The Search For Answers

We had arrived at Riverwood without a hitch. It all seemed too quiet. I felt the wind blow to the east continuously, as if it was running away from something. Even the wind knew where to go. We pushed on towards Riverwood anyway, even if the signs are telling us otherwise. This was the first time in a very long while I've read signs as obvious as this.

Esbern and Delphine greeted each other like old friends do, once we arrived at the Sleeping Giant Inn. Delphine immediately suggested we all go downstairs to talk. I guess it's why Delphine wanted Esbern here. He seems to be a wise old geezer. He must know something we don't. Kiya isn't too enthusiastic about all this; she followed us reluctantly. The Blades seek to destroy the dragons, and if Kiya can find a way to stop that without letting the world get destroyed in turn, I'll gladly follow her.

They didn't have paper?

Esbern suggested that we go find this long-lost Alduin's Wall. I do not know how he came by this knowledge while caged in the ratways, but if this will help us defeat the God-Dragon, so be it. The old man said it was to be found in the Sky Haven Temple, near Karthspire, to the west. The west, where winds dare not enter. I heard Kiya sigh. She must have read the signs like I have. I did not think her a superstitious person like the Redguard are, but her time with the folks of Skyrim and me might have influenced her. We know what's coming, at the very least.

Delphine told us to travel with her, but we declined. Kiya and I will meet you there, I explained. The female Blade frowned at me, and bid Kiya safe travels. I frowned as well as she turned her back. I hoped only the old man gets there alive. 

Kiya and I spent the night together in a secluded place. We were about to face the evil unknown, and even if we delayed for a while, we had to share our warmth for maybe the last time. I had selfishly asked the gods for more nights like this, but the fate of the world is in our hands. I shuddered at the thought of this. I had a bad feeling.

A few days later, several paces away from the Karthspire, we saw the most horrifying thing we had ever seen.

Cool. I wish I could do that.

Alduin, the God-Dragon, the World Eater, was in the process of resurrecting a dragon from its tomb. I had heard of this, but I did not believe it; I had thought the dragons must have come from other parts of Tamriel. Kiya and I stood there, frozen in disbelief. Esbern and Delphine reached us in time to witness this monstrosity perform such vile act. 

By the time we came to our senses, Alduin had gone, and in his place was Nahagliiv. I looked behind me and nodded at Kiya. Always the hesitant Dragonborn. If circumstances left Kiya alone in the face of Alduin, I would not want to know what will happen then. I charged at the resurrected dragon.

I won't even remember your name!

Within moments, the dragon had been buried again on the ground. It did not fly, and I know it must be heartbreaking for Kiya to witness this moment: A dragon, once free and flew wherever it pleased, killed in combat and fell to the ground, resurrected to fly for a master, only to fall again to the ground, breaking down into the bones it once was. I could imagine her anger at Alduin. She has enough reasons to kill him on her own now, I realize.

The sun was already up when we reach Karthspire. The horde of Forsworn gave color to the otherwise dull color of the ruins as they fell to the ground, blood spilling. Screams were heard all over the place. Dragons and wolves alike would have heard the commotion a mile away. It was the only way inside the Temple.

Early morning bloodshed.

A puzzling path of stone greeted us when we entered the cave. Luckily, the old man still had a keen mind, and we made it through to the other side.

I could just jump to that entrance, but the old man can't, so I have to help him.

Sky Haven Temple... it certainly looked like a place the Blades would use as a hideout--cold and dull. Esbern lit the brazier, but the light from the sky above gave it all the light it needed. It was dark, damp, and unused for centuries. A large chest lay on the center of the cavernous structure. It seemed like a trap to those foolish enough to try and open it. Esbern went ahead and inspected the skull door, and said that we would need the blood of a dragon in order to open it. 

No wonder the Blades dwindled in numbers.

I stepped on top of the seal, and sliced my finger open to let the blood drip onto it. It shone bright, as if invigorated by the presence of a dragon, although why the Blades chose this mechanism for their hideout, I do not know. The skull door opened.

What if they run out of Dragon blood?

The door revealed the wall Esbern was talking about--Alduin's Wall. It was majestic. I had hoped for a word wall, where Kiya and I would be able to learn a shout from, but no. This was just--just--a wall with historical records. Damn the gods! Damn the Blades! All this running after some wall, all for some information! I fumed as Esbern told us the history of the damned humans who fought the dragons. I did not care for such things. However, it did tell us of a Shout they used to defeat the dragons--Dragonrend, they called it. 

All this to go back and ask the Greybeards?? GRAAAHHH!

Esbern felt helpless right now. We had to ask the Greybeards what they know about it, they said, grudgingly. All for more information. I do not even know what they'll be able to tell us, but I am sure that we are wasting time traveling back and forth for uncertainties and pieces of the puzzle. But we had no choice. Kiya and I made our way outside the temple, leaving Esbern and Delphine behind to let them revel at the lost Blades' hideout. The nerve of these dragonslayers, even finding the time to enjoy themselves! 

It took us several days to reach High Hrothgar. The Greybeards welcomed us quietly, and went about their own ways immediately. Arngeir greeted us once we found him. He seemed almost shocked that we had gained information from the Blades, and berated us for letting them corrupt our minds. I would have none of it.

Well, it's fortunate I don't get intemperate with you.

He told us of Dragonrend, the Shout that defeated the dragons, and ultimately, Alduin. He did not know of it, however, for the knowledge of it did not get passed on to them. Their leader, however, knew of it. Leader? I thought to myself. We had not met this Paarthurnax they speak of. Who is this man? How does he know of this Shout? Is he a Dragonborn, as well?

Oh, he will. He will.

Arngeir showed us the way to Paarthurnax's location further up the mountains, at the very peak. The Greybeards taught us a shout to dispel the raging weather that would otherwise hinder our movement, and maybe even kill us if we were not careful. Kiya thanked them for their help; I turned and Shouted at the winds even before she finished speaking.

Trolls lurked in almost every corner of the path to the peak of the mountain, and the winds are the harshest in Skyrim. We had almost reached the summit when I smelled something wrong. I could see a Wall from where I stood, and I could smell the stench of... a dragon! I could not find any human smell apart from ours in this place. Why is a dragon here, on top of the mountains, very near High Hrothgar? I had unsheathed my weapon when Kiya grabbed my shoulders, and whispered in my ear to stay where I was. If she wanted to prove something, this would be the right time, I suppose. I looked on as she walked towards the Wall, and the dragon came into view from above the clouds.

More like a plateau, not a mountain.

Behind Closed Doors

First there was only Delphine, now there's Esbern. I haven't been too enthusiastic about undertaking any of these Blade-related quests because of my continued distrust of the Breton woman. I grew even less enthusiastic when Kousei had to leave me with Delphine for a week or two so he could attend to crashing a Thalmor party in Solitude. Oh gods, I wanted so much to shoot an arrow through her head to silence her prattle once and for all! As if to simply annoy her, I intentionally neglected to take the potion to hide my wings the whole time. Let her deal with a dragon she wouldn't dare kill.

To add to my frustration, all of Kousei's efforts only gave us more questions than answers. He could have been killed because of Delphine's foolish (and certainly now-debunked) idea that the Thalmor were behind the dragons' return. Although it annoyed me to think that we had to find this Esbern on her orders, it was a relief to return to my domain in Riften. And with my Snow Wolf, no less.

Dude, we've been standing here for 10 minutes now. Make up your mind!

Kousei wasn't too happy with having to use my guild's secret passageway to get into the Ratway, but he had to agree that it would save us the hassle of fighting through the other less-than-savory characters that call the cisterns their home. I can see his lips pursed with obvious repressed fury to be suddenly surrounded by thieves. Although I know my second-in-command Brynjolf will be more than eager to help us, I would have to rely on my underlings in the Ragged Flagon this time. Kousei and my guild's headquarters don't exactly make a perfect match.

I knew there was something fishy about the "misc. expenses" in the Guild ledger. 

I had to fight back a chuckle when I saw Dirge quietly scuttling to the shadows when he saw Kousei. I should have known he had a run-in with my love back when he was still chasing me all over Skyrim. They sought to protect their Guildmaster, and I have no doubt that they would help me now. I questioned Vekel the barman if we had anyone named 'Esbern' in our custody. He stopped his sweeping for a moment to think, and he told me of an old geezer in the Warrens that they've been keeping alive out of charity. Vekel seems to think he's slightly unhinged, but we'll see.

Get ready for a game of hide and seek!

Prior to entering the Warrens, Vekel warned us that we are not alone in searching for Esbern. Although my fellow thieves would turn away the Thalmor when they could, they couldn't guarantee that the Ratway Warrens were free of them. True enough, Kousei and I beheld some all-too-familiar figures the moment we entered the depths of Riften's underbelly.

I bet you're wishing I was wearing something else, hmm?

Despite being the Thieves Guildmaster, I have to confess that I hardly ventured into this part of the Ratway. It was quite easy to get disoriented in the catacombs, although we used this to our advantage when taking down the several Thalmor who had gotten there before us. As we neared our destination, it got all too clear that Esbern wasn't the only one who wanted to use this place to disappear from society. His 'cell-mates' had their own ways of being quirky, to put things lightly. As the Queen of Thieves, I was apparently running a slightly-insane asylum without me knowing it.

Dragonborn. Dog. Dragonborn. No, no, no.

Esbern himself was shut behind the most fortified door of the lot. That spoke much by itself, I thought. Kousei was in favor of Shouting the door down when our target continued to be tight-lipped about his identity, but I convinced him to let me try talking the old loon out. Oh, the sacrifices you're willing to take in the name of Skyrim's greater good.

Sorry, but the subtitles have already blown your cover.

That window can still let in spells and arrows, you know.

It wasn't easy, but I eventually got myself an audience with the old Blade. Although I tried to convince him that Kousei was a trusted companion, Esbern insisted that he was to speak to me alone, and promptly shut Kousei out of his hideaway. I seethed inside. What do all these Blades have against my beloved? Making a real effort to hide my anger, I told Esbern about Delphine needing his help regarding the dragon problem. The response I got was no less than dramatic. He began to rant about having tried to warn the rest of the Blades about the signs, how they foretold the return of the black dragon Alduin. They had ignored his warnings, and now the dragons were here again. Now it was too late, for only a Dragonborn could stop the World-Eater.

Esbern describing Alduin the Binge-Eater.

Esbern was silent a moment to catch his breath. At that moment, I made the decision to tell him about my ability to Shout and absorb dragon souls -- abilities of the Dragonborn. And furthermore, that the Redguard he had locked out of his room had the same powers as I. To say that his jaw fell to the floor was an understatement. It took a while for him to gather his thoughts (and even later, to gather his things), but he finally agreed to be escorted back to Riverwood and be reunited with Delphine. As I waited for him to get ready, I thought about how I still personally doubted my worthiness and willingness to be the Dovahkiin of legend. I may have revealed my identity to Esbern with conviction, but still I felt that heavy weight in my heart. Does the Dragonborn function only as a dragonslayer? The Blades ought to be thankful that Kousei doesn't possess my conflicted views. They should be gravitating towards him, not me.

You want me to Fus Ro Dah you as a demonstration, old man?

Getting out of the Warrens may seem like a breeze compared to entering them, but the Thalmor had called some backup. I stopped my companions prior to exiting the madmen's refuge, noting that the air of the Ratway was different. Kousei, with his werewolf-imbued senses, affirmed my observations, and whispered that he smelled the High Elves nearby. I managed to seriously wound one with an arrow from the shadows, but he was not alone. Soon they were upon us (or rather, we were upon them). Kousei and I had to make sure Esbern was unscathed and arrow-free throughout the battle, but thankfully, he didn't get in the way as much as we thought he would. 

Wizard versus Beastmaster in action.

We returned to the Headquarters where we could take the shortcut back to the surface. On the way, I came across a face I hadn't seen in a long while -- Etienne Rarnis. He greeted me with the courtesy a thief would bestow on a Nightingale and Guildmaster, but he flinched a little when he saw Kousei. Etienne grudgingly gave him thanks for freeing him from the Thalmor Embassy, while at the same time murmuring that he wasn't too happy with how Kousei treated him. I had to reassure my underling that he wasn't always like that. For all I know, Kousei let him off the hook for my sake.

You made it back to Riften!

I heard Kousei let out a heavy sigh when we got out of the Ratway. I paused and turned to him. He had taken the potion prior to going into my domain. But now I saw that its effects had gone, and he had his wings again. Why could the Blades not see who you are? I silently wondered, raising my hand to caress the scars on his cheek. In the lamplight, I saw his fierce expression soften, and he likewise raised a hand to tuck a stray lock of hair behind my ear. I know we would have kissed then, if not for Esbern giving a fake cough behind us.

"Just make sure your bed's not creaky tonight, you hear?"

Nocturnal curse you, I told that wretched old man in my mind. I glanced at Kousei, and I know he was likewise praying for Hircine to rend Esbern to pieces at that moment. Recruiting this silly geezer had better be worth it. The Greybeards have little love for the likes of him, and now I find myself sharing that dislike more and more. If only Riverwood wasn't that far from here. If it was not for the sake of my adopted land, I wouldn't have gone through the trouble of aiding these shortsighted dragon hunters in hopes of finding out the truth behind Alduin, the dragon who attacked Helgen... the dragon who saved me.