Footprints in the Sand

These past few days have been the most quiet days since I arrived in Skyrim. All the bloodshed, the politicking, the dragons... all those seem distant memories for now. Everything is quiet. Everything is--seems, rather--all right in the world. 

Delphine urged us to meet her in Riverwood to find out what she found out. We could have traveled with her the rest of the way, but she spurred her horse ahead of us. All the better, I guess. Kiya and I needed the time alone together before we face even greater challenges than the Civil War. 

I was quiet as we made our way to Windhelm. We drank our potions before we made our way past the city and into the river, and followed its icy path. We endured the cold as we swam across to reach the College of Winterhold, and us being their students once, we spent the night drying our armor and weapons up, as well as sharing the warmth we missed during those months spent apart. We might as well not have stopped in the journey, as we were exhausted as the moment we stepped on the College earlier.

By dawn, our feet were already treading the thick snow from the fall last night. Kiya led the way, and she seemed eager to be in this area. She wanted to show me something, I guessed. She took my hand and started running. I thought about the time when my werewolf form caught up to her--that might be the only time that I'll be as quick as she is. Fortunately, she held her pace so I can keep up, and the Frostflow lighthouse came into view. "It's cold," she said, smiling, "We should go inside." And so we did.

For an abandoned lighthouse, Frostflow was clean and well-maintained. I looked around it as if  it was the first time I saw a civilized home. I gave Kiya a puzzled look, and she looked at me, still smiling. She was the one who takes care of everything here from time to time, she explained. A Redguard family was killed by Chaurus and Falmer, she said, and only the woman's body was not dragged down to the abyss below. She said it reminded her of me, that she did not want such a fate. I kissed her before tears fell from her eyes, and we laid down on the bedroll she had prepared.

Who's who?

It was early morning when Kiya urged me to get up and move. It was the first time I smelled burnt ground and flesh from afar, and Kiya did not seem to notice. We moved, however, closer to the source of the smell, and it was then I realized that she had led me to a grave of some sort. A burnt body knelt at the middle of the ground near the shore, and a few books were scattered. Kiya moved around the place with familiarity, and I sensed that she has been here before. A single body with a lot of books that all burned with such force... could it be Yisra? Kiya read my thoughts. "Yes, this is Yisra, my love. We should pay our respects, for she made it possible for us to be together again. I have only seen this site from the Lighthouse, and now is the perfect time to put her to rest properly." I dug on the ground near the shore so that water will be close to her body. It might mean something in the afterlife, but I would not know. We said a few prayers to the gods, and moved on.

She should have tried her spell on the water.

As we traveled along the coastline, I could feel Kiya's eyes were on me. We've been feeling especially fond of each other this journey back to Riverwood. I decided I was going to lead the way this time, towards my home in Windstad. "We're going to Windstad, Kiya," I said, as we walked. "Your daughter's there. She'll be happy to see you again." She was quiet. She pulled my hand towards the right, and started running. We came upon a tent, and she urged me in. "I want to thank you, Kousei, for doing everything," she said. She kissed me torridly, and I kissed her back.

"It's cold out, we should head back inside."

It was already afternoon when we emerged from the tent. We had to run now, before darkness falls. It was dangerously close to a full moon, too, so we had to find safety in Windstad. 

We avoided Dawnstar altogether, because we had no time to drink our potions and hide ourselves in public. Instead, we swam across the bay to get to the swampy area of Windstad. There, we found Lucia all by herself outside, thinking deeply. Her eyes looked up, and saw Kiya. "MAMA!" she screamed, and came running towards Kiya. She hugged her mommy even if she got wet doing so. Kiya's eyes filled to the brim with tears. She looked at me as droplets hugged the contour of her beautiful face, and whispered a thank you. I nodded, and proceeded to walk inside the mansion to let them share that moment together.

The mother and daughter, reunited.

She might have seen me in the swamp.

And here I am now, thinking to myself atop the Windstad mansion. Days have been quiet, almost as if to say these are the last. The calm before the storm. We should be enjoying what we have here and now. When Delphine tells us what she knows soon, Kiya and I will be certain we will be in the middle of it, and we will look back to these quiet days to remind us of what we aim for in the battle against the dragons.

The Phantom Hunt in the Skies

My dearest Snow Wolf,

I couldn't help but chuckle a little when I read your last letter. To be honest, I already had a hunch about your little furry secret even before the Civil War ended, but I never thought I could confirm it. Thank you for telling me though, and if anything, it has made me love you more. I promise I'll keep it a secret, and I'll help you maintain your cover to the best of my abilities. I would no longer be surprised if we couldn't share the same covers when the moon is full. I would still love to glimpse your other form though, even if only from a distance.

Anyhow, I'm still in a bit of a shock regarding what just happened in Kynesgrove. I already noticed things were eerily quiet as we neared the little settlement, but the silence was broken by the unmistakable sound of a dragon roar in the distance. Delphine was already waiting for us at the entrance of Kynesgrove, and one of the residents was with her. Iddra was visibly panicking; it was a miracle she got to describe what was happening.

What were YOU doing near that dragon mound in the first place?

We sprinted as fast as we could to the old dragon mound. I felt my heart skip a few beats when I saw the dark form hovering about it. It was him, that same dov who attacked Helgen, and indirectly (and ironically) spared us from a certain death.

You sure know how to pick a dramatic setting, my pretty.

In hindsight, it's certainly queer that we didn't draw our weapons the instant we saw Alduin -- we now know that's the dark dragon's name, thanks to the direct verification of his underling. I don't know if you agree with me, but there's something about him that commands authority like no other race of Tamriel can. We were confused as to what he's doing at that moss-covered mound, until he spoke and summoned the mound's inhabitant from its death slumber. I had to blink several times just to make sure my eyes were not deceiving me. Sahloknir, that Ancient Dragon, had truly risen from the grave.

It's a Franken-dragon!

Our knowledge of the dragon language is still shaky at its best, but thanks to our combined efforts, we were able to piece together what Sahloknir and his overlord were probably saying. They did not seem to be mindful of our presence, until Alduin turned and looked at me directly with his blood-red eyes. Dovahkiin -- your voice shines not from Dragonkind, but from yourself. His words still echo in my mind even now. Does he recognize that I also carry his wings, even though they're hidden at the time due to the potion?

Unkilling ancient powers of kings.

Uh, hi? I know you're talking to me now.

I do not know, but I wanna learn!

But it would be foolish to think that he'd let us off the hook so easily, because he promptly ordered Sahloknir to dispose of us while he took his leave. You shouted at me to go after Alduin while you, Delphine, and your summons (I really commend your Conjuration abilities, Kousei) distracted Sahloknir, but he proved to be an especially tough foe to handle. Despite the years he spent as a skeleton underground, he apparently retained much of the might he had during his first life. He blocked my path whenever I tried to get away and chase his master. I soon realized I couldn't catch up to Alduin at that point, and so I began to fight him for real.

Spending centuries buried six feet under has not improved his mood.

I had not used the Thu'um in a very long time, but the first words that left my lips in that spur of the moment were the syllables of Durnehviir's name. I gave a hasty apology for summoning him at a less-than-peaceful situation, but he simply thanked me for the mere act of summoning before chasing Sahloknir back to the skies. Dragon against Dragon against Dragonborn... it's been a while since I had a good battle, and all the College's teachings seem to be paying off in the fight.

The used-to-be-dead (or soon-to-be-dead-again) and the undead.

Team effort.

It took the combined efforts of my magic, Durnehviir's Thu'um, Delphine's attacks, your blade, and your conjured creatures to take Sahloknir down. Nonetheless, I drew a katana at the last minute and dealt the deathblow myself. Please don't tell it to anyone, my love, and don't think too badly of me for saying this... but I actually felt a heaviness in my chest as I struck Sahloknir down. I met his eyes before the life went out of them once more, and I saw a soul -- a same soul as ours, a soul I later absorbed. I reckon anyone in his right mind who trapped a sentient's soul in a Black Soul Gem would feel the same thing. I really don't know how I can continue doing this, but for the sake of Tamriel, I will keep these sentiments hidden.

You're seriously asking for a smack on the head.

Delphine, seeing how I absorbed Sahloknir's soul, addressed me directly. She was still queerly cold to you, but she became considerably more amiable where I was concerned. We wanted answers, and I obtained them from her. Apparently, she was a member of a group who called themselves the Blades, who protected the line of Septim Emperors and the Dragonborn before the Thalmor hunted them down to obscurity.

Gone with the Septims.

Love, are you really convinced by Delphine's hunch that the Thalmor are behind the return of dragons? While her argument has some merit, I am taking it with a grain of salt. Sure, the chaos in Skyrim and Tamriel brought about by the dragons' return could benefit only the Thalmor, but I can't help but think Delphine's bitterness towards the Justiciars are narrowing her mind a little. Don't get me wrong, Kousei. Despite my association with those whom you call your enemy, I dislike the Thalmor as much as anyone else. If there's anything that binds Ulfric Stormcloak and General Tullius together, it's their hatred of the Thalmor. But back to the story, I am not convinced that the High Elves are behind this. We've been around dragons long enough to glimpse a bit into their nature, and what we know is that they care little for petty Thalmor bribes.

Relying on your gut to think instead of your mind can only take you so far.

Delphine was soon talking about infiltrating the Thalmor Embassy of Skyrim, but thankfully she wasn't one to simply jump into such an endeavor without a laid-out plan first. She requested us to give her some time to think, and I was more than happy to give it to her. I'm glad we're rid of her for now. But you really made my mood brighten when you asked me if I wanted to see Lucia again. It's quite a way to Windstad, and it may be a challenge to sneak me incognito into your home, but it's a risk I have to take. I've missed my daughter. And perhaps, even though it will take some time before we are bound together in Mara's eyes, I can convince her to treat you like the father she deserves to have.

Love,

Yisra