The Story of Iriisii Dovahkiin - Chapter Seven

 The Story of Iriisii Dovahkiin

                                                                  Chapter Seven

     The duo steps into the chamber, Iriisii with her bow, arrow nocked, ready to fire up into the spider hiding hole. It begins to drop down, with the thief stuck in its webbing across the doorway onward screaming for her to kill it. She lets the arrow go, watching as it sails directly into a soft spot and disappears into its head. They all watch as it falls the rest of the way to the floor as the thief congratulates her on a good shot and begins pleading for her to release him before more show up.

     Iriisii is in no hurry. She walks up to him and asks his name.

     Iriisii: "By what name do you go by?"

     Arvil: "Wha...?"

     Iriisii: "You know what I am talking about, your professional name. Tell me or I leave you there, might just do so anyway as you are likely to be just a lot of trouble for me."

     Arvil: "All right, all right, I am called 'Arvil the Swift', there now will you cut me down?"

     Rigmor: "I have a bad feeling about this."

     Iriisii: "It seems you are in a spot of trouble. I think my companion hears little spiderlings scuttling in some of the side passages, are they hungry perhaps?"

     Arvil's face and voice go right into terror mode, screaming and pleading to be released.

     Iriisii: "You keep screaming and you are only going to attract more spiders and we will move on. They will take their time with you and leave the two of us alone. What do you think, my dear?"

     Rigmor: "I think he is nothing but trouble."

     Iriisii: "I agree with you, come on, let us go before the hungry little ones show up."

     Arvil: "No! No! There is a secret to getting into the main chamber and I know it. You would not believe the power the Nords have hidden in there! I know how to use the 'Claw' to open the door!"

     Iriisii: "You must mean the Gold Claw you took from Lucan at the Riverwood Trader?"

     Arvil: "Yes, the very same, he has no idea of what it can do, what it can open up!"

     Iriisii: "What if I just kill you now, take the 'Claw', and go my way. You are just going to turn and run as soon as I cut you down. And then you are going to make my life miserable by waking every draugr between here and the main chamber so that we have to fight our way through them because they will have already torn you limb from limb. And do not think you can outrun them, there are a lot of traps to dodge, and some of the more powerful draugr can use the Thu'um. One shout of that and you go tumbling off of your feet and the draugr will have a new toy to play with before they break you."

     Arvil looks at her with true fright in his eyes, not because he thinks she is right, but because she pinned down what he was going to do when he got loose. He thought to himself that he could dance rings around these draugr, she did not know what she was talking about or trying to scare him into just handing over the 'Claw'.

     Arvil: "I have no choice then, if I want to live I have to play by your rules. So be it. Now will you please cut me loose?"

     Iriisii pulls out a dagger when Rigmor tugs at her arm. Motioning her into the other connecting chamber.

     Rigmor: "You know he is going to run do you not?"

     Iriisii: "Yes, but I am going to give him a chance not to run. If I see him try, I will kill him first before he wakes the draugr."

     Rigmor: "You were not kidding about his waking the draugr up for us to fight through, were you?"

     Iriisii: "No, I was not. If we go quietly, we can kill most of them before they wake and get out of those alcoves. We can still kill them all even if they wake, but it will be more difficult with more chances for us to take injuries. There will be some who can use the Thu'um, and they will be the most dangerous. I do not wish to fight more than I have to, especially with the traps abounding in here. Because the draugr do not care about traps, they will just lumber through setting them off and we have to watch for both them and the traps."

     Rigmor: "I see, I may not like it, but I have to agree with you. Very well, do what you have to do."

     They return and Iriisii begins to cut the webbing from around Arvil. Once he drops to the floor, he turns and mutters, 'like I am going to share all that treasure with you' before running.

     Iriisii expertly flips the dagger, grabs the blade between her fingers and thumb in the air above her, and throws it toward the fleeing back of Arvil. It strikes precisely at the back of his neck, just nicking the spinal cord, and dropping him, face-first to the floor. Iriisii walks over to him, pulls the dagger out of his neck, searches his body for the 'Claw', and stands up once she has it. Rigmor has joined her by now and notices he is still breathing.

     Rigmor: "What are you going to do?"

     Iriisii looks down at Arvil then she rolls him onto his back.

     Iriisii: "Thought you could run faster than I could throw my dagger, even after I warned you not to. But I am willing to be merciful and kill you now before the spiderlings find you. I have a question for you, answer me truthfully and I will be merciful, lie to me and I will leave you to whatever fate the Gods will for you. And if you worship Mephala, you will wish for me to be merciful, believe me on this."

     Arvil whispers his assent.

     Iriisii: "Did you plan on leaving us fighting with the draugr while you ran with the treasure?"

     Arvil's eyes go wide.

     Iriisii: "I thought so, if you had simply curbed your greed, you would have had a share of it and your life. Now, your fate rests with whichever of the Gods you worship, and I hope it is neither Mephala nor Nocturnal. For I think neither would be very willing to help you now."

     Iriisii gets up even as Rigmor looks questioningly at Iriisii. Seeing something in her eyes, she starts to say something even as Iriisii gestures for her to be quiet.

     Iriisii: "We will speak later of this, I promise. For now, we have a task to complete."

     They leave Arvil lying on the floor unable to move. As they reach the next set of chambers looking at alcoves for draugr bodies, they hear the echoing scream of Arvil as the spiderlings find him. Rigmor lowers her head and shakes it as Iriisii comments.

     Iriisii: "He would have had no qualms about leaving us in a similar situation or worse. I gave him a chance to come with us, share in the treasure, and leave with his life. He chose otherwise and now pays the price for his decision. We are not the arbiters of his fate, he is, and the Gods chose his punishment."

     Rigmor: "You are not the Iriisii I have come to know. Just who are you?"

     Iriisii/Darkstar: "Observant are you not? I am Darkstar, a fractured psyche who had her birth within Iriisii during our enslavement to the 'Seven'. This is one of the least known properties of long-term use of Black Lotus, most never live long enough for this to occur."

     Rigmor: "Why have you come forward then, is there something wrong with Iriisii?"

     Iriisii/Darkstar: "She is fine, do not worry. It was felt that I was best suited to bring you to the main chamber. I have had experience with similar beings like the draugr and so the best one to teach you how to recognize and deal with them. Look at the alcoves, and tell me what you see."

     Rigmor: "Bodies, bones, dust."

     Iriisii/Darkstar: "But only a few are draugr, only those do you have to worry about awakening. How do you know which ones they are among all of the others?"

     Rigmor: "I would have to go charging into the chamber and look for the ones who started to get up and attack."

     Iriisii/Darkstar: "Would it not be better to know how to recognize which are true draugr and so know exactly which ones are trouble? Forget the ones that are only bones, no skeleton will be used in these barrows. Look at the rest, the bodies, see the ones wasted, almost bone and nothing else. They are gone, no return is possible for them, not even magic can call them. But look at those few left that look like they still have somewhat of life left. Those dressed in armor and armed with weapons or magic. They look fresher than all of the others, those are our targets."

     Rigmor: "How do we kill them without waking the others?"

     Iriisii/Darkstar: "We use stealth primarily, with bows when we can, swords when we cannot. If you are stealthy enough, you can walk right up to one and not wake him or her. Kill them on the spot without a peep from the others. But that will not always work, sometimes the magic used to create them makes them restless, such that they wander without ceasing in these dark halls and caves. But be as stealthy as the shadows and they will not sense you."

     Rigmor: "How can I be taught to do this so quickly, the draugr are just down there?"

     Iriisii/Darkstar: "Watch how I move, where I step, follow in my footsteps and these will not see you, this I promise you. Stay your mind, think of nothing but the shadows, let them bind themselves to you, shroud you in their darkness, and know no fear while the shadows befriend you. Now let us begin."

     Iriisii/Darkstar begins first going slowly to let Rigmor see where she steps, how she moves when she places a foot and shifts her weight when her foot is on solid stone, wood, or ground. Soon Rigmor begins to make headway, as they target a draugr and Iriisii/Darkstar nocks an arrow and sends it on its deadly way. Silently it strikes, the draugr barely moves but to the trained eye one can see the difference, know that death has reclaimed what was stolen from it by necromancy and rewards those who returned these bodies back into his realm.

     They turn and look into an occupied alcove in the far wall, they see another and slowly walk toward it. They reach it and Iriisii/Darkstar slides her blade into the body breaking the bond, magic had forged with it so long ago. The next is at rest in the next alcove and Iriisii/Darkstar quickly returns this one into Death's hands. Back across the floor to the wall is another, they quietly move toward it. Iriisii/Darkstar edges around a round floor plate, motioning Rigmor to follow. As they clear around the floor plate they resume their track to the unsuspecting draugr.

     As they prepare to send this one back unto Death, Iriisii/Darkstar motions for Rigmor to do the deed. She hesitates for a second or two, but Iriisii/Darkstar waits patiently for Rigmor to gather herself and strike. Then as if her blade has acquired a mind of its own it strikes out and buries itself in the draugr. For a moment she thinks she can see 'Death' take the life that was hidden inside the walking corpse and feel his hands as they guided her blade to its victim.

     Then she hears the barest whisper in her ears.

     Death: "Well done, daughter. Know that you have done well in the eyes of the Greater Ones. They watch you as well as Iriisii with great interest, wanting to see, to know, if the two of you can work together. And then to bring the others into your fold, to form the core of an army. An army greater than any yet seen, to bring what Akatosh wants for Nirn, to all of the realms outside Mundus.

     The work will be hard, the pain will be great, the fear even greater, but if you succeed in this, if you win against the odds, the rewards will eclipse every bit of your suffering. And all limits to your and Iriisii's power will be swept away as if they had never been. My sister and I believe in the two of you, and so we will walk beside both of you. You will not always see or notice us, but we will be there. For now, you are our child, one day you will be as a 'sister' to us, and then later still we will call you 'mother', and perhaps at some point, we will worship you. Remember my words as these times you reach and surpass."

     Rigmor cannot believe what was said to her, for this was not Arkay, he who watches over the dead. This was someone else, someone if she were to believe what was said, comes from outside Mundus. And that she and Iriisii may one day follow him outside as Gods. And so wisely she decides to put it all away for another time to ponder and concentrate on the matter at hand.

     Rigmor: "Let us go, there are more draugr to release from their imprisonment."

     Iriisii/Darkstar nods her head in agreement, pleased with how far she has come in such a short time. They continue on looking at each new area to see if there were more draugr needing to be set free. When they come to the main chamber at the end, Darkstar retreated into the deeper parts of Iriisii's mind that she usually inhabits. And so Iriisii and Rigmor continue onward seeing nothing moving except the occasional bat being disturbed from its rest by their movement. The Rigmor sees the 'Word Wall' standing in the distance, a stone coffin standing away from it with tables sitting around.

     Iriisii can feel and hear the 'Wall' calling her, wanting to teach her what it knows of the 'Word' engraved upon its surface by a dragon's claw. Rigmor sees that something is having an effect on Iriisii, she just does not know what it is or where it is coming from, until she notices Iriisii slowly moving toward the 'Word Wall' and her gaze being held by one small portion of it.

     As she walks up to her, she feels something passing to Iriisii from the 'Wall', then Iriisii collapses to the stone floor. Rigmor helps her to stand before asking any questions.

     Rigmor: "What just happened to you, your skin is cold, almost like ice. And you are still shaking with tremors. Are you all right?"

     Iriisii: "The 'Word Wall'...it spoke to me...there is a...Rotmulaag... written there."

     Rigmor: "What is that?"

     Iriisii: "Dragon Word...words on 'Walls' written by dragons...some contain 'power'. I learned what it meant, how to use it...no...how to use it...came from somewhere...else, not sure where."

     Rigmor: "Come on, sit down here on the steps, take a few minutes before something else happens."

     Rigmor takes a chance that with Iriisii disoriented, maybe she can get an answer or two from her.

     Rigmor: "Who is Darkstar?"

     Rigmor is answered by yet another voice that she has not heard before.

     Iriisii/Shivista: "You are taking a huge risk asking questions like that at a time like this. But I will give you the answer you seek since you will soon know even more about who Iriiisii is. You are aware of her enslavement to the 'Sinister Seven'. Their training methods for new assassins is considered the most brutal of any others known. It can take the lives of nearly a hundred acolytes for one to rise to become one of the 'Seven'.

     They die not as a sacrifice, but as a 'winner takes all' duel to reach the next stage of training until there is but one left from a starting number. They then accumulate until an opening occurs, when the graduates fight among themselves to rise and take the opening. The winner takes the position when all challengers are dead. Any can challenge another to a duel within the 'Pit', to climb the ladder of Rank. Two walk in, and one walks out, always, with no exceptions.

     I will not say how many she killed to reach a point where she could escape. But the 'Mother' was indeed grooming her to take her position one day and command the 'Seven'. Iriisii was that good, and once she had more time under the influence of Black Lotus, there would have been no escape for her. She would have done anything and everything the 'Mother' asked of her without question. This caused a fracture within her mind, one part remained Iriisii, and one part became Darkstar. This was because of the long-term use of Black Lotus, something only a handful know can happen.

     But know this, Darkstar is free from the Black Lotus, free to grow on her own in whatever direction she chooses. For now, anyway, she chooses to stay with Iriisii. Maybe she will stay forever with her, maybe not, only the future knows this and it is not saying. So be careful of what you ask, you might not wish to know the answer, and once learned it cannot be forgotten."

     Rigmor: "Who are you, then?"

     Iriisii/Shivista: "You will learn that when I think you are ready to withstand such knowledge, not before. Asking any of the others will avail you nothing. And you do not want to cross me, you really do not. Be careful how you leave this place, there is still a powerful draugr nearby. Get past him and the way out is clear."

     Rigmor: "Where is he?" 

     Iriisii: "Where is who?"

     Rigmor: "On no one in particular."

     Iriisii: "Are you sure you are all right? "

     Rigmor: "Yes, and do you not think we should be on our way? Farengar is waiting on this Dragonstone, why I cannot imagine."

     Iriisii: "He is a Court Wizard, nearly all of them are idiots. If they really tried to cast a spell they would burn down half the places they live in and the other half would be filled with ice."

     Rigmor laughs until her side aches.

     Rigmor: "Oh I really needed that. The images that invokes will keep me laughing for a year at least."

     Iriisii: "Come on then, 'Sir Idiot of the Mage Fire' is waiting on us."

     Rigmor laughing: "Stop, we will never get back at this rate."

     As they pass by the stone tables, the lid of the stone coffin pops off and a Draugr Deathlord starts climbing out. Iriisii runs up to him and sweeps his feet out from underneath him, dropping him to the stone floor. Then she lifts the lid up overhead and brings it down on his head with a most satisfying crunch.

     Rigmor looks on amazed, "How did you lift that thing? It must weigh hundreds of pounds!"

     Iriisii: "I really do not know, I just felt so angry that...I do not know even why I felt so angry. But it gave me the strength to pick it up and crush his head with it."

     Rigmor: "Well just remind me not to get you angry."

     Iriisii: "You do not have to worry, I will never hurt you."

     Leaving the barrow they had to take care of finding a solid path down the rocks to the ground, but they did make it, not without a few scary moments. Rigmor saw how Iriisii seemed able to move from one rock ledge to another, some with only inches to spare and some she only seemed to use as a springboard to somewhere else.

     While she had to look for alternate paths, she thought to herself, 'If I had known how to do that, I would never have fallen when I leaped to that tree limb and nearly ripped my gut open.' And a tiny still voice way back in her mind replied, 'Yes, and you never would have met Iriisii, would you?'

     Rigmor: 'Wait! Who are you? Another one of Iriisii's fractured psyches?"

     Voice: 'No, I am completely and totally a part of you. Think of me as your conscience.'

     Rigmor: 'Then where were you when all the other things were happening to me?'

     Voice: 'Who is to say I was not there? I do not always speak like this, mostly you know when I interact with you when you get a feeling to do something or go somewhere. It is only when you became involved with Iriisii that I became strong enough to speak to you like this.'

     Rigmor: 'And why is that?'

     Voice: 'That unfortunately is for me to know and you to find out on your own. I cannot tell you why for I do not really know with any certainty why it is. I have my suspicions, and if they are accurate...well let us just say you are in for the 'ride' of your life. One that you have experienced only in your deepest dreams, ones that you never remember when you wake.'

     Rigmor: 'I do not know whether that is good or bad.'

     Voice: 'It is what you make of it. I can not and will not ever force you into anything, even if I think you are wrong. All I can do is try and balance your impetuous nature, truly though she seems to have a stronger effect on you in that regard than I do.'

     Rigmor: 'Are you saying she is doing this deliberately? Calming me down, keeping me from taking action when I want to?'

     Voice: 'No, she is not in the least doing that, and as much as she might wish to at times, she never will. She does not realize what I am about to say, one day she will, and when that day comes, if you so desire, I will help you decide what you wish to do with it.'

     Rigmor: 'Well, what is it?'

     The Voice sighs, 'She is falling in love with you.'

     Rigmor: 'She cannot be, she is in love with Rose!'

     Voice: 'What do you truly know what is possible with the force called, 'Love'? Rose is gone from her life, decisions made by her, by Iriisii, and by you have seen to that. Yes, her mourning is true and deep, but that means that when she gives herself to someone she does so completely and without reservation. She has lost so very much in her life to this point like you have. That gives you both a foundation for a bridge to be built between you, a bridge strong enough to withstand any force. 

     This time at least, the Gods have kept their fingers out of it, having seen that what could happen had to happen naturally or it would never work. And there will still be other situations, but the outcomes of those will depend on what happens in the next few months and years.'

     Rigmor: 'You mean when she stopped on that rainy night, it was the Gods' nudging her to do that?'

     Voice: 'Yes, it was. The one who did it had the best of intentions. Although it has taken a tragic turn, that story is still to be completed, and hopefully, it will end on a much more promising note.'

     Rigmor: 'What does that mean?'

     Voice: 'Nothing you can affect, you have no say in what will happen, but it will heal deep wounds within Iriisii, wounds she has no knowledge of but feels nonetheless.'

     Rigmor: 'How can she...her lost memories! The knowledge is in her lost memories!'

     Voice: 'Yes it is, and the Gods' are responsible for this part of what has happened in her life. As reprehensible as this may seem, in the overarching view, it was necessary to set a path forward to avoid an unthinkable future. What will happen in the future is being set now in this present, many of the choices to be made will be yours. Choose wisely and everything you have ever dreamed of wanting and desiring can be yours, choose unwisely...'

     Rigmor: 'And what?'

     Voice: 'You are in no way ready to know what that could bring. But if your feet are on the right path, you will find out in time to affect which way it goes. And I will be with you to help you if you will listen to me.'

     The trip back to Whiterun and the palace is uneventful. The way things have been recently, it makes them both think about when is the other foot going to drop on them. They walk into the palace, noticing the cleaning staff has completely cleaned the blood and bodies they left behind when they went back to Riverwood.

     They continue on to Farengar's little area where he is speaking to someone as they are both looking at some papers on his desk. Iriisii waits before handing him the Dragonstone, looking intently at the figure next to him in a hooded cloak with the hood over her head, obscuring her features. Her voice however is a different matter and Iriisii recognizes her as Delphine. 

     Wondering just what is she doing here and what part does she play in the 'Dragon' matter going on. She feels Rigmor stiffen up as she also recognizes Delphine's voice, but wisely for a change, she takes her cue from Iriisii and remains silent. Once Farengar realizes they are there, she gives him the Dragonstone. Delphine gives them some bit of praise for delving into Bleak Falls Barrow and retrieving the Dragonstone, with just the two of them.

     Iriisii's and Farengar's short conversation concerning if there is any more he needs from them shows just how right Iriisii's analysis of him is correct. He is an idiot, a clueless one at that. She wonders how did he ever make it into a Jarl's Court, but then thinks it is probably for the best, he will never gain enough personal power to be a threat to Jarl Balgruuf. She thinks that Irileth probably had something to do with it as well since she is close to the Jarl and would not let a wizard who could be a threat anywhere near him.

     Just then Irileth shows herself at the entrance to Farengar's area.

     Irileth: "Farengar! A dragon has been sighted approaching the Southern Watch Tower. The Jarl wants to speak with you as soon as you can meet him."

     Irileth looks toward Iriisii, "You should come as well since you know more than any of us how to fight one."

     Delphine somehow disappeared while Iriisii and Rigmor save time going up the steps to the area behind the throne. They get there as a guard from the Watch Tower describes what he saw to the Jarl. The Jarl then orders Irileth to gather her men and head to the Southern Watch Tower. As Irileth moves to gather her guardsmen, the Jarl asks Iriisii to go with her, since she survived Helgen, she has more experience than all of them.

     Iriisii takes off at a run with Rigmor close behind. They go cross country rather than sticking to the road and arrive before Irileth's party. Iriisii places Rigmor where she can see to the west of the Tower if the dragon comes from that way. Iriisii then looks for the on-duty guards. Finding one she gets an update on the situation. It seems that after the guardsman left to give word to the Jarl, another tried to run and got picked up by the dragon.

      The guard then cries out that the dragon is coming back and dives back into the base of the tower. The archers among the guards begin firing at him, but not having much effect. Then he sees Iriisii and drops down in front of her, he opens his jaws to use either a fire shout or a frost shout. She casts a powerful warding spell as a frost blast is stopped by her ward spell. Once he stops, she pulls her sword and runs straight at him.

     Just as he tries to catch her in his jaws, she dives to the ground and rolls up under his neck. Then she shoves her sword straight up. His roar of pain can be heard all across the plains and echoing from the mountains. She takes advantage of his position using the arrows still embedded in his flesh and climbs up behind his head. She raises her sword in both hands with the tip pointed down, and drives it into the joint between head and neck.

     He barely has time to scream out, "Dovahkiin?! No!", when the sword cuts short his life. Once she gets her blade pulled back out, she drops to the ground and sheathes it. A few of the guards take note of his scales and flesh starting to smolder, warning everyone to back away.

      Iriisii acts spellbound by what is happening to the dragon's body as it seems to catch fire. Then a rushing wind blows through the fire and directly at Iriisii. As it reaches her it circles and is absorbed into her, even as her own body floats upward. Her arms are spread instinctively straight out to the sides, and the soul pain that envelopes her as the dragon's soul is absorbed into her, along with his knowledge and power, causes her to scream in response. When it all reaches its height, she falls to the ground, landing with one foot and one knee on the ground. A blast of cold blue fire erupted from her body in an explosion.

     By now only the dragon's bones are left on the ground, the rest is gone. The men talk between themselves about how she must be a legendary Dragonborn, even as Rigmor goes to her to see if she is hurt. Iriisii tries to stand and staggers backward as Rigmor catches and supports her. Looking at the bones, Iriisii lets go with a loud, "Fus". The force sets the very air in front of her vibrating such that the others around can see it travel to the bones and move them as it strikes.

     The conversation keeps circling around between the guards with the word, Dragonborn', continuing to appear on their lips. When they ask Irileth for her thoughts, she sets them straight with, "Hmph. Some of you would be better off keeping quiet than flapping your gums on matters you don't know anything about. Here's a dead dragon, and that's something I definitely understand. Now we know we can kill them. But I don't need some mythical Dragonborn. Someone who can put down a dragon is more than enough for me."

     Irileth then turns to Iriisii, "That was the hairiest fight I've ever been in, and I've been in more than a few. I don't know about this Dragonborn business, but I'm sure glad you're with us. You better get back to Whiterun right away. Jarl Balgruuf will want to know what happened here. I'm taking command here for the moment. You head back to Whiterun and let the Jarl know what happened."

     Iriisii: "I too do not understand anything about whether or not I am Dragonborn or what it means. I am just glad I could be here to stop more of these men from dying horribly."

     Irileth looks at Iriisii somewhat strangely before saying, "I will make sure Jarl Balgruuf knows of what you did and how you feel about this. If it is true, and you are a Dragonborn, do not change how you feel, for you are a breath of fresh air that Skyrim needs badly."

     Rigmor moves up and takes Iriisii's arm, "Come on, we need to inform Jarl Balgruuf that the dragon is dead."

     They begin making their way along the road back to Whiterun. Iriisii asks Rigmor about anything she may have read about Dragonborn.

     Rigmor: "There is not a great deal written of them, most of them came about in the First Era during the Dragon Wars. After that ended with Alduin's disappearance, they just seemed to vanish from sight. Every now and then when something really bad was happening one would show up and put things right, only to disappear once more.

     The last one to stay around for a while was Tiber Septim, he became Emperor of the Empire then, and started the Septim dynasty of the Third Empire at the beginning of the Third Era. He ended up ascending to Aetherius and becoming Talos, the Ninth Divine. His dynasty lasted until the assassination of Uriel Septim VII by the Mythic Dawn Cult, which triggered the Oblivion Crisis which ended with Martin Septim, Uriel's bastard son, assuming the throne and sacrificing himself to stop Mehrunes Dagon from coming over and taking Nirn for his own."

     Iriisii: "Was Tiber Septim the only Dragonborn to ascend?"

     Rigmor: "I do not think so, I remember a book that said that Alessia, who founded the First Empire, was also Dragonborn. But she never went around 'shouting' and such. She ascended into Aetherius, but for whatever reason did not become one of the Divines. Some say that because of this she is not a Goddess, some say she is, that not being one of the Divines does not make her any less a Goddess. All of that is beyond me to understand."

     Iriisii: "I think the latter is true. It should be a matter of power, not being a part of a pantheon. If they change and are no longer mortal they must then be Gods or Goddesses. Maybe I am wrong, but that is what I think until someone can prove I am wrong."

     Then they get interrupted by a booming voice echoing from High Hrothgar and the surrounding mountains. As Rigmor listens, she can make out the words, 'Do Vah Kiin' in the echoes, and wonders what this could mean. She looks over to Iriisii to see her stopped and gazing at High Hrothgar, a very faraway look in her eyes. Gazing deeper into them she thinks she sees fleeting images flashing faster than she can recognize any part of them, except for one that sears itself into her mind.

     An image of Iriisii, bloody sword in hand, standing before the 'Ruby Throne', looking down at a crown in her free hand. For a fraction of a second that seems to go on and on, she can hear rough voices all around calling out, "Dovahkiin, Dovahkiin, Dovahkiin", she then wonders, 'could this mean what she thinks it does, and if so, where will it lead her if she stays with Iriisii. What could it mean for the Empire? For the people? What dire catastrophe is in the offing that a Dragonborn could be called to sit on the throne once more? And what will her part in this be? More to the point will this be the end of their destiny?

     A tiny, faint voice, 'Or maybe just the beginning.'

     Iriisii rouses herself and starts walking toward Whiterun once more, even as Rigmor catches up and walks beside her. This time when they approach the City Gates, the guards do not challenge them, but rather salute them and reach to open the doors to allow them to enter the city.

     They make their way to the Palace, entering to hear a conversation taking place around the Jarl. Soon enough they are standing before him to tell him what happened.

     Jarl Balgruuf: "So what happened at the watchtower? Was the dragon there?"

     Iriisii: "The watchtower was destroyed, but we killed the dragon."

     Jarl Balgruuf: "I knew I could count on Irileth. But there must be more to it than that."

     Iriisii: "Turns out I may be something called 'Dragonborn'."

     Jarl Balgruuf: "Dragonborn? What do you know about the Dragonborn?"

     Iriisii: "When the dragon died, I absorbed some kind of power from it."

     Jarl Balgruuf: "So it's true. The Greybeards really were summoning you."

     Iriisii: "The Greybeards?"

     Jarl Balgruuf: "Masters of the Way of the Voice. They live in seclusion high on the slopes of the Throat of the World."

     Iriisii: "What do these Greybeards want with me?"

     Jarl Balgruuf: "The Dragonborn is uniquely gifted in the Voice - the ability to focus your vital essence into a Thu'um, or Shout. If you really are Dragonborn, they can teach you how to use your gift."

     Hrongar: "Didn't you hear the thundering sound as you returned to Whiterun? That was the voice of the Greybeards, summoning you to High Hrothgar! This hasn't happened in ... centuries, at least. Not since Tiber Septim himself was summoned when he was still Talos of Atmora!"

     Proventus: "Hrongar, calm yourself. What does any of this Nord nonsense have to do with our friend here? Capable as she may be, I don't see any signs of her being this, what, 'Dragonborn'."

     Hrongar: "Nord nonsense?! Why you puffed-up ignorant... these are our sacred traditions that go back to the founding of the First Empire!"

     Jarl Balgruuf: "Hrongar. Don't be so hard on Avenicci."

     Proventus: "I meant no disrespect, of course. It's just that... what do these Greybeards want with her?"

     Jarl Balgruuf: "That's the Greybeards' business, not ours", turning to speak to Iriisii, "Whatever happened when you killed that dragon, it revealed something in you, and the Greybeards heard it. If they think you're Dragonborn, who are we to argue? You'd better get up to High Hrothgar immediately. There's no refusing the summons of the Greybeards, it's a tremendous honor. I envy you, you know. To climb the 7,000 Steps again... I made the pilgrimage once, did you know that? High Hrothgar is a very peaceful place. Very... disconnected from the troubles of this world. I wonder that the Greybeards even notice what's going on down here. They haven't seemed to care before. No matter. Go to High Hrothgar. Learn what the Greybeards can teach you. 

     You've done a great deed for me and my city, Dragonborn. By my right as Jarl, I name you Thane of Whiterun. It's the greatest honor that's within my power to grant. I assign you, Lydia, as a personal Housecarl, and this weapon from my armory to serve as your badge of office. I'll also notify my guards of your new title. Wouldn't want them to think you're part of the common rabble, now would we? We are honored to have you as Thane of our city, Dragonborn."

     Iriisii and Rigmor turn to leave the Palace, they reach the steps going down to the doors leading outside when Lydia steps forward to greet Iriisii. Afterward, Rigmor questions what they are going to do with Lydia. Iriisii already knows she has no intention to take Lydia with them, but wants to hear what Rigmor has to say.

     Rigmor has a few possible options, so Iriisii chooses the one that matches the decision she has already made. At Rigmor's suggestion, they pool their gold and find they have enough for Iriisii to buy a house in Whiterun. This would give them a place for Lydia to stay and if Iriisii wanted to adopt an orphan girl they had seen wandering around the town she would also have a home.

     The home is purchased and decorated, so they go to see what it looks like. Rigmor gives her approval to it and Iriisii goes out to find the orphan girl and adopt her. Once that is done she returns to their new home, picks up Rigmor, and asks her to go with her to High Hrothgar.

     Rigmor: "I am ready anytime you are. Let us put our feet to the road."

     Iriisii: "Lydia, I do not know how long we will be gone. I know this is abrupt but I also think you know why we have to go. Please take care of Lucia for me, and teach her whatever you can. I feel she will need it later, Gods know I wish I could stay with her or at least take her with me, but she is too young and inexperienced for the wilds of Skyrim. But if she asks tell her we go to high Hrothgar, to answer the 'call' of the Greybeards.

     I have taken her shopping for new clothes, and some other things. The kitchen is stocked, and I have left a sum of gold on the nightstand next to my bed. Use whatever you need from it and I will replenish it when I return. If you need me for any reason, send a courier. They will find me wherever I am, they are very good at that. I will send a letter back or come back myself as I am able. I know I am placing a lot of trust in you, but I believe you are more than up for this. When Lucia is older, I will see if we can go out and adventure together."

     Lydia bows and replies, "Have no worries for us, my Thane. We will do just fine. I already think of Lucia like my own, taking her in as you did. It was a truly good thing you did, otherwise...I do not want to think what she might have had to do to survive if she did."

     Iriisii: "That is over and done now, she need not fear that kind of life anymore. She is now and forever more will be my daughter, Lucia Dovahkiir. And I will see her become whatever her heart desires."

     Lydia: "Good journey, my Thane, and good luck with the Greybeards."

     Iriisii: "Thank you, I might just need all the luck I can find."

     Iriisii and Rigmor leave the house and walk a short distance to the City Gates. Once outside and on the road, Rigmor asks, "What do you think you will find when we get to High Hrothgar?"

     Iriisii: "Answers, I hope. I have a lot of questions about this being 'Dragonborn'. But somehow I think I will find more questions than answers."

     Rigmor: "Why is that?"

     Iriisii: "Is that not always the case when the Gods are involved?"

     Rigmor: "Good point."

     Later, some distance from Whiterun, they are accosted by a roadside thief.

     Thief: "Hand over all your gold or I will gut you like a fish!"

     Iriisii looks at the thief and then looks at Rigmor who is looking back at her. The two of them burst out laughing.

     Thief: "I mean it! I will gut you both like fish if I do not see your gold!"

     Iriisii: "Look at us, really look at us. Look at how we are dressed, the armor we wear, the weapons we wield. Do you possibly think you could take either one of us on, much less both of us? Besides I go to High Hrothgar to answer the summons of the Greybeards. Take this as a lesson in who not to accost on the side of the road. You never know just who might be in a bad mood when you tell them you are going to gut them like a fish, and instead, they make you look like something a sabrecat left after having dinner."

     Thief: "Uuuggh, let this be a lesson to you!"

     Iriisii starts laughing again.

     Thief: "Why do you keep laughing?"

     Iriisii: "You, my friend are in the wrong line of work. You will never make it as a thief if you keep acting like a bandit or brigand. All that will happen is that you end up being gutted and your body left to feed the wolves. Go and try to find some honest work, go find a lumber mill and chop some wood. It may be hard, tedious work but you will live longer."

     They leave the thief on the side of the road thinking about what Iriisii said.

     Rigmor: "Do you think he will take your advice?"

     Iriisii: "No, he is going to either get eaten by wolves or a bear. Maybe accost the wrong traveler and get a sword in his guts. It is obvious he failed at trying to join the local 'Thieves Guild'. I would think they would have more sense than to let him anywhere near their organization."

     Rigmor: "How do you know?"

     Iriisii: "We had a 'Thieves Guild' in my homeland, the 'Seven' sometimes used them to acquire goods not available anywhere else. Any guild who would recruit ones that like one we left would not last long."

     Rigmor: "That is true. He was totally inept and stupid. Is that why you let him live?"

     Iriisii: "Yes, he would make a better living as a Court Jester than a thief."

     Rigmor bursts out laughing, "Yeah, I see your point."

     They reach Ivarstead, cross the bridge, and start up the mountain steps. Looking out for the wildlife, they see small alcoves with a stone tablet mounted inside. As they went by Iriisii reads each one, contemplating what the words mean, couched in allegory, they describe events that happened before, during, and after the Dragon Wars.

     Once they reach the last one, she believes she has a good picture that she knows what is ahead of her with the Greybeards. And that she is going to have to rein in her thoughts, even if she seriously disagrees with what they believe. She can see why she thinks these Greybeards are going to be a very pacifistic group. But she is willing to wait before passing judgment and see what they have to say. Before going in she stops and speaks to Rigmor about what she wants her to do once they go in.

     Iriisii: "Once we go in, I want you to find a seat, bench, chair, or anything out of the way and sit quietly. Ah, ah, I know but they do not entertain visitors nearly at all. They will likely tolerate your presence because you are with me, but please do not antagonize them. Their 'voices' are very devastating weapons, and I do not know near enough to protect you from them."

     Rigmor: "Well, my only other choice is to sit out here in a blizzard, so I will do as you say and sit quietly."

     Iriisii: "Thank you, whatever comes from what I discover there, I will not forget my promise to you."

     Rigmor: "I know, all I have seen you do so far tells me you have integrity and true honor. Let us get out of this storm and into some warmth at least for a little while."

     They open the door and walk inside. As they enter the main chamber, Iriisii walks toward one of the Greybeards walking toward her, and Rigmor finds a bench out of the way to sit and watch from. Iriisii calmly and politely answers Arngeir's questions, while digging for as much information as she can get.

     When he asks to demonstrate her ability, she does not hesitate to give him exactly what he has asked for. Even she is surprised to see how far back her 'shout' pushes him, although not as surprised as he was, yet she makes certain not to show notice of his reaction.

     They teach her another 'word' to the 'Unrelenting Force' shout to see how quickly she can pick it up. It takes her only a matter of seconds to hear the 'word' reverberate through her mind as she grabs it, adds it to the first one, and feels the increased power of the 'Shout'. She uses the 'steel' control taught to her as she learned her martial skills and applies it to this as well, thus she stays in complete control of the power of the 'Rotmulaag'.

     When Arngeir tests her with shadow decoys, he is hard-pressed to control his surprise at her focus and tight control. They then move outside where she is taught the first word to 'Whirlwind Sprint', Rigmor is watching through the door cracked open just enough to see and hear everything.

     She takes no longer to learn an entirely new 'shout' than she did to learn the previous two. When it comes time to demonstrate her degree of mastery of this new 'shout', she can feel it, coiling up within herself like a serpent coiled and ready to strike. She lets it go on Arngeir's command and easily passes the required distance before the door is shut. She can hear the incredulity in his voice as he explains that what she has done in a few minutes has taken the best of them decades to accomplish.

     Arngeir sends her to Ustengrav Barrow to retrieve the 'Horn of Jurgen Windcaller' as her final test. She continues to ask questions of him trying to delve deeper into just who the 'Greybeards' are, what they believe, and more importantly to her, why they believe the way they do. It is difficult to do this while not sounding condescending but she somehow manages.

     She goes back inside and looks around for Rigmor, goes and sits beside her, then tells her what Arngeir said about going to Ustengrav. Rigmor listened but did not care about how this situation was progressing. Iriisii did not blame her but still felt it needful to do this quickly. Rigmor finally relents about going to Ustengrav and onward they go.

     They make their way by back paths, hunting trails, and staying off the main roads wherever possible. This at least Rigmor understands the need of, for with the presence of a new Dragonborn about, there will be many seeking that one for every reason under the sun, and not all of them good ones. Better to keep a low profile until they know more about what needs to be done. Reaching Ustengrav, they proceed inside. There are a few bandit bodies laying about along with some draugr indicating a bit of fighting had gone on in the recent past.

     Iriisii ignores them other than to ascertain what happened and the likelihood of finding more further in. Rigmor asks her a few questions about what she thinks of the Greybeards. Iriisii's answer gives her a bit of a shock.

     Rigmor: "What do you think of them and their 'Way of the Voice'?"

     Iriisii: "It started with Jergen Windcaller trying to rationalize how so many of the forces he fought with skilled in the Thu'um could lose that battle so badly. He had to find a reason that exonerated his own mistakes rather than take responsibility for his and others' mistakes on the battlefield. His first one was underestimating his opponent, and his second was not being flexible enough to adjust the battle plan when something went wrong. There was a lot of initial poor planning, poor execution of plans, the list could fill a book about how not to fight a battle."

     Rigmor: "But you were not there, how could you know?"

     Iriisii: "I was taught battle tactics and strategy by the most experienced battlemasters of the Blade Dancers as well as any they could bring in from outside. In personal battle tactics, the 'Mother' was unmatched. My education in this regard was peerless, I did not have to be there to look at the evidence of the results and trace it back to the mistakes made.

     Simply put, they grew careless of their victories against outmatched opponents, and when they finally faces a more experienced army, they were unprepared for the possibility they could lose. The first thing I was taught was to never underestimate my opponent. To always expect to be beaten unless I stayed at the top of my skills and decisions. And to always expect the unexpected, and know how to change plans on the fly if something fails or does not work as expected.

     As to the Greybeards, they are almost as useless as a cold forge. They have immense power at their beck and call, but how do they use it? Try and teach a Dragonborn to use the voice only to venerate the Gods?! The Gods gave that power to the Dragonborn, not to sit on top of a mountain, shout praises, and meditate. Akatosh gave it to be used, to right the great wrongs that no other can right. To protect Tamriel and Nirn from enemies that they cannot face directly without causing worse damage than if they stayed away.

     They almost destroyed Nirn at the beginning of days by their very presence walking the surface. The so-called Dragonbreaks in our history are not because of the Dragons, but rather it was the 'Jills' who at Akatoshs' direction merged the timelines that were moving side by side. He saved our reality, our future, by doing this even though the confusion of what really happened continues to drive the scholars to blows over which one is right and all others wrong? They are all right because they all happened at the same moment in time but separated in different streams, then they were all brought together into a single stream, just as huge rivers are formed by many small streams coming together."

     Rigmor: "I never thought about it like that before, why has no one else done so?"

     Iriisii: "Who is to say they have not, but their thoughts and words threaten what all the others believe so they are silenced before their heresy can gain a foothold. They know when it occurred, all they have to do is accept that different streams existed before and they became one stream after, then adjust their thinking to follow this path. It all becomes clear and understandable once you do this! But no, each believes his or hers is the correct belief so all others must be wrong."

     Rigmor: "But are you not running down the same road they are?"

     Iriisii: "Take what I have said and test it. Apply what you have read to what I have said, and see if you do not see what I have seen, I do not say they are all wrong, I say they are all right, not just one but all. Now let us go on, we are close to the main chamber."

     Just a scattering of unawakened draugr and they stand at the door to the main burial chamber of Jurgen Windcaller. Iriisii opens the door to see the room filled with water, and the burial dias at the far end. She thinks, 'Time to get wet'. As they step down the steps, a rumble comes from the walls around them. They then notice the water receding as dragon head pillars rise from the water on each side, and a simple stone path is exposed going all the way to the dias.

     Feeling that the end is near, but also knowing this was way too easy, Iriisii walks steadily to the dias. Once she is close enough to see details, her eyes realize that something is indeed wrong with this. The 'Horn' is gone from its resting place in the joined hands rising from the sarcophagus, instead, there appears to be a scroll there. Rigmor still has not seen this, and Iriisii does not have the heart to tell her that this is not over.

     Rigmor: "What is that in the 'hands' is the horn not supposed to be there?!"

     Iriisii: "Let us see what someone else has left for us."

     Rigmor: "This was done for us to find? Why...?"

     Iriisii: "did they leave a letter for us? We will not know that until we read it."

     The letter is short and terse.

     Dragonborn--

I need to speak to you. Urgently.

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

--A friend

     Rigmpr: "DELPHINE!, it has to be Delphine! She is the innkeeper at the Sleeping Giant! But how did she know we were coming here."

     Iriisii: "She was with Farengar at the Jarl's palace before we went out to fight the dragon. She was the hooded figure we saw talking about the dragons. It seems she is a lot more than simply an innkeeper. We will need to go to Riverwood, acquire the 'Horn', and see just who she really is and how she fits into this."

     Rigmor: "All I know is that this keeps getting more and more complicated, and I am likely to put a sword into her gut when I see her."

     Iriisii: "Not before we know why she did this and how that might change the view."

     Rigmor: "You think she is working for the Thalmor?"

     Iriisii: "No, if that were true they would have had a welcoming party for us as we walked in here. No, she is something else entirely, what I do not know, but we need to know in order to make proper decisions."

     Rigmor dejectedly, "All right, I can see your point. Let us get this over with, but after this, we are going to find my mother!"