4E 202, High Hrothgar
Serana Volkihar
It was the middle of the break of the Peace Summit, and things were going surprisingly well.
Serana, Gerron, and Kiera had expected a lot more conflicts and disagreements, especially considering almost every soul at that table despised someone else. Thankfully, the discussions had been remarkably civilized.
The Greybeards didn't trust the Blades since they were renowned dragon killers and had shown open animosity towards Paarthurnax and Vermithor. Elisif obviously still held some sort of grudge towards Ulfric for the murder of High King Torygg, no matter how much she tried to hide it.
Tullius openly glowered and countered whatever point Ulfric tried to make, stating openly to all the Jarls in the room that the fall of Dawnstar and Riften meant a weakening of his position in the Civil War.
Of course, this also sparked comments from Jarl Laila Law-Giver about the state of her hold. Her argument, on how Tullius was willing to let the war go on when it was the people who were being butchered and re-risen as armies for the Dragon Priest Rahgot, had the General scowl.
Then it was Jarl Balgruuf who spoke, claiming both sides had no reason to claim high ground when both stormcloaks and legionnaires were discovered inside Whiterun's territory when he explicitly stated that it was forbidden.
But all of those grudges disappeared in the face of Titus Mede II and Kiera. The moment the Emperor himself spoke, and Kiera had matched his words with calm resolve, most of the animosity dulled.
Gerron's presence carried weight too. "Dragonslayer" was not a title lightly dismissed, and Savos Aren's shadow loomed large as Archmage of the College. Together, the four of them commanded the room.
After another hour of discussions, Arngeir finally called for a break. People scattered into their smaller circles, murmuring their ideas and grievances more quietly. Serana had seen Delphine and Esbern attempt to speak with Kiera, though Arngeir remained close to the Dragonborn at all times.
Gerron had drawn off with Isran and Savos towards the entrance, no doubt to discuss whatever it is those three like to talk about these days. Surprisingly, both Ulfric and Balgruuf shared some words with the Emperor as the three powerful men took over a small corner for themselves, their guards not allowing anyone to listen in.
Serana found herself in the outer courtyard in the company of Carcette and Tolan, letting the cold mountain air and rays of sunlight bathe her skin.
"Serana." Carcette said warmly, her breath fogging. "You did well in there. While Harkon might be the lesser threat in comparison to Alduin, he is still a danger that we can no longer ignore."
"Thank you." Serana gave a small smile "This is certainly not what I expected ever since I woke up from that tomb."
"You and me both." Tolan chuckled, folding his arms. "When Gerron and I found you in the Forsaken Cave, my first instinct was to kill you. I'm glad things worked out in the end."
"So am I." Serana laughed softly.
Carcette's tone gentled. "It must feel new, walking the world beneath the sun. I heard from Kiera about Meridia's blessing. I'm… glad for you."
Serana hesitated, then confessed, "That's what I wanted to ask you about. Meridia said Harkon was Molag Bal's champion. That whatever he could do, she could undo. Was she lying?"
Carcette sighed. "While we have no reason to doubt the fact that Harkon is the champion, the latter case is hard to say. Molag Bal's influence runs deep, but Daedra… they always deal in half-truths. Meridia is no exception, even if she;s one of the 'good' ones. Caution is wise."
Tolan shrugged. "She already kept her end of the bargain, didn't she? From where I stand, having one of them on our side is better than none. It's a rare chance for someone to be blessed by a Prince or a divine after all."
"Well it doesn't seem rare these days." Serana tilted her head. "Gerron and Kiera… Calixto and Harkon. How many more are out there?"
"You forgot Isran." Tolan grinned. "Stubborn man barely admits it, but yes. Stendarr marked him long ago. His light burns purer than mine or Carcette's."
Serana raised a brow. "I didn't know Isran was a Chosen. He's certainly—"
A sudden roar in the sky interrupted Serana. She was forced to cover her ears from the wrongness it felt. It was if the heavens themselves were being torn apart. A shriek of wind displaced the snow, a gale that howled upon High Hrothgar. Large shadows began sweeping over them.
Serana's gaze jerked upward.
Dragons.
Not one. Not two. A whole lot of them, blackening the pale sky with their vast bodies. Serana counted at least seven, encircling High Hrothgar like vultures around a corpse.
And at their head, wreathed in scales the color of obsidian and at least twice the size of Paarthurnax, was Alduin.
Her heart clenched. Serana had known he was their enemy. But seeing him for the first time, it felt different. This was inevitable.
The summit dissolved into chaos. Shouts erupted from within as the Jarls and their bodyguards scrambled. Some drew weapons, some fled deeper inside. Arngeir raised his voice in alarm, ushering the other Greybeards inside.
Alduin descended slowly, wings outstretched as if he owned the mountain. His voice thundered across the courtyard, each Word shaking snow from the peaks.
"Zu'u fen kos dii fahdon… Dovahkiin. The reading of the Scroll has torn the veil. High Hrothgar reeks of fate, and so I come!"
But before his speech could finish, another roar echoed throughout the skies. This time not with doom, but defiance.
Paarthurnax came from above, two mighty Kruziik colliding in the air that shattered the courtyard tiles beneath Serana's feet. She felt herself pushed back as the two ancient dragons tumbled through the air, slashing, roaring, their battle shaking the mountain.
Serana's breath caught.
She reached for her magic, preparing to cast. But a flare of light stole her attention. An explosion ripped across Odahviing's crimson flank, searing through the scale and wing. He bellowed in fury.
Serana's eyes snapped sideways. Gerron, Isran, and Savos Aren rushed from the monastery, already pressing the advantage against the red wyrm. Bolts of holy light and fire arced across the courtyard.
Another roar split the air. Vermithor surged skyward, Kiera perched on his back, the Dragonborn and her companion dragon flying into battle against the circling beasts.
Serana could hear the shouts from inside as the Emperor began screaming out orders. But she barely listened, for her eyes were locked forward.
Through the chaos, one dragon broke from the others, its snow-white scales making it near invisible in the white-capped mountain.
"I am Sahloknir! Prepare for doom! WULD NAH KEST!"
He barreled down toward the courtyard, wings folding for speed, and Serana realized with a sharp intake of breath, he was aimed directly at her, Carcette, and Tolan.
…
4E 202, Whiterun
Aela the Huntress
Aela rushed another corner as a dragon swooped low, scorching the whole street within seconds.
The heat licked at her back and a scream of pain tore out of her throat. She fell to the ground, getting some scabs on her arms from the cobblestone.
She looked back to the burnt corpse that belonged to Torvar, pursing her lips.
He had shoved her out of the way, taking the fire that should have claimed her. The shield-brother she had chided numerous times for being a drunk and a fool.
Her teeth clenched. She forced the sight of his charred corpse from her mind, as she closed her eyes. 'I won't let your sacrifice be in vain, Shield-Brother.'
As the dragon turned and attempted to come back for another burning run, she decided enough was enough. With the dragonbone bow in hand, she nocked one of the dragonbone arrows, ones she received as her share for her efforts in the Western Watchtower as she ran up the Skyforge for the height advantage. She took her aim, centering her breath and calming down her beating heart.
The beast descended, fire glinting in its throat like molten glass. She loosed.
The arrow cut true, burying itself deep in its eye socket.
An unholy screech was released from the dragon as it tumbled, crashing straight towards the Gildergreen. The mystical tree was just revived by Danica Pure-Spring weeks ago and its roots had proven strong. Not even flinching at the weight of the massive beast.
Even with one down, there were plenty more to go. She cast a gaze towards the rest of Whiterun, her throat tightening as a result.
The great city was burning. She had to shut her ears to the screams of the many dying around her. While evacuations were done, the attack came too swift for every citizen to be corralled to Dragonsreach.
The result of which left many still within the city proper when the dragons descended.
Aela's gaze drifted upwards as a large shadow fell over her. It was a yellow-scaled wyrm this time, larger than any she had faced, its beating wings cast massive winds to swirl across the Wind District.
Before she could even react, the dragon dove down and crashed upon Jorrvaskr, tearing through the ancient and honored mead hall that had served as her home for years.
Her Shield-Siblings rushed forth like a wave in the attempt to defend their home, only to get swatted aside like toys from the dragon's massive claws.
The dragon's maw opened wide, frost billowing out to coat the warriors in rime. She screamed, rage blinding her, and leapt from the Skyforge. Her body twisted, reshaped, the beast within tearing free.
She crashed upon the dragon's back, claws raking through scale and sinew.
The dragon buckled and roared from the pain. Her claws found flesh, but not enough.
The dragon shook her off, her back slamming onto the ground. Massive jaws clamped onto her shoulder, tearing flesh away. Pain unlike any she had known seared through her side as she was hurled into the stone wall beneath the Skyforge. Rock split around her as her body collapsed into the Circle's hidden chamber.
Aela could feel her consciousness slipping away. She could not move. Her vision swam red. Her blood pooled beneath her.
Groggily looking back up, she saw a sight of horror.
Trapped between the dragon's claws was an aged werewolf, blood seeping from his wounds. She knew exactly who it was. For there was only one person with fur as grey as his.
'Kodlak..!'
She wanted to get up, but a pain pierced through her side. Her heart tore itself open. The dragon pressed down. The sound of crunching bones had her whine. Her Harbinger went limp.
A scream caught in her throat but never left.
Then came the voice.
'Are you angry?'
Her body shook. She did not question who spoke, nor why. 'Yes.'
'The dragons are predators. The apex of any ecosystem. You cannot kill them as you are now.'
'I want to hunt them.'
'You wish to make them your prey?'
She answered without hesitation. 'Yes.'
'Then rise, Aela the Huntress. Rise as my Champion. Take fang and claw, and turn the hunter into prey. You are no longer bound by pack nor flesh. You are mine, and you are Predator.'
The pain vanished. The weakness burned away. Aela's body twisted again, but not as before. This was no mortal shift.
When her eyes opened, she stood face-to-face with the dragon, staring it straight in the eye. Two massive paws dug trenches into the earth as she wrenched the wyrm's wings apart with savage ease.
The beast screamed as she buried fangs into its throat, ripping away a chunk of scaled flesh and tossing the creature aside. It slammed into the ground, shattering stone, crashing through the statue of Talos in the Wind District.
The dragon rose, blood trailing from its neck, glaring at her with blazing hatred.
"We knew Hircine's mutts infested this city," it growled. "But you are no mere mutt of his, are you…?"
Aela cared not for the words that came out of his mouth as she answered with silence. Only a low growl vibrating from her chest. All she knew was that now, she held the power to turn these dragons into prey.
She watched a reflection of herself that was cast upon the massive waterfall that separated the Cloud District and Wind District. Silver fur along a body massive enough to blot out the sun.
Slitted golden eyes looked back at her as a massive fanged grin appeared on her snout. She threw back her head and howled.
The sound tore through the smoke-choked skies, carrying across every street and every battlefield of Whiterun. Her howl was the call of a predator, the cry of Hircine's chosen. And in its echo, every werewolf who bore his blessing felt their blood ignite.
It was time to hunt.
…
AN: A meaty chapter, one I'm quite happy with.
Alduin makes his first ever appearance. If you remember in the canon game, Alduin was called to High Hrothgar due to the use of the Elder Scroll at the time wound.
It's what compelled him to come there in the first place. This time, he didn't come alone as Odahviing, Sahloknir, and a bunch of others were with him.
Aela awakens at the Champion of Hircine. This was something I had planned a long time ago and finally got the chance to implement.
As always, more chapters are available on my Pat_reon. Chapter 68 should be available by the time this chapter was posted. Just look up my name and you'll find me.
Hope you guys enjoyed the chapter! Cheers!