I, Draugr chapter 45

The stench of of smoke and burn flesh filled the air.

The skies had gone black, raining down burning meteors that left immense craters into the earth, while lightning rumbled across the Heavens.

Powerful claws stomped on the scorched terrain, the roars of Dragons filling the air as Alduin stood in the epicenter of a destroyed city.

As fast as they had come, they changed the landscape and claimed countless lives with laughable ease, and the Souls he harvested slowly returned his strength.

But it was slow. Far too slow.

It had taken him centuries to reach the level of might he wielded at his prime. Might that could ruin Nirn with laughable ease.

And now, he was forced to search for scraps. Now, he was forced to take part in the destruction like a barbarian, instead of leaving it to his subordinates.

He hated it. He hated all of it.

His baleful gaze flicked around the ruined landscape. This was the land where those damnable trees used to take root, wasn't it?

But now they were too busy being torn apart by his sisters, as he couldn't feel the presence of any of them so far.

He needed to regain his strength, and powerful Souls could do the job even faster, but… Why were all the mortals of this Era so weak? They felt… Crippled.

Where was the horrendous Magical might they once wielded? The powerful bodies they boasted?

Did they become complacent after achieving victory against his race?

That was so… Insulting. Humiliating.

This victory won't feel satisfying if he doesn't crush them at their mightiest.

He shakes away those thoughts with a growl as he sits upon the ruined land, taking in the sight of destruction with a somber look within his glowing red eyes.

Regaining his strength like this would surely be far too slow. The thought of visiting Sovngarde rushed through his mind, but Alduin swiftly squashed it.

He couldn't be killed on Nirn, but it would be different if he was in Sovngarde.

He could be unmade, and it would take him eons to fully come back from that.

He couldn't risk having the Dragonborn and her companions chase him there, especially with the lacking strength he currently wielded.

And especially when he barely had five-hundred Dragons under his current rule, compared to the more than ten-thousand he once had.

Hell, he even barely had five Dragon Sages following him, especially due to Odahviing having changed sides.

A growl flows past his mighty jaws, his claws flexing into the earth. He couldn't afford to bring back some of the fallen Great Sages, both because he did not have the strength to do so, but also because he could not make them bow and listen.

They'd try to overthrow him on the spot, those ambitious fools.

Worst of all… The other mighty forces that once occupied the continent north of Skyrim, the one known as Atmora… They were gone.

Slaughtered to the last one.

All the Dragons, all the Dragon Priests and Dragon Sages… And the three Great Sages that lived there.

Atmora held the second greatest force of Dragon-kind. An army of Dragons five-thousand strong and even more loyal Dragon Priests.

And yet there were all gone.

'It couldn't have been Konahriik… Nor Deinmaar…' The World-Eater thinks, a deep sigh leaving his jaws, as he knows that there is only one other being beside Konahriik that could have handled that army.

His own Dragon Priest. Dinok.

"Of course… You would obviously betray me for your sister, little one…"

If anyone were to gaze upon Alduin at this very moment, they would see a look of longing within the eyes of the feared World-Eater.

He still remembered their first meeting. Of that small, blind child fearlessly grabbing his tail as he walked through the temple.

And he… He did not toss her away. Or squash her like a bug.

Instead, he slowed his steps, and led her to where her sister was.

And that was the day Alduin met the one who he'd forever call his first and only friend.

Solomon.

~~XXX~~

"Oh no, you're back already…" Aela slumps in defeat while Gretel cackles like the gremlin she is, forcing Hildr to stifle back a laugh and grip Gretel's head with one of her gloved hands.

"Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on her myself this time." The Huntress sagged her shoulders in relief before she gave Hildr her full attention, her eyes gliding up and down the one-eyed redheads curvaceous figure.

"Damn, girl…" Aela whistles at the sight before her, "Putting some weight on turned you into a beauty, huh? Trying to catch someone's attention?"

Hildr laughs, a faint dusting of red on her cheeks at the compliment and a light smile on her lips, "I guess I do." A bit behind her, Aurelia feels her eyebrow twitch. Just a little bit.

And for no reason. At all. Nuh-uh.

Gretel instead cackles once more, "Yeah, big sis wants that bone-" The child instantly shuts up when a fireball floats in front of her face, while the grip on her skull grew just a tiny bit tighter.

Aela's lips twitch in amusement at the sight, "Well, don't let me hold you ladies back. Go enjoy yourselves." And as she says that, Aela throws a very, very heated glance towards someone far behind the ladies, "I instead have a mountain that I will climb, if you'll excuse me."

Soon, the Huntress strutted off, hips swaying sensually as she made a beeline towards the giant that was Deinmaar, the handsome former Dragon Priest having his helmet off as he conversed with Leonidas and Farengar just outside Jorrvaskr.

Hildr barely holds back a snort at the sight, knowing very well that the Atmoran had only one woman in his heart. Aela failed before she could even start.

"Go grab yourself something to eat, Gretel." Hildr states, patting her younger sister on the head. The two sisters shared a quick and furtive glance, and the small child swiftly understood and skipped away, giving her older sister and Aurelia some alone time.

Sighing, Hildr runs her fingers through her long hair, a hint of worry flashing past her lone eye. She was nervous, not knowing how to bring up the issue or how to even handle it without causing a disaster.

She may not have spent as much time with Aurelia as she has with Leonidas, but Hildr still cherished her and their friendship deeply. The woman was still someone who had helped save and protect her little sister from those disgusting bastards back then.

And Hildr does not wish to destroy it all due to her feelings… But she also, for once in her life, wanted to do something that made her happy.

It felt silly, but she didn't wish to give up on her very first love. She didn't want to ignore what she felt towards the man that kept giving her more and more without care.

"Would you like something to eat too?" Hildr speaks up, wetting her dry lips as she turns to stare at Aurelia. The pale woman felt… Bigger. More imposing.

More dangerous. Like a real predator.

That fit, seeing that she was a Dragon in a human body. A Dragon that had started sharpening her fangs and spreading her wings.

Aurelia shakes her head, a faint smile on her pale yet glowing face, "I'm alright, for now." She answers softly, her long silver hair seemingly glowing under the light streaming in from. "So… You wanted to talk about something?"

Hildr hesitantly nods, then sighs and leads the way to a nearby empty table for privacy.

Settling down, both women shuffle nervously, avoiding each other's eyes for several long seconds before Hildr decides to just go straight for the jugular, "I like Leo." The redhead declares aloud, face faintly flushed red.

"And by like, I mean… I mean that I love him." Hildr breathes out before relaxing, while Aurelia instead had grown tense and firm.

The Dragonborn quivered in place, not knowing what to say. She had, for some reason, expected this to happen. Or even feared this outcome.

Leo was… Unique. His idiocy and silly personality had a special charisma that was attractive. But what she loved a lot about him was his maturity, which he kept hidden.

When he opened her eyes to her problems, that was the moment when she truly and fully fell for him.

"I love him too." Aurelia admits, a small smile on her face, "And I will fight for him, if I must."

Hildr chuckles at her words, surprising and confusing Aurelia, "That's the thing…" Hildr starts, a slightly shy and nervous look in her lone eye, "Why must we fight for him?"

Aurelia blinks at Hildr, and the redhead continues, "Can't we just both love him together?"

The Dragonborn's mind goes blank… And that's when Hildr delivers the final blow.

"I do swing the other way too, just so you know…" The redhead reveals, throwing a lecherous grin Aurelia's way.

The pale woman goes as red as a tomato, and she soon shrieks out an embarrassed "H-Hildr!", which makes the redhead burst out laughing. "B-By the Divines, you've spent too much time with that idiot…"

"That jealousy I hear in your voice?"

"Yes!"

Hildr laughs again, and Aurelia slowly relaxes, laughing nervously herself. "I… I don't know, Hildr…" The silver-haired woman sighs out finally, "I don't want this to come between us, but I also want us both to be happy."

The redhead nods with a soft, warm smile on her face, "Which is why I felt it right that I shared this with you." Her smile then grows much, much warmer, "Mostly because I know for a fact that Leo would never make one of us happy and leave the other sad."

Aurelia nodded, knowing well that Leo would indeed do such a thing. He'd most definitely reject the both of them out of fear of ruining what he had with the other one and make them sad.

"W-Would he… Even accept us both?" Aurelia nervously asks, not really opposed to the idea now.

Her gaze flicks towards Hildr, to her beautiful face, her supple lips, her large chest, her shapely hips, her wide behind- Aurelia furiously shakes her head, trying to make the burning on her face go away.

Hildr snorts, oblivious to her friend's internal thoughts, "He's a man, of course he wouldn't turn down two beautiful women wanting to share him." But the redhead soon shakes her head and sighs, "Not that he really cares about carnal desires right now…"

"He just needs us. The two of us." Hildr whispers softly, "I've… I've pulled him out of some nasty, dark thoughts quite a few times now. He is terrified but won't say it so to not worry me- Us."

"He's starting to slip away from us, and what happened recently is just further proof of it." Aurelia bites her lower lip, her eyes reddening in worry for the man she yearns for, "I am sure that right now, the two of us are the only reason he hasn't broken yet."

The Dragonborn bites her lower lip nearly hard enough to draw blood, "We need to go to Saarthal." While she knew that it wouldn't fix everything, being able to sleep once more will surely help Leonidas' mental state a great deal.

Hildr nods in agreement and slumps back, "On that we can agree." The redhead pauses, then throws Aurelia a soft and warm smile, "No hard feelings, then?"

Much to Hildr's surprise, Aurelia stands up and walks around the table, then takes a seat right beside the redhead… And brings her into a one-armed hug, "None at all." Aurelia admits, strangely finding her heart at ease with such a decision.

Mostly because she knew that Leo would love them both equally.

But also because- "We can help each other handle his idiocy now." Both women shudder and hug each other to seek comfort, "I dare not imagine what you went through these past months, Hildr…"

The redhead was close to crying as she thought about her past months with Leonidas at the college, "He terrorized the Archmage for entire months, attacked one of the Khajiit students constantly for 'turning him into an anti-unded nuke' or whatever…"

"And then the stupid things he keeps on saying…"

Hildr shudders and nearly sobs, then hugs Aurelia tightly, "I am glad that you are back!"

Aurelia nods, nearly sobbing herself, "We can share the pain now! Don't worry!"

Alas, just a bit behind them, Gretel came to a pause at the sight in front of her, a half-chewed sausage hanging from her mouth.

The child blinks, stares at the two hugging women, then narrowed her eyes in thought.

"Didn't know you two had the hots for each other." The Devil of Whiterun- Gretel points out after finishing the sausage she had gained through very legal means.

The two older women startled and pulled away from each other as they turned to glare at Gretel, faint flushes on their cheeks.

Gretel raises a lone brow at the stares, "What?"

Hildr narrows her lone eye before sighing, "Nothing, you brat. We were just bonding."

Aurelia nods rapidly, fixing her long hair while trying not to throw obvious glances towards Hildr's cleavage.

Gretel, obviously, saw it all.

"Shouldn't you do that kinda bonding in the bedroom, and with much less clothing?"

Gretel blinks, then stares at the horse-sized fireball floating above Hildr's head.

And the gremlin sneers, "You won't."

She was proven right when, in the next second, the fireball disappears.

Gretel smirks confidently… Until both Hildr and Aurelia pounce towards her with a cry of, "Tickle the little shit!"

Her squeals from the horrid torture could be heard all the way to Dragonsreach.

~~XXX~~

"So far we have around a thousand soldiers geared up with Dragon-forged gear."

I stare down at the clearing were nearly two hundred men and women were training hard while wearing the heavy armor made out of Dragon scales and bones.

They were swinging their weapons, running around, and even fighting each other all so to get used to the weight.

"These ones are not Enchanted yet?" I ask the Court Mage, taking note of how the training soldiers were struggling with their movements and the armor.

Something that wouldn't happen if all the armor had the Enchantments tailor made from Kara placed upon them.

Farengar shakes his head with a sigh, "Unfortunately, not yet." He reaches up to rub two fingers against his temple, "While I am training some students, that will take time, so I am handling the Enchanting myself."

"But while Magicka recovers fast, it does get mentally and physically taxing after a while, so I can at most do five or six each day. So far, I've barely Enchanted around three-hundred suits of armor."

I hum at that, kind of having expected this result. Kara did tell me that Original Runes inflict a heavy mental burden – which I am somehow immune to – beside their immense Magicka requirement.

And the Original Runes, outfitted into a mighty array, that go on top of the suits of armor are quite advanced too.

The mere fact that Farengar can handle this strain both shows how hard he is pushing himself, but also shows that he is quite talented too.

"Still, it is a good choice to place the Enchantments on Dragon-forged gear." Deinmaar states from beside me, his enormous arms crossed before his chest. "Enchantments placed upon them never disappear, as the bodies of Dragons, even in death, constantly absorb the surrounding Magicka, thus keeping the Enchantments constantly active."

I stare at the giant Atmoran quietly… Because I am trying not to laugh.

Who knew that a beautiful lady could make this titan of a man flush and stutter when approached in such a direct way.

Aela just came up to us, purred at Deinmaar, said "I'd love to climb this sweaty mountain of muscles anytime, anywhere." Then she winked at him and walked away while swaying her hips.

And Deinmaar was left floored. Dude was gaping at the sheer audacity and at how forward the Companion was in her thirsty approach.

Never did I expect the mighty Deinmaar to actually blush from having a woman tell him that she wants to fuck him.

"I see, that explains it…" Farengar muses, bringing me out of my thoughts, "Such powerful Enchantments would run out within five seconds on any other piece of armor. I guess they can only last on such gear."

Obviously, else I doubt Kara would have made them so horrendously powerful.

And I believe she held back. A lot. Like, this was the weakest but also the strongest Enchantments that she could share, because anything stronger would have a far too enormous cost on the gear.

"Still, a thousand suits of armor isn't bad." I hum, though I do notice the faint… Disapproval in Deinmaar's eyes. That, and disappointment.

He clearly sees something lacking in the warriors below, and I believe I know what it is, and the reason for it.

The Eye of Magnus being sealed. Such a thing happened a little bit after Kara was sealed by Lah, but what caused it?

Either way, this caused Magic to slowly go on a constant decline compared to the Golden Era that was the Merethic Era, and the times of Shalidor and Kara.

Back then, the Mages were utterly horrifying, and some Dragon Priests are proof of that… But more than that, the sheer Magicka density from back then made even normal mortals bullshit strong in terms of pure physical might.

I wouldn't say that they were on par with Deinmaar, but they'd still be insanely strong compared to the warriors of this age.

I believe it works similar to my Reinforcement Spell. The sheer Magicka quantity within one's body naturally boosting their physical capabilities, the same way how the corpse of a powerful mage slowly gets frozen over time and becomes an Undead with insane durability and strength.

But while Skyrim now is still one of the places with the highest density of Magicka around, especially around Winterhold, it is not on the same level as during the Merethic Era.

Deinmaar himself confirmed this suspicion of mine a bit ago, when I asked.

Hence, the sealing of the Eye of Magnus basically crippled all of the races and slowly made them weaker and weaker, both in terms of Magical capabilities, magical studies, and physical prowess.

Was this intentional? Did someone purposefully do this so to cripple all the races?

Did they do so in order to give the Dragons a greater chance upon their return, or what?

"Just keep going like this. I'll see if I can bring you some support soon." I tell Farengar, receiving a grateful nod back as I look around – was that Odahviing that just flew away in the distance? - before relaxing.

I don't think I can ask Kara to just Enchant stuff for us once she is awake, but I'm sure she wouldn't mind giving some tips and instructions for others and writing them down.

And they will be even more valuable and helpful once the Eye of Magnus is freed, and the effects that once crippled everyone hopefully come off.

I do fear that even those that do not deserve this boost will gain it, though. Like the Thalmors, for example.

"How much time do you think we have?" Farengar asks softly, and I hum and cross my arms in thought.

"Alduin is weak. He won't be able to bring back the stronger side of his forces without fear that they won't try to usurp him." Which Alduin won't for, so he'll only bring back those that are weaker than him if they are dead.

"He'll want to rebuild his army of Dragon Priests too. Dragons can only act efficiently when they have smart and cunning Dragon Priests to advise them."

Deinmaar nods in agreement at my words, "That will take even longer. They won't just pick anyone, like in the past." Yeah, they'll look for cunning, greed for power, but also potential.

"So give or take, we have a whole year. Maybe a lot more." Which sounds wonderful, honestly. All I need now is just a month for me to settle all the other worrisome issues that plague Skyrim before I can fully focus on the Dragons.

Plus, apparently the giant Dragon from Falkreath has offered himself as a teacher for the Thu'um for a great deal of people from all the Holds.

That'll be an immense force, though it will take time to flourish. After all, they aren't like the Dragonborn, who can absorb the knowledge of Shouts from either dead Dragons, or from those who can share it and whisper the Word into the ground.

But they can meditate upon them still. In the end, it'll all be up to them.

"Brother." Deinmaar speaks up, and I hum to let him know that I am listening, "I have a… fear, that I wish to share."

I pause at that, then turn my head to give him my full attention, "The Holds… They are too divided. Too far apart." The Atmoran points out, and I sigh.

"You noticed that too, didn't you?" I slump my shoulders and palm my masked face while Farengar furrows his brows in confusion.

"What do you mean?"

I flex my hand, then sigh again, "Riften is just asking to be destroyed due to how isolated it is." I start, making the Court Mage blink… Then pale in cruel realization, "Solitude is just one good hit away from losing half the city due to where it was built."

Whose bright fucking idea was it to build a damn city and the Jarl's palace on top of that stupid ass spot? They are basically asking anyone to hit the rocky support below and bring down the damn thing.

"Dawnstar is close to the sea, same as Windhelm, which can make them easy to sweep away." Winterhold is fine- Or will be, once knowledge that the Great Sage of Knowledge basically protects that area.

I sigh again, then shake my head and turn towards Deinmaar, "Have you any idea how the Resistance back prepared for the war?" He should know, as I am fairly sure that he slaughtered the Dragon Priest Council a bit after the war started.

The giant Atmoran hums softly before answering, "They abandoned them." He states softly, "The cities, I mean. Their homes."

"At the time, they did not care about such things. Home and roads could be rebuilt, cities can be remade… But lost lives couldn't be brought back. They cared more about survival than their homes."

"So they picked easy to defend positions, or hid in the mountains, within caves. That is how the Rebellion managed to persist even though they had hundreds of Dragons hunting for them at all times."

Yeah, I initially thought as much, and now Deinmaar confirmed these thoughts of mine.

Back then, the war wasn't fought in open valleys, but it was all about ambushes. Dragons were led in a certain spot by abusing their pride and confidence, and those who had learned or created the Dragon Rend Shout caused them to crash down on the earth.

Where they would then be mauled to death by the Resistance. Swift and deadly attacks, calculated ambushes, and soon they started slaughtering Dragons left and right.

Hell, Odahviing himself admitted that he fell in battle against a mighty warrior who openly challenged him and achieved victory.

A lone man fought and killed a Dragon Sage, which is insane. Mad respect to that dude.

"We can't really use these plans though…" I sigh out, and Farengar nods with a displeased look on his face.

"Some would be very against losing their city… And the power they wield." Farengar states, and I gotta agree with him.

Still… "Tell them to still make plans for evacuating to the nearest Hold, just in case." I suggest, and he nods with a harsh frown on his face.

Riften and Solitude are the ones that will be easy to be destroyed. One good attack, and Solitude crumbles, while Riften is so isolated that few will notice its destruction.

And long-distance communication isn't available here either! Fuck!

"Think Balgruuf won't mind sharing the Dragon-forged gear?" I ask Farengar, who pauses and cups his chin in thought.

"The Jarl will look at the bigger picture, so he very likely will." The Court Mage muses before turning to me, "What do you suggest?"

I tap my armored fingers along my arms in thought, "One hundred suits of armors for each Hold, with ten Enchanted ones among them."

"If we can't arm everyone, then form elite units. Teams of ten, with the Captain being an experienced warrior wearing the Enchanted suit of armor."

It was the best outcome, by far. Elite units meant to draw the attention of the attacking Dragons.

With their weapons and armor, they won't be squishy and killable in just a few hits, and they'll be able to tear into the Dragons scales and flesh with greater ease.

"Could you procure me some papers for scrolls?" I suddenly ask Farengar, "I'll prepare an even greater batch of the weak and powerful Healing Spells I left for Whiterun, but for the other Holds this times."

Farengar pauses at that, a hint of worry appearing within his gaze, "...What if they abuse what we'll give them?"

I shrug, "Then I'll kill them." I state coldly and ruthlessly, "I don't have time to educate some ambitious brats, so they won't even get a chance to fuck around and find out."

Like with Ulfric, if anyone tries to cause more problems during such dire times, then I'll gladly remove the off the face of Nirn without shame or guilt.

The Court Mage chuckles, "I'll make sure the message is relayed, then." Straightening himself, the Mage throws one last look at the training troops before turning, "I'll have someone send you what you requested as soon as possible."

I nod and give the departing Court Mage a wave as he leaves, leaving me and Deinmaar alone with our thoughts.

"It hasn't started yet, but I already hate war." I sigh deeply, slumping my shoulders while Deinmaar pats one of them in support.

"You need to rest, Brother." The Atmoran states, "You've done all you can for now."

I hate to say it, but he is right. I can't forge, and I can't Enchant just yet other than making Scrolls.

Though… I can probably and very easily make a bullshit powerful Array using Terra Santa and place it around Whiterun. But that could affect Dinok and make her act, which is a whole other bag of problems.

I shake my head and push away those thoughts, then turn to leave, "Come on, let's go check on the ladies."

Hopefully Hildr is still alive and well and hasn't been maimed by a jealous Aurelia, no matter how cute and adorable it all would be.

I adore the both of them quite a bit, so I'd rather they get along with each other.

The walk back to Jorrvaskr is quiet but pleasant, as Deinmaar makes is quite the nice and calming company to have.

Reaching over to him, I give his back a strong pat, "I'm glad I got you by my side, buddy." My sincere words bring the giant to a pause, before he laughs softly.

"As am I, my friend."

The inside of Jorrvaskr is still as active as always. There's playful brawls going down, drunk folks singing and stumbling in place, all to celebrate their recent victory against the recent attack.

Hildr is easy to notice, occupying a small table with Gretel, with the both of them enjoying a hearty meal as we approach.

Though I pause when I notice the lack of a certain lovely woman.

"Where's Aurelia?"

Hildr blinks and wipes her mouth with the towel, then… She shrinks in on herself and averts her gaze. "Uh…"

"I kinda told her about that Potema chick…?"

I freeze… Then sigh deeply.

So it was Odahviing that I saw flying away a bit ago, wasn't it?

Well, I'm sure she'll be alright!

….

The Devil.

The Devil itself was after her.

A Devil wielding Holy powers.

"Po~te~ma~!"

First those damnable Necromancers were trying to bind her to their will… Only for them to be slaughtered to the last one by the whirlwind of death that was the Devil.

And now… Now the Devil had somehow tracked her into her catacombs within Solitude.

"Where are you~?"

Why did this Devil sound so damn happy about hunting her?! About killing her?!

Were all Paladins of Arkay like this?! Had they gone nuts!?

"You know that Necromancy is bad, don't you~?" The Devil sang, humming a happy tune as her steps grew louder and louder… While Potema's skeleton hid behind a destroyed stone coffin. "You are a bad, bad girl for using it~!"

Potema shudders. She, the mighty Wolf Queen… Was cowering before this mad Paladin!

S-She just needed a chance! A sneak attack to turn the tides and eliminate her once and for all, then she can reclaim her might and rise to-

...Why did the Devil stop walking?

"So…" A voice speaks up. From right beside her. "From what are we hiding from?"

Slowly, Potema turns her head to stare at the Devil.

The pale silver-haired woman, hugging her legs while sitting on the ground, smiles brightly at the Wolf Queen.

The Wolf Queen whimpers. "...Mercy?"

Aurelia smiles.

Then stabs Dawnbreaker clean through Potema's skull.

"Fuck no!"

Thus, the Wolf Queen died once and for all.

In a very ignoble and pathetic way.

~~XXX~~

"This is so damn cool…" I muse aloud as I hold the glowing Dragon Blade in my hands, formed from the use of the Fire Shout.

Aurelia giggles from her spot beside, having done away with her armor for a simple dress that hugged her curves wonderfully and just made me want to ravish her with my gaze alone. "These are just a prototype for now."

She points out, and I hum softly, turning the crystallized blade in my hand, "You still haven't found a way to make them more permanent?" I ask, and she shakes her head with an adorable pout.

"I can make them last four or five hits now, and I can't… Recharge them by using the same Shout again, only make another Dragon Blade." I hum at that. This was the technique of the Ansei, which is horrendously powerful.

And Aurelia went and somehow made it even greater than before, thought she is still testing the waters with this technique.

But just the fact that she was able to create such a thing is… Insane. And cool. "And you can turn any Shout into a Dragon Blade?"

She shakes her head, sending her free hair – seemingly glowing under the gentle moonlight from above – flying left and right. "Not all of them. Like the Whirlwind Shout, for example. Or the Clear Skies." I see, so perhaps even the Slow Time Shout can't be turned into a Dragon Blade.

"I'm sure you'll figure something out with time." I tell her, watching as the Dragon Blade shatters and fades away into nothing. "You've come a really long way, huh?"

Aurelia smiles. It is a dazzling, breathtaking and warm smile that makes me swoon, and would have made my chest hurt if I could feel it.

With a hum, she leans against my right side and rests her head on my shoulder, enjoying the view from the top of the walls of Whiterun. "I've worked really, really hard because I wanted to make a certain silly guy proud of me."

My hands flex into fists, but Aurelia doesn't stop talking, "Said silly guy also told me to discover who Aurelia really is… And I've done it."

"I like the scents carried by the wind during the morning… But I hate the scent of smoke."

"I hate apples and oranges, but I love potatoes."

"I love reading the letters from a certain someone… And I hated having to wait for them."

Her hand finds mine, and she takes it in hers while crossing our fingers. "I hated being apart from him. It felt like I was missing something. Something important."

"And I love being close to him. Hearing his voice. Having his presence beside me… Holding his hand, and resting my head on his shoulder."

Curse this fucking body.

I really, really fucking hate it.

"And I love how I feel like I can conquer the world when I am with him. I love the sense of security he brings. I love how he tries so hard to help everyone… But I hate how he won't let me share his burdens."

I sigh.

It was a long, shaky sigh. Somehow, my 'breath' trembled.

Hell, my hands are shaking too, it seems. How amusing.

...Fuck it.

"I love you." Aurelia goes still against me, freezing in place as she registers my words. "I have for quite a while now. Since we split up, I believe."

I release her hand so that I can wrap my arm around her and hold her close. She all but melts against me.

"I dare not imagine what I would have become had we not met in Bleak Falls Barrow." I hum, turning my gaze to the ocean of stars high above. All holes in Reality left by the departing creators of Nirn. "Would I still try to help others? Would I have lost myself after just a few days? I wonder…"

"But none of that happened, for I had a beautiful guiding light always with me, always occupying my thoughts… Always keeping me happy."

And that's why I didn't break, isn't it? Me being happy. Me having people by my side.

People who I do not wish to disappoint, people who I wish to protect, and people who I hold dear.

Aurelia, Hildr, Gretel… Even Deinmaar. I want to help that giant of a man be truly happy for once.

I want him to feel free. To finally let go of those chains that still cling to him due to his betrayal.

Maybe even help him achieve that dream of his. Where he could finally see a day where Dragons and the mortal races can live together and coexist happily.

Without the fear, without the servitude, the slavery, and the cruelty.

"I'm so happy right now…" Aurelia whispers, burying her face against my chest as she hugs me tightly, "But… What about Hildr?"

I hum softly at that, wrapping my arms around Aurelia so to hug her close. "You keep me sane. You are… An ideal, one I wish to follow. You are my guiding light, and I'll forever stick by you."

Then, I tilt my head, turning my gaze in a certain direction, where a certain woman was trying to sneakily listen in on us.

"Hildr instead… She keeps me focused. She makes sure to remind me that I am human, even with this horrid body of mine. Not just me… I think she'll start doing it to you too."

"Our bodies allow us to be unreasonably reckless, yet she won't let us get lost in that feeling, and she'll be there to keep us grounded. She is like… An anchor. A very beautiful anchor."

Aurelia hums softly, then pulls back, revealing her beautiful face glowing with a radiant, breathtaking smile. "I keep you sane… She keeps us Human." I nod at her words.

At least, that is how I view our dynamic. I can be totally wrong, of course!

"It fits her, doesn't it?" Aurelia hums, then nods with a warm smile.

She who refuses to lose herself to her transformation, is helping others remember that deep down, they are Humans.

Of course, that's when the little shit side of me decided to wake up, "Plus, isn't she insanely sexy?" Aurelia's eyes widen, before she notices me pointing in the direction of the closest empty watchtower, where the hidden Hildr barely managed to hold back a squeak from my words.

A cheeky grin appears on Aurelia's face the next second, "She is! Her chest is so huge! I'm kinda jealous…" Funnily enough, Aurelia actually doesn't sound jealous as she hides her giggles behind her head.

I nod my head in agreement, "Two lovely and huge melons… And she shows off that cleavage so confidently too!"

"A-And have you seen her butt?!" Aurelia cries out, her voice cracking from how much she is trying not to laugh, "It's so huge! I really wanna touch it-"

"Will you two fucking quit it?!"

"There she is!" I call out, pointing a finger towards the flushed redhead the moment she stands up and shows herself, making her eyes go wide in horror, "You aren't sneaky at all, woman!"

Aurelia giggles and leans aside so to look at Hildr, "Sorry!"

The redhead huffs and tosses her hair over her shoulder, "He is corrupting you, 'Relia." I'd cackle in delight at that, but instead just wave at Hildr to come closer.

She does so after a bit, shyly averting her gaze as she comes close before sitting down on my left side… Then leaning against me.

I wrap my other arm around her and hold her close, just like Aurelia, and they both melt against me… While I release a long breath, and find myself feeling… Strangely relaxed. Content, even.

I guess all the tension I was feeling due to pushing my feelings aside and fearing that they'd go to waste has finally gone away now.

I'm glad that the conversation between the two of them went well, and I am even more glad that I won't have to pick between one and lose the other.

Still…

"Leo." I hum and perk up, tilting my head towards Hildr, who gives me a warm and gentle look with her lone eye, "I know what you are thinking… And don't worry."

"You are giving us more than we could ever ask for." Aurelia perks up, then smiles and nods her head in agreement to Hildr's words.

"She's right." The silver-haired woman hums as she leans against my chest with a beautiful, happy smile that makes her face glow.

"You are more than enough, Leo."

I stare between the two beautiful women hugging me and sharing smug looks between themselves… Then sag my shoulders.

"Fuck me sideways… You two are going to gang up on me, aren't you?"

Their answer is a pair of adorable evil cackles as they high-five each other.

...Good thing I am dead, else they'd have already drained me dry by this point.

A.N. And the relationship finally sails off, after nearly fifty damn chapters and 250k plus words!

And Serana is gonna take even longer to join the harem, for obvious reasons due to her backstory.

Also, for those who might ask, Hildr and Aurelia will also fall for each other in due time.

Hope y'all enjoyed this chappy!

Things will pick back up soon!

Toodles!