Victory or Sovngarde

Chapter Thirteen

The icy wind blasted me the moment I stepped up to the archway. I refastened my cloak around my neck and donned my hood. The storm raged, throwing snow and ice all around. Without my Shout, I would never reach the summit.

"Dovahkiin," said a voice behind me. I turned to see Arngeir standing there, his hands folded into the sleeves of his robes. "Do not make this journey in fury, for the mountain will test your inner peace."

I sighed and turned away. "I know, Master. Now, let me go."

"Sky above, Voice within, Dovahkiin."

I swallowed, feeling the power of the Thu'um rising within me. My blood rushed through my veins, power flowed through my body, and the Shout bubbled into my throat, ready to be released.

Dragon soul burning, I opened my mouth and allowed it to go free. "Lok, vah KOOR!"

The storm stopped almost instantaneously. Snow now drifted calmly to the ground, and not even a breeze ruffled my hair and cloak.

"Farewell, Master," I said just before taking my first step forward.

I made my careful way up the mountainside, using my Clear Skies Shout whenever the way would become blocked again. It was a slow process, made even slower by the ice wraiths that swooped down to attack me. My adventuring days—or so I had thought—were behind me, and the fight with the quick little wraiths took a lot out of me.

By the time I reached the summit, my joints were freezing, my sword arm was aching, and the ends of my hair were turning to icicles. But I had made it, and it was time to seek guidance from a very old friend.

I stepped forward, into the sight of the two dragons. Odahviing perched on a rock close to the edge of the snowy clearing, his burning gaze locked on me. The elder dragon, Parthurnaax, sat on his Word Wall, old, scaly face placid and eyes calm. It was a friendly face, one I had missed.

"Drem Yol Lok, Dovahkiin," said Parthurnaax as I approached his perch. "It has been many a year since we last spoke."

"Drem Yol Lok, my dovah friend," I said with a low bow. "I wish that I had come on different terms. I need your help."

"Hmm, yes." He crawled off the Word Wall and instead came to rest in front of me. His snout was only inches from my face; his breath was scalding against my windburned cheeks

"You seek guidance, Dovahkiin? Is that why you have come to my mountain?"

"Yes. Below, the world is in chaos. The Aldmeri Dominion is cracking down on the Nords, forcing them to renounce their god or be executed. They are slaughtering them in droves. If someone doesn't do something, there won't be any humans left in this land. I have taken action; I am in contact with both Ulfric Stormcloak and General Rikke of the Imperial Legion. I am trying to unite them in this fight, so that we may once and for all take back our home."

"That is a noble cause, Dovahkiin, but is war what you really want?"

"It is the only option, it seems. If we do not have war, innocent blood will stain this land for centuries to come."

Parthurnaax pulled his head up, no longer sitting inches from me. Instead, he sat on his haunches and looked down at me. I could almost feel his gaze scorching through me, searching for my true intentions.

Finally, he sighed, his head drooping to my level again. "Your heart, as always, Dovahkiin, is pure. Your soul is strong and it burns with love, not hunger. Do you believe this is the proper action to be taken? Do you believe war is the only option?"