I couldn't tell you how much time has passed since that dark night amongst the Towers of Mistwatch. My daughter and I had made our way outside to find Hadvar waiting with a horse and cart. My wife carefully wrapped in the back. We took our time returning to Whiterun. I don't even remember that journey now.
The Companions greeted us back to Jorvaskar and offered for me to use the Skyforge to send my wife onto Sovengarde. They were unbelievably supportive, I don't think I would be here myself if it wasn't for my daughter and Aela. Only once my grief had subsided could I take stock and evaluate what to do next. Kodlak and the Companions were respecting my loss and hadn't pressured me to honour my original agreement with them yet. But the more time I wandered the streets of Whiterun the more I heard about the sightings and attacks of Dragons.
In the time that had passed since Mistwatch, Rorikstead and Karthwasten had both been ravaged by seperate attacks. That got my attention as did the rumours of Breezehome being up for sale in the hold. After a conversation with my Daughter we decided that there wasn't anything left for us back in the Imperial City. My Daughter had always wanted her own jewellery shop so set up working from our new home. I would support her smithing and working the metal also I would be able to keep an eye on the books and make sure we were in profit.
Not a couple of minutes had passed once we moved in when the visitors started knocking. First an Imperial Courier dropped off a letter with Tullius's Red wax seal. Secondly a worried looking Kodlak and Aela knocked. I invited them in and apologized for the malestrom of mess that still cluttered our new home. My daughter was away at Adrianne's forge looking for some good materials to get started. I quickly cleared two chairs and offered them to my companions.
Kodlak settled himself bringing a hand up to stroke his white whiskers.
"Larz, you have proved your honour in finding your family and I know you will stay true to your pledge with the Companions but we feel we must say something to you about the Dragons and the call for you to see the Greybeards" Aela leaned forward.
"You can't ignore your wyrd any longer Larz. Your the only one who can stop all that we know coming to an end, please, visit them and find out for sure." I lowered my head and showed my defeat with the situation.
"But what can I do, I'm an old man not the Saviour of the Realm. Sure I rescued my daughter but not quickly enough to save my wife. How can I stop those monstrous beast flying all over?" Aela reached over and placed a reassuring hand on my knee.
"Larz I watched you singlehandedly slay one of those beast at the same time making sure two warriors from the Companions were safe. I told you then that I thought you were Dragonborn. After hearing the tales of your battles from the Imperial soldiers stationed here in Whiterun, if half of them are true, you are already a legendary war hero. Don't you see what you have been doing the last few weeks whilst trying to save your family?" I looked puzzled at what Aela was suggesting.
Images of the recent battles flashed through my mind. The flash of metal, the smell of blood and dirt. The many faces that had felt my blade. Most garbed in the blue of the Stormcloaks.
"I...I was just trying to save my family." I finally broke my flashback.
"Aye and single handedly brought about the downfall of the Stormcloaks with the Empire at your back, Legate D'Ovakine." Kodlak laughed. " Without you my friend they have stopped dead the advance and have Ulfric trapped in Windhelm."
I shook my head in disbelief. Looking down at the unopened letter from Tullius.
"Thats probably what's in there. It's from Tullius."
Kodlak frowned and picked up the letter and examined the seal.
"I'd ignore it Larz, for now, leave it sealed and head up to High Hrothgar." He handed the note back to me and rose from his chair. Aela followed his lead and I opened the door to let them leave.
"Thank you, Kodlak, Aela you are true companions. Let me think about all this I will come to Jorvaskar once I'm ready."
They both nodded a goodbye and headed back up the street towards the Mead Hall. I returned to my chair by the fire and sat transfixed by the flames my mind wandered and before I knew it the black of sleep. My dreams where chaotic random images of battle mixed with fond images of my life back in the Imperial City. Suddenly I was back on the chopping block in Helgen, that masked figure raising his axe before the Black Dragon scooped me up soaring into the blue sky. Struggling in it's grasp I kicked and bit at the black scales. Higher and higher we flew and as the Sun hit upon our bodies we began to burn up and in a flash the Dragon exploded firing me like a comet across the Midsummer sky. My vision came to and I was surrounded by snow and wind. My senses slowly returning I realised I was on the Throat of the World.
Then I heard it
"Father........Father!, wake up! I thought you were finishing the unpacking not sleeping!" My daughter kicked my feet off the table as she walked past. I shook my head to shake the still vivid images of my dream from my mind. Surely that was a coincidence? Having such a vivid dream after my conversation with Kodlak and Aela. Truthfully ever since I killed that Dragon on the Western Watch Tower I haven't been able to avoid this supposed destiny of Dragonborn. Maybe it was time to confront it even if its to put an end to it. I have paid my dues and had my loses because of it. I just want to live out the rest of my days happy and content not burdened with the loss of existence as we know it.Â
Over the next couple of days I talked things over with my daughter as we made our new home ours. I told her everything that happened to find her and her mother. She couldn't believe I had even travelled all the way home only to discover they where gone. After I had told her everything I showed her the unopened letter. She took it off me and simply slid it into a draw. Hugging me she whisperedÂ
"Go do it, for mother" She kissed me on the cheek and went back to preparing the evening meal. The next morning for the first time in weeks I donned my Plate armour, took my new Glass Great Sword from the Rack and stepped out into the Sunshine of Whiterun.
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