back and retreated into the ruined tower.

     I told Rigmor to watch for where the dragon pointed his head when he would open his jaws to move away to the side out of the path of whatever he was going to send our way. I cast my armor spell, made sure my greatsword was on my back, ready to pull, and got my bow. If he stays in the air, I will try and force him onto the ground. Then we will see who is the better warrior, me or him.

     He flew around the tower a few times, getting peppered with arrows, including mine. Then he seemed to notice me and dropped down toward me, ignoring everyone else. I tossed my bow to Rigmor and drew my greatsword. Then I charged headlong toward his head, figuring I would see when he would try and snatch me in his jaws. I had to parry his jaws a few times to get where I wanted to be and note how he moved when he attacked. 

     He would drop his head down and stretch his neck as he came in to use his teeth. This time I slid to the side and leaped up onto his neck behind his head. He started to rise up, and I heard Rigmor shout to the guards not to shoot, that I was behind his head. I found the place I was looking for and changed my greatsword's position so that I had it pointed down. And drove it with all of my strength into his neck, just behind his skull. He thrashed and I jumped to avoid being thrown, I heard an anguished, "Dovahkiin!, No!" as he died and his head dropped to the ground at my feet.

     I pulled my greatsword out of his neck, preparing to clean it when one of the guards exclaimed for everyone to pull back, something was happening to the body. It was then my dragon soul told me to stand firm and let what was going to happen without fighting it. I saw the dragon's body shedding scales of glowing power that started moving in my direction. Then I felt as if I was floating out of my body, I saw as my arms each circled one time as the glowing scales of power reached me. My arms then stretched straight out to my sides, and my body started rising into the air. I felt myself scream as the power was absorbed into me, I felt that dragon's lifeforce, memories, skills, everything about him become a part of me.

     Then my body dropped to the ground and I released a blast of soulfire into the ground before me. I looked profoundly at the skeleton before me, as I kneeled on the ground and bowed my head with sorrow and respect at his sacrifice. For I knew he was a part of me now and would be so forevermore. I felt his knowledge of a shout become a part of me, and I used that knowledge to speak, 'FUS'. I felt the force expel itself from my voice and his bones moved as it washed over them.

     This was not unobserved by the guards, one of whom started speaking of my being 'Dragonborn' and convincing the others of this by what he had been told about it. I tried to be as noncommital as I could, going for neutral comments to lower any speculation. Irileth was asked for her opinion, and she followed suit. She told them all not to be flapping their gums about matters they know nothing about.

     She said she had seen much in her travels just as outlandish as what had just had happened, that she did not need to believe in a mythical Dragonborn. Anyone who could kill a dragon as I had done, was enough for her. She then said that this was proof that they could be killed, that they were flesh and blood. That even if more came, they could be dealt with, by the strength of their arms, with sword and bow.

     I motioned to Rigmor for us to go back to the palace. I cleaned my greatsword as best I could as we traveled back. About halfway, I felt a strange feeling come over me, then I heard the voices of the Greybeards as they echoed across the plains. Rigmor asked if I had heard that, and I said, yes, that the Greybeards were calling to me, to come to them at High Hrothgar.

     She started to ask how I knew this, but saw the glowing in my eyes and realized that my dragonsoul had told me what they said.