It was late morning by the time Farkas and Vilkas entered the inn at Ivarstead. Sotek and Aela were already there, eating a meal while they waited for their fellow Companions. The opening of the door caught their attention and on recognising the two brothers, Aela rolled her eyes.
“About time…”
Ignoring the Huntress’s grumblings, Sotek raised his hand and called over the barmaid.
“Two hot meals and six meads please”.
“Certainly”. She replied as she made her way to the bar. She placed the six drinks at the table while the meals were being prepared.
To Farkas’s surprise, Aela lightly pushed a tankard towards him and promptly started getting out of her chair.
“Aren’t you two having any?”
The Huntress shook her head then got up and sat by the fire.
“Nope, go ahead. Oi, Sotek. Get your tail over here”.
Vilkas took a big gulp from a glass then commented on Aela’s complexion.
“You’ve got a glow about you. I presume Red’s happy?”
Aela started laughing as she turned red in the cheeks.
“Yep, she’s good”.
Farkas smirked as he pointed to her.
“There’s more to it than that. You‘ve been in that blinking bear cave, haven’t you?”
Aela cast him a sultry look then threw him a wink.
“Yup”. Sotek just laid against a stool while Aela snuggled up to him. She glanced at Sotek then started laughing as he had a big smile on his face.
Once Farkas and Vilkas finished their meal, Sotek got up and called Aela over to the table. Then he prepared to drop his bombshell.
“There’s a change of plan”.
Aela cast a curious look at him then stared at the others. It was obvious to Vilkas that she was none the wiser either. He looked around the room then turned to Sotek.
“What change of plan?”
Sotek sighed then placed his axe on the table. He noticed before that their Harbinger, Kodlak would use such a tactic, either a dagger or his sword to draw in the pack and focus them upon himself.
“We’re all going up to High Hrothgar”.
Aela looked straight at Farkas who immediately grumbled.
“Aww for crying out loud. Why? That’s a long way from an inn and drink”.
Sotek’s voice dropped to a whisper, causing Aela and the others to lean into the table to hear him.
“I’ve got a feeling there’s a dragon up there, at the top”.
Aela’s eyes opened wide as she absorbed the information.
“A dragon? Above High Hrothgar? You’re nuts”.
Farkas gave Aela a shove as he pointed to the door.
“Aela take him in that cave of yours and fuck some sense into him, will you?”
Aela slowly nodded at the suggestion.
“Yea, but it might take a while. Not that I’m complaining”.
Sotek pushed his chair away then walked over to the fire, while the three Companions all sat there watching him. After several seconds of simply staring at the flames in the fire pit, Sotek returned to the table. But instead of sitting down, he rested his foot on the chair and leaned towards the group.
“There’s a dragon up there, he might be friendly, in which case I might be ermm… stopped from trying to meet with him, or he could be hostile. Then I’ll have to kill him. Either way I need to get to the top, past High Hrothgar”.
Vilkas whispered over to him.
“There is no ‘past High Hrothgar. Is there? You’ve never given us a reason not to trust you but tell me this. What the hell makes you think there’s a dragon up there?”
Sotek groaned as he covered his face with his hand. He peeked at Aela through his fingers as he whispered to them.
“Because I spoke to him”.
Aela almost exploded, she slammed down her glass which shattered on the table and grabbed Sotek by the collar.
“You fucking what?”
“Shh!” He pulled her hand away and moved so the spilt drink wouldn’t smother him as it spilled over the tabletop. He cast a quick glance at the maid and smiled. “Sorry, she had some ermm… upsetting news”. Then he got up and headed for the door. “Come with me, all of you”.
As one they all followed Sotek but Aela was the one right behind him. The moment they were outside she grabbed him and forced his back into a wall.
“When, you son of a bitch? When did you speak to him?”
Farkas lifted his shield above his head as rain started pouring down.
“It’s raining, can we get under cover or something?”
Aela elbowed him in the side then turned her attention back to the Argonian. Sotek rolled his eyes at the mere thought of trying to explain. He took a deep breath then tried to relay what had happened so they would, he hoped, understand.
“When we were at the fort, the nigh we camped outside. I had a dream, or vision, or whatever. Aela, he was the Harbinger… Except he wasn’t… but I knew that. Oh, for the love of Hircine, it’s this simple; I need to get up there, and I can’t do it alone”.
Farkas looked towards the west where the Throat of the World mountain loomed over them. He mentally followed the steps until they faded from view before turning back to Sotek.
“But you’ve been up there alone before”.
Sotek nodded but then drew his axe. Quietly, in deep thought, he studied the weapon, looking for any signs of fractures or damage to its edge.
“Yes, but that dragon we faced. I couldn’t touch it with my axes. My armours not as it should be. Speaking of which, Aela, here, get this on”. He dug out a set of Ancient Nordic armour and handed it to his mate, then he pointed to the cave. “Get changed, you can’t trust that armour, its flawed. It’s all flawed, I need to find out why. I need to get to the top, and I need your help to do it”.
Aela took the armour then headed towards the cave, crossing the stone bridge. She called back to the others as she walked off.
“What else you gonna do, get drunk? Come on, let’s go see what’s up there”.
While she changed into the Ancient Nordic armour which happened to be the same style which she had used before Sotek gave her the Dragonscale set, Sotek and the other Companions waited outside. Gradually the rains increased, and soon they were standing in a steady downpour. Aela emerged from the cave and handed Sotek the Dragonscale set.
“What are you three idiots doing? You could have stood in the entrance! Haha, you’re all soaked… Morons… Here, we’ll look at the armor when we get back, I’ll help you. Oh wow, look at the rain”.
Farkas snorted in disgust.
“Look at it? We’ve been standing in it. Sotek use that shout. You know? The Storm Clear”.
Sotek shook his head.
“No. I’m not exactly sure that was it. What if I’m wrong?”
Aela, who’s hair was absolutely drenched, pointed to the sky.
“How can that get worse. Do it”.
Sotek shook his head then looked right up at the sky. He shouted out but instinct immediately told him he was wrong.
“STRUNN BAH”. Instantly black clouds formed across the already darkened sky, and what little light there was, quickly faded from where they stood.
Aela looked back at the storm and shook her head as well.
“That’s not right, is it?”
As if to answer her, a lightning bolt thundered down and struck with a loud bang, just a mere foot away from her. Within a second another blast thudded into the ground. Aela slapped Sotek and ran for the cave.
“You idiot, you flaming twit. It’s Storm Call, not storm clear”. They all ran for cover as a multitude of lightening strikes riddled the ground around them.
Sotek stood at the entrance and peered outside into the gloom.
“Well, how in Oblivion was I supposed to know?”
Aela snarled at him from behind his back.
“I swear, I’ll flippin kill him. Oi moron, learn to speak dragon language you uneducated idiot”.
Wisely, Sotek stood there watching the lightening in silence while Aela ranted at him from the fire. Farkas grinned annoyingly at her.
“On a lighter side Aela, it’s a nice cave you two have here”. All Aela could muster was a glare as yet another lightening strike thudded into the ground just outside the entrance.
After a few minutes the lightening ceased and the sky cleared a little. Although the rain still poured down, Sotek decided it was safer to head up the mountain than to stay in the cave with Aela, who was rapidly getting agitated by Farkas’s smirking.
“Now’s a good as time as any, you all ready?”
Aela walked up to him and peered outside.
“Well, it could be worse, at least it’s not thunder”. She then immediately burst out laughing as she held tightly to Sotek. “Storm Calm, oh that was perfect. Come on you, I can’t leave you alone for a minute”. She grabbed Soteks hand then pulled him along towards the first of the seven thousand steps.
The journey was relatively quiet except for a solitary troll who was on the prowl. The four Companions were more than it was prepared to face so it hastily backed away in search for an easier meal. By the time High Hrothgar came into sight the rain had stopped, but it was well into the afternoon. Sotek pointed the large grey monastery to Farkas as he explained his plan.
“We’ll get to the top, and rest in High Hrothgar tonight. Then we’ll head down in the morning. Hircine willing, and Sheogorath staying out of the way, we’ll be in Whiterun this time tomorrow”.
Aela poked Sotek in the ribs as she mildly scorned him.
“Don’t tempt him”.
Sotek stopped then faced her as he smiled.
“Who? Hircine?”
Aela franticly shook her head then pulled him by the hand once more.
“No, the other one. You know who. Let’s get going”.
As they approached the monastery, Farkas and Vilkas fell back a few paces. They both cast a look at each other then glanced at Aela who was boldly walking towards the main doors alongside Sotek.
“Are we allowed up here?”
Sotek looked around and saw them both standing there, feeling somewhat nervous.
“They’re Greybeards, not the Imperial military. Come inside and get warm”. He pushed the large dark grey door open then ushered the Companions inside.
Arngeir turned around as the unexpected presence of the group startled him. He relaxed once he saw Aela, who he recognised from before.
“What? Who are you? Oh, it is you Aela. Tell me, is the Dragonborn here?”
At that moment Sotek stepped out of the shadows into the light so he could be recognised.
“Hello again. I ermm… I need to see someone”.
Arngeir’s voice sounded somewhat solemn. Sotek couldn’t shake the feeling that it had an air of disappointment in it.
“Oh? What you need to do is get the horn Dragonborn. Without it there is little more we can teach you, or indeed help you with. Dragons are on the rise, Alduin grows bolder. You know this, so why do you delay?”
Sotek cast a quick glance at Aela then approached the Greybeard. His voice was heavy as he spoke.
“I’m not sure I’m the Dragonborn everyone thinks I am. I’m not here to do your bidding nor am I a slave to the blades. I’m here because I’ve been asked to come here, that is all. I’m sorry to sound blunt but that’s the way it is. Now, if you will, please tell him I’m here, although I expect he already knows”.
Initially Arngeir looked a bit puzzled but then the nervousness crept in. For a brief second, he felt the whole of Skyrim fall and slide into the raging seas.
“You’re not the Dragonborn? But you learned the shouts. You are Dragonborn, how could you possibly deny this. It’s your destiny. You must face and destroy Alduin”.
Sotek slowly shook his head but the last few days started taking their toll on his strength, nerves and more so, his manners.
“Arngeir, I’m not arguing with you, this isn’t up for a debate. Now, your leader, tell him I’m here damn it”. Sotek stopped straight after he spoke and sighed. Just behind Arngeir, Sotek noticed the steps, which looked far more inviting that standing so he slowly walked over to them then sat down. “Arngeir, he is sorry and apologises. You haven’t done anything to deserve his wraith. He is tired, they are tired. You’re right, Alduin is on the move, we met him on the mountain side with a lieutenant of his. A grey dragon, bigger than most and a lot tougher”.
Arngeir turned to the other Companions with a look of confusion. Aela took this as her cue and she brazenly walked upto the man. She pulled aside his hood and whispered in his ear as she quickly explained about Sotek’s habit of talking in the third person when he was under emotional distress. Arngeir’s eyes widened as his mind turned back to what Sotek had said.
“So ‘He’... Is he? Odd…” He glanced over Sotek’s head to where the other Greybeards had gathered from hearing the commotion and motioned them away, then he stood over Sotek. Sotek glanced up and tried to smile, but he was too worn out. Instead, he justblankly stared at the Greybeard. “You are troubled Dragonborn?”
Sotek groaned inside. He fought back the deep-rooted need to sigh, and just shook his head.
“Sotek, my name’s Sotek. And yes, I am troubled, by a great many things. Can I please see him?”
A second Greybeard who carrying a tray filled with flasks of wine and a basket of fruit and rolls, approached them. Aela thanked him, but he just nodded in return. Sotek sat there watching the other Companions eat and drink. When Aela offered him an apple, he politely refused it then stood up and faced Arngeir once again.
“I need to see him”.
“Dragonborn, sorry… Sotek, see who?”
Sotek smiled wearily as he uttered a single word.
“Paarthurnax”.
Arngeir stepped back in shock and held onto an ornate statue for support.
“But, but, how do you?” He stood silent for a few moments as he placed his thoughts in order, then he spoke once more. “How do you know of him? You spoke of the Blades, don’t be their puppet”.
Sotek rested his hand on the Greybeards shoulder then spoke softly and slowly so each word was completely understood.
“I am no one’s puppet. I’m here because Paarthurnax asked me to see him. We spoke, he and I, in a dream I had a few nights ago. I was collecting armor but he told me I didn’t need it. I must speak with him”.
Arngeir nodded then walked up the steps as he headed further inside Hrothgar.
“Wait here please”. Sotek watched him disappear but within a minute he felt the cold blast of air which told him Arngeir had entered the courtyard.
Sotek turned to Aela but he addressed the group.
“Rest while you can, we won’t be here for long… with a bit of luck”.
Aela picked up the apple which Sotek had only just refused then took it over to him.
“You really did speak with a dragon didn’t you. Why didn’t you tell me?”
He rested his head on Aela’s shoulder as he answered. She prepared to take his weight but even still, she felt herself being pushed back. Sotek held her in his arms as to prevent her from moving away.
“I’m not sure on anything. How can I tell you about things I don’t understand myself?”
Aela nodded like she understood, but then she pulled his head up by a bone spike and unsympathetically shoved the apple in his mouth.
“Eat”.
Moments later, Angier entered the hall and called out to Sotek.
“Follow me please”. Sotek beckoned the group to come along as well as he was led outside to the courtyard. In the far corner were some stone steps covered in ice, but what caught Soteks eye was the harsh winds that blew just above them. “Yes, that is the path you must take, but before you do, Dragonborn. I must teach you a new shout. Are you ready?”
Sotek eyed him cautiously not because he felt the greybeards were a threat but because of the shouts themselves.
“What shout is it?”
“Clear skies”. Angier stated as the other greybeards joined him in making a circle.
Aela groaned loudly.
“Oh no, not lightening again”.
“Pardon?” Angier stated as he looked puzzled. “No, it’s clear skies”.
Aela laughed as she watched Soteks expression.
“I’m sorry Angier, it’s just. Sotek learned a new shout earlier, he thought it was storm clear. But instead, he called forth a thunderstorm”. As she spoke she gave Sotek a shove, sending him forwards a few steps.
Angier simply nodded which only added to Soteks embarrassment as he glanced over to Sotek and quietly mumbled.
“Yes, we heard it”. He then motioned Sotek to stand at the edge of the circle which the greybeards had formed. One after the other, three of the greybeards shouted out at the ground. Words appeared on the ground where the greybeards shouted in bright orange glowing letters. Not that anyone could read them though for they were the same type of markings as the shouts on the word walls.
Aela discretely taped Angier on the shoulder as she enquired about them.
“That’s dragon writing, isn’t it?”
He was taken back slightly by her sudden question, but then silently nodded. A moment later he whispered to her as Sotek turned to face them both.
“Yes, all shouts are written in the dragon language, for it is with the dragons that shouts originated”.
Aela went to ask a second question but Angier motioned her to be quiet by holding a finger to his lips. She politely smiled then just watched her mate. Angier leaned over to her and whispered once more.
“Shouts or Thuum, are powered by dragon knowledge. Sotek takes that knowledge directly from dragon souls which he absorbs. The three greybeards you just saw shout will allow him to tap into their knowledge directly. With a little luck and some concentration…. More so the latter… he’ll have a new Thuum to master”.
Aela watched with fascination as bright light was pulled from the three greybeards and absorbed by Sotek. He turned to Aela and gave her a slight smile but then faced straight upwards looking at the sky. Without any prompting Sotek shouted out the three word as loudly as he could.
“LOK VAH KOOR”.
The very air seemed to tremble as if it was shattered into thousands of pieces, but almost instantly the howling wind above the steps lessened then stopped altogether.
Aela started laughing as she watched Sotek.
“I much prefer that Clear Sky to your other one”.
He turned to her and pointed his finger at her face.
“I’ll Fus Ro Dah your ass off this mountain if you don’t watch it”.
Aela raised her eyebrows at him, clearly unimpressed.
“And I’ll bite your ass, you reptilian reptile”.
Sotek started laughing as he looked at her peculiarly.
“Reptilian reptile?” His only reply was Aela’s tongue which stuck out at him.
Aela composed herself then walked over to Angier once more. “Paarthurnax. he’s a dragon isn’t he?”
All the greybeards starred at her while Angier himself stared at Sotek. “Yes, he is. Does that matter to you?”
Sotek joined them both and wobbled his head as if he was weighing things up in his mind.
“Well yes, sort of. I’m supposed to kill dragons and yet here is a dragon helping me to do that. I can’t help but wonder why”.
Angier pointed to the path which had now shown itself to them since the snowy wind dropped.
“That is for Paarthurnax to discus with you, and not for the likes of us”.
Sotek looked back at Farkas and Vilkas then called them over.
“Let’s get this over with. Vilkas you take the rear, Aela behind me”.
Angier held his hand up blocking Soteks path.
“You’re to go alone, only the Dovakiin is allowed to see him”.
Sotek hissed back defensively.
“Every dragon he has met in the flesh so far has tried to either eat, burn or somehow kill him. Until he is satisfied that Paarthurnax different, we all go. That is your only choice”. With that he beckoned the others to follow him, and then he led them up the steps towards the mountain path.
The narrow path slithered up the mountainside under a vail of snow. Icy patches awaited to trick the unwary or anyone unlucky enough to get caught off guard. A few times, one Companion or another slipped but fortunately no one actually lost their footing, except for Aela, when Sotek shouted once more due to the build-up of icy winds.
“LOK VAH KOOR”.
His words thundered along the pathway, causing Aela to look up harshly at him. Her concentration would have served her better if she was watching her footing and she suffered the consequences for such a folly. Or rather her rump did. Her foot shot out from under her weight and she fell on her backside with a loud thud. She sat on the path, laughing as she held a hand on her lower back.
“Arrgh. Damn, I hurt my ass. Sotek, stop laughing, you prick!”
“I’m not”. Sotek stated with a smirk as he went to help her up.
Farkas however raised his hand.
“I am. Sotek, heal her ass”.
Aela got to her feet with Soteks help then rubbed her backside.
“I swear lizard, don’t”. Sotek just gave her a smile then cast his healing spell on her.
He then gently rubbed her ass cheek with his hand as he whispered to her.
“Better now?”
“Yes, except I feel embarrassed. Farkas, I swear if you don’t lose that stupid grin, I’ll change and Red’ll chase you all the way to the top”. As soon as she said it though she started laughing.
Soon afterwards though everyone’s attitude changed as they turned a sharp corner on the mountainside. About twenty feet in front of them was a narrow bridge made from planks of wood and rope. Aela held on to Soteks hand as they crossed, but then she unconsciously stopped. “Hey, you can see the whole valley from here. Look! There’s Ivarstead”.
Sotek stopped as well to see where Aela was pointing but then he suddenly lurched forwards as Vilkas grabbed hold of him.
“Don’t stop, you idiots. Move!”
Sotek turned to face him as he snapped at the hulking Nord.
“Vilkas, go careful will you”. It was only then that he noticed Vilkas was staring blankly upwards at the mountain top. Sotek looked up as well to see what Vilkas was looking at until he realised that Vilkas wasn’t looking up at all. Vilkas was looking everywhere and anywhere except for down the mountain. Sotek gave himself a slight smile then led them off further up the path.
The moment Vilkas stepped off the bridge, he sighed a breath of relief, but then turned to Aela as he tried to hide his emotions.
“You’re right Aela, that was a hell of a view. Which way now Sotek?”
Sotek blankly stared at him then pointed to the single winding path.
“Ermm forwards?”
On several occasions, Sotek found he needed to use the Clear sky shout as the winds built up every so often. Although he was sure to let the others know since Aela’s ‘accident’. Despite the icy wind’s attempts at slowing them down however, a few hours later they found themselves at the top.
The mountain top itself was remarkably flat like a plateau except for one side which spiked upwards by about twenty feet, almost like a finger of rock pointing at the heavens. On the furthest side of the mountain with just a few feet between it and the edge, was a word wall. Sotek bought the group to a stop as he scanned the mountain peak and the sky above him for Paarthurnax but there was no sign of the greybeard’s leader at all.
After a few minutes, Sotek beckoned the group to follow as he cautiously approached the wall. Even before he was a few feet away from it, he noticed something odd about it. Aela picked up on his curiosity and walked over to him.
“What’s up?”
Sotek rested his hand against the markings on the wall as he answered her.
“The wall, it’s ermm dead? There’s no life, no energy in it”.
As soon as he said it, from out of nowhere, a gust of wind swept along the ground, throwing up loose snow and frost vapour. Moments later, a black shadow loomed overhead.
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