The Hero’s Log - Skyrim (Part 3)
19th of Last Seed, 4E 201
I set out for Whiterun early in the morning after gathering up my belongings. Aside from the guards still stationed in Riverwood, there seemed to be no sign that dragons were once again roaming the lands. I wasn’t about to let my guard down, and though I stowed my armor in my pack, I kept my sword and shield at the ready.
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The road to Whiterun was quiet, despite my love for battle I had truly had enough adventure. Soon I would be on my way to Solitude and then, from there, back home. That was the plan, at least, but fate had an entirely different plan for me. I could feel something was amiss when I entered the great hall of Dragonsreach, but I initially chalked it up to the tension evident in all those there.
When I entered Court Wizard’s room, I found him talking to a woman I’d not seen before. She had her hood pulled up, shadows obscuring her face. From what I overheard of the conversation, she was more than likely the source Farengar had spoke of. She mentioned that her employers were anxious to get information, more than likely the Dragonstone which I had been sent to find. This fact made me very curious as to who she was. Farengar noticed me then, and I handed him the Dragonstone. Not wanting to deal with him, I quickly asked him about my reward. He told me that I would need to see the Jarl about that, then made mention of his guest which confirmed my suspicions about her. He informed her that it was I that recovered the Dragonstone. She seemed impressed, meaning she more than likely knew full well the dangers there in, and asked for a copy of the stone to be sent to her. It was at that moment that we were interrupted by Irileth, who rushed into the room with a guard at her side. She told Farengar that he needed to come with her to speak with the Jarl; a dragon had been sighted nearby. She then turned to me and said that I should go as well. I needed to speak with Balgruuf, but that feeling I had before was getting stronger.
Irileth lead Farengar, the guard and myself from the room whilst Farengar’s guest made her way out. The Wizard was very excited about the prospect of seeing a dragon, whilst Irileth seemed far more sensible telling him of the destruction a dragon could easily unleash on the lands. When we reached Balgruuf, Irileth told the guard to relay what he had told her. The guard said the dragon had flown in from the South, and that it was faster than anything he had ever seen. The Jarl then asked if it had attacked, to which the guard replied that it was only circling about the tower. Balgruuf then told the guard to get some rest before turning his attention to Irileth. He ordered her to gather up some men and head to the tower. He then turned to me and I knew what he was to say before he spoke the words—he needed my help. He wanted me to accompany Irileth and fight the dragon due to my experience in Helgen. I wanted to tell him that my experience with dragons nearly cost me my life, and had little to do with combat, but I held my tongue. He then rewarded me for retrieving the Dragonstone by allowing me to purchase property in the city as well as gifting me with hide bracers. Farengar then spoke up, wishing to hurry to see the dragon. Jarl Balgruuf shot him down, luckily, telling him he needed to continue his research. Balgruuf then told Irileth that this mission was not for glory, but for information so that he could better know the threat dragons possess. She told him not to worry and that she would be cautious. As we made our way from the great hall, Farengar told me that he was envious that I could see a dragon up close. How could anyone be so foolish as him? I didn’t have time to talk sense into him, though, and quickly caught up with Irileth.
Just inside the gates of the city, Irileth informed the guards she had gathered of the situation. I took this time to hastily don my armor before entrusting the rest of my belongings with one of the guardsmen not accompanying us to the watchtower. Irileth had a way with words and it didn’t take her long to inspire bravery in her men—men who just moments ago seemed frighted at the prospect of facing a dragon. Soon after, Irileth lead us out of the city gates and along the road leading to the watchtower. All of the Legionaries in Helgen didn’t stand a chance against the dragon there, and here I was heading to battle one with four guards and the Jarl’s Housecarl. I wondered if any of us would be returning to Whiterun, let alone if I would ever be returning home.
The tower was not far from the walls of Whiterun and stood in disrepair. Much of the tower lay upon the ground is piles of burning rubble, the smoke clouding the sky. Irileth commanded us to investigate the area and look for survivors so that maybe we could learn more of the attack. One of the surviving guards emerged from the tower to tell us to leave before the dragon returned. Two of the other men had tried, but had been snatched up before they could. His warning came a little late as a roar ripped through the air, announcing the return of the beast. I readied my bow and raced for the top of the tower. Just below, the dragon was snapping its great jaws at the others amidst gouts of fire. Leaning over the towers crenelations I was able to loose arrows upon its head. The dragon soon took note of me, and in a few beats of its great wings, it was facing me. I was able to fire off an arrow before it unleashed its fury. The fire that spread across the rooftop of the tower licked at my heels as I all but dived down the stairs. Outside the tower I could hear the dragon had returned its attention to the others and I resumed my position upon the charred tower, raining arrows down as fast as I could draw them. Amazingly enough, the dragon fell to the earth and moved no more, its corpse blanketed in arrows. We had won.
I ran down the steps of the tower to join the others outside as they gathered about the beast, staring in wonderment. It was at that moment that the corpse erupted into flame. Irileth ordered us to back away, but for some reason I could not. I was transfixed by the the sight before me, the crackle of flames filling my ears. Suddenly a force unseen slammed into my body, a strange energy filling me that I could not begin to describe.
When it was over, nothing but bones lay before me and the others were now all staring intently at me. One of the guards approached and told me I was Dragonborn. I asked him what he meant, the rush of energy had left me shaken; I wasn’t sure I heard him correctly. He told me that in the age of dragons the Dragonborn would slay dragons and steal their powers. Were he correct, it would explain what had just transpired. I told him I wasn’t quite so sure, but my mind instantly raced back to the strange wall I had found in the Barrow. The rush of energy was very similar, and some how I knew these things were related. Could I really be Dragonborn? He told me there was only one way to find out, and that would be to shout. Only the Dragonborn could shout without training and I agreed to try. The other guards joined us, sharing what they knew of the Dragonborn of legend, but Irileth silenced them telling them to not speak of things they did not understand. She then motioned to the bones that lay on the ground and said she understood that well enough that dragons could be slain. The first guard spoke up then, saying she wouldn’t understand as she was not a Nord. She scoffed at that, informing him she had been all across Tamriel and seen many things stranger than this. She then advised us to trust more in our sword arm then tales and legends. The guard ignored her, asking me to try and shout. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. I didn’t know what to expect, but the force of my shout forced Irileth and the guards back from me. The guards disbelief along with mine had been completely shattered. I was the Dragonborn.
Despite the display, Irileth’s belief was still not shaken. She told me that I should inform Balgruuf of the dragons defeat while her men would do their best to quell the flames at the tower. I made my way back to Whiterun with many questions rushing about my head. I was shaken from my thoughts as everything about me rumbled with the force of a great shout that thundered across the land: Dovahkiin. I turned my head to the skies, but saw nothing. With all that was happening, I was oddly not as shaken as those around me as I made my way through the gates and gathered my belongings from the guard there. News travels fast, and already there was talk of the dragon and the Dragonborn as I made my way to Dragonsreach.
Proventus was nervously pacing about before the steps leading to the throne where Balgruuf sat discussing something with his brother, Hrongar. Hrongar noticed me and said they were speaking of me, though I heard mention of the Greybeards. He asked what happened at the tower and I told him the dragon was defeated, though the tower had been ruined. He seemed to have expected as much, but asked if there was more to it then that. I told him that I had absorbed energy from the dragon after its defeat. He then said that the Greybeards were summoning me and instantly I thought of that shout I had heard. Balgruuf confirmed as much, telling me they were masters of The Voice and lived atop the Throat of The World. I asked why they’d want to see me, as I obviously wasn’t the only person alive with this power. He explained that, as the Dragonborn, I had special abilities in terms of these shouts. Were I truly dragon-born, only they could teach me how to use my gift. Hrongar spoke up, saying that no one since Tiber Septim had been summoned by the Greybeards, which happened centuries again. Proventus then spoke up, calling it all nonsense before asking how it concerned me. Are all the Jarl’s men so foolish as Proventus and Farengar? This, of course, riled Hrongar who went on about lineage until Balgruuf silenced them both. He then told me that I should leave for High Hrothgar immediately as there was no refusing a summons from the Greybeards.
Jarl Balgruuf had not forgotten the service I had done for him in helping defeat the dragon. He gifted me with his own war hammer and bestowed upon me the title of Thane. As a Thane, I was assigned my own Housecarl and was not bound by the same laws as those beneath my new station. To say I was stunned would be an understatment; first the Dragonborn, and now a Thane. Maybe being stuck here in Skyrim would not be so bad after all… No, I shouldn’t think such, not just yet. Who knows what The Eight have planned for me.
My housecarl, Lydia, was waiting for me just before the large doors leading out of the great hall. I told her what the Jarl had told me and that we needed to make preparations to leave for High Hrothgar. As Dragonborn, there was no way that any who lived in Skyrim would ever let me leave now. I took a deep breath and accepted my fate.
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