I, Draugr Chapter 38

It wasn't over yet.

That was the thought that rang within both Deinmaar's and Leonidas' minds at the same time.

Even with such a grievous wound and a severed arm, they both knew that Alduin wouldn't go down so easily.

And go down easily he did not.

Baleful red eyes widened in pure, overflowing fury. A roar of madness flowed through open jaws before two gargantuan winds flapped, displacing the very air with a catastrophic, ear-deafening crack.

The World-Eater's bleeding form blurred across the air, slamming into the cracking and crumbling ice pillar, right where Leonidas lay, the sheer speed behind the massive Dragon catching the Undead off-guard.

But he was fast enough to call upon the Juggernaut Spell, saving himself from being turned into dust by the enormous claws that slammed him into the ice below, pulverizing the majority of the surrounding ice and pinning him down to the broken pillar.

"The fuck do you want now, you goddamn tripod!?" Leonidas hollers as the giant beast presses down with his one good claw, nails digging through compact ice like it was butter.

Alduin's answer was a point-blank roar, and Leonidas, being his usual self, just screamed back at Alduin without care despite only his head being visible between the gaps of Alduin's claws.

Then he stopped screaming and tilted his head to the side, "Oh, what's that behind you?!"

Of course, Alduin had no time to react before a massive javelin of lighting pierced down from the Heavens and slammed straight into his back, the heated lightning flowing through the gaping hole in his chest and back and tearing through his exposed insides.

The World-Eater howled due to the overflowing pain, his body twisting against his will, allowing Leonidas to swiftly roll out from beneath the claw that pinned him to the ground and jump back to his feet.

And he did not waste a second to get revenge for being pinned down.

The human body had a safety measure where it would subconsciously hold back its true strength so to not damage itself when throwing a punch against something hard.

But the body of an Undead that feels no pain does not have such a safety measure, and Leonidas right arm sparkled with a dozen stars before he punched upward.

His uppercut smashed into Alduin's lowered jaw, slamming it against the upper one and making his brain rattle in his skull, the sheer force behind the blow pulverizing the frozen platform and lifting the World-Eater's upper body, his hind legs resting and slipping off the very edge of the crumbling pillar.

And Leonidas shoulder-charged into his exposed belly, throwing them off the platform and sending them hurtling down towards the bottom.

Baleful red eyes blink, and Alduin growls, staring down at his as the Anomaly stood up on his back.

Then lifted one hand to give him the middle finger as sparks of lightning overflowed out of his frozen skull, "This all you fuckin' got, World-Eater?!"

His insane cackle was followed by a deafening thunderclap as another javelin of lightning crashed down from the Heavens and into Alduin, turning them both into a meteorite that swiftly crashed down onto the frozen ocean below.

Deinmaar stumbles slightly from the impact, falling to one knee as he pants heavily, his body feeling so heavy and tired.

After being still for countless centuries, all of this was taxing upon him. The battle in the temple mentally taxed his already exhausted self, then Alduin's arrival just made it all worse.

A part of him wanted to just slump down and fall into eternal sleep. To just… Rest. A rest he did not deserve, but one he yearned for. Even if it will be haunted by nightmares.

His fist clenched around the handle of his greatsword, and he screwed his eyes shut after stealing a single glance at it.

For a moment, he saw the blood of his comrades dripping from the blade and from his hands.

"Deinmaar." A voice called to him. A voice that kept him company for many moons. A voice that read him books, and told him about the history he missed, of battles he'd loved to take part in, of moments he wanted he wanted to witness with his own eyes.

"Deinmaar, look at me." He did. He lifted his head and stared at those flickering green flames of the man that offered him a hand out of the dark abyss.

Alduin had been buried in the frozen ocean once more, but it was temporary. He had to stand. He had to fight.

Yet he felt so weak. So useless.

"Back there, in that graveyard?" Leonidas speaks up, his voice heavy yet gentle, "We were just two nobodies, fighting over nothing, in the middle of fucking nowhere."

Deinmaar wanted to argue. He wanted to say that his crime wasn't 'nothing'. That his guilt wasn't for 'nothing'.

But his mouth opened, and no protest came to the surface.

"But right here, right now?" The Undead stresses, "We are two crazy sons of bitches trying our hardest to make a difference."

One hand was offered to him once more, "Let's make it count, buddy."

Any doubt, any fear, any negative thought- They were all squashed instantly. Deinmaar breathes in and clasps that offered hand without hesitation and stands upon his feet, filled with renewed vigor and energy.

A shock-wave ripples forth just as he does that, nearly making them both stumble as the frozen ocean surface started sinking in.

A vacuum of air came into existence, a loud persistent howl accompanying the storm of gales rushing down towards that swiftly expanding sinkhole that devoured everything in sight.

Gargantuan wings as black as the night flapped loudly, slowly dragging the wounder and bleeding form of the World-Eater back into view and up in the air.

The world started going dark as soon as the World-Eater came into view, as within his jaws lay something that could devour anything and everything, be it material or immaterial.

A Black Hole.

Light, wind, the frozen ocean, gravity- It all was being sucked in, reduced to powder from the sheer pressure of the gravitational anomaly.

But where one would have despaired at such a sight, Leonidas merely tilted his head, "I've watched so much anime that I know how to counter such bullshit." He shrugs while Deinmaar perks up.

The Undead flicks his wrist, and large, tough chains of ice shoot out of the ice far behind and below Alduin, curving up in the sky and around his form to reach his jaws.

Baleful red eyes widen a second too late as those frozen chains wrap around his jaws- Then slam them shut around the gravitational anomaly.

The ensuing explosion was gory. Scales, bones and blood flew everywhere as Alduin's lower jaw was pulverized, while his upper jaw was mangled beyond belief.

A cry of pain barely flowed out of the giant Dragon as he started falling once more before a massive figure pounced at the chance, massive fist drawn back-

Then punching straight through Alduin's right eye, sending more blood flying everywhere as the wounded and crippled Dragon howled and tossed around in the air before crashing back down in the pit of his own creation.

With a grunt, Deinmaar lands, having been yanked back to the ground by a frozen chain, his gaze falling down into the pit below. "He is persistent, I'll give him that."

Leonidas nods with a low hum, "I don't think he ever fought someone that could match him in power." He hums softly, but soon perks up when Deinmaar shakes his head.

"No, he must have." Deinmaar states heavily, staring down at one of his hands with a glare, "After she imprisoned me, Konahriik took him on. I felt the after-shocks of their battle for an entire month."

Leonidas hissed at that, "I asked Krosis about her, but the guy nearly pissed himself when he heard her name."

Deinmaar chuckles at that, "When I… rebelled." The giant of a man states, using a word that did not leave a bad taste in his mouth, "Krosis was one of the newer Dragon Priests. He survived for not having a high enough status to have a seat in the Council."

Leonidas wondered how the other Dragon Priests survived. Did they ignore the summons, or were some of them similar to Krosis? Or were they people recruited in a hurry to try and refill their now empty ranks?

"Think she's still alive?" The Undead questions, and Deinmaar's shoulders sag.

"She must be." The giant of a man whispers, "Otherwise, the chains binding me would have disappeared."

Leonidas sighs, then shakes away those thoughts, his gaze flicking back to the pit Alduin had fallen into. His broken and heavily wounded form stirred for a moment-

"Slen-Tiid-Vo."

Three simple whispered words.

The gaping hole in his chest was stitched back together like it was never there. His destroyed jaws were back to normal the next second, and a new claw replaced his severed one.

All wounds upon him were gone within seconds.

"You gotta be fucking kidding me…" Both Undead and Atmoran whispered at the same time at the sight.

They both swiftly readied themselves for another grueling fight, but when Alduin lifted his head to gaze at them once more, the rage they expected to see within his eyes wasn't there.

Instead, there was fear.

Two giant wings flapped, and the enormous Dragon blasted out of the hole, into the skies, and swiftly escaped towards the horizon without saying a word.

Both men stared at the World-Eater's retreating figure grow smaller and smaller for several seconds before looking at each other.

Then they burst out in loud fits of laughter.

"He ran! That bitch fuckin' ran! Hah!" Leonidas wheezed as he sat on the ground, Deinmaar's huge form falling down right beside him, his own laughter ringing loud and filled with satisfaction.

"A claw and an eye…" The giant Atmoran sighs out, "They might not be his life, but I still made him bleed plenty."

"And squeal like a lil' bitch."

"That was mostly you, brother." Deinmaar points out, "Those javelins of lightning of yours were terrifying."

"Talks the dude that body-slammed the fucking World-Eater like it was nothing." Leonidas huffs and sulks like a child, "Shoulda gone for his asshole like all the other Dragons."

"...I don't even want to know the history behind those words."

Chuckling, Leonidas sits up and nods in satisfaction, "Well, we survived." He drawls out before staring down at the prone Atmoran, "Ready to go back home, pal?"

Deinmaar breathes in, then slowly sits up and nods, "Yeah. I think I'm ready."

He is once more helped back to his feet by Leonidas, who chuckles softly, "Welcome to the team of misfits, then!"

"There's more people like you?"

"Just one. She's a little adorable brat that loves traumatizing people when bored. I am and will always be the main inconvenience, of course."

Speaking of Gretel, an idea suddenly rings within Leonidas' mind, and his gaze flicks left and right until he finds his target discarded several dozen meters in the distance.

Alduin's severed claw, bigger and taller than a three story building.

If Leonidas could grin, he would be putting the Cheshire Cat to shame right now.

"Hircine, my homie! Ya want some World-Eater meat on your menu tonight?!"

Deinmaar watched as the Undead happily skipped towards the large severed claw, bantered with a random bird for a good minute, the skipped back while humming a very jovial tune after the severed claw disappeared into thin air.

"So… You just talk to Daedric Princes like they are old friends?" The titan of man found that oddly confusing and weird.

Who the hell does that?

"Yeah?" Leonidas, obviously. "Apparently, my brother from another mother, the great and wise and mighty Sheogorath, really wants to meet me in person."

"He is currently running the gauntlet against all the other Gods that do not wish to see this glorious meeting happen. Last I've heard from Hircine, Sheogorath had Molag Bal in a chokehold for like… The fifth time this month?"

Deinmaar was at a loss for words.

What kind of friend did he just make?!

With a flick of his wrist, Leonidas Conjures two large Werevultures… Then looked between Deinmaar and one of the conjured beasts.

Deinmaar was quite a bit taller, and he swiftly felt offended when Leonidas Conjures a third one 'For good measure'.

Still, he didn't refuse the lift, and quietly watched as they left behind the crumbling frozen ocean behind, and as Winterhold came back into view over the horizon and slowly got closer and closer.

The giant of a man watched as people gathered on the walls the moment their arrival was spotted, the three giant Werevultures setting them down right in front of the open of the City he called home.

"So…" Leonidas – who put the Krosis Mask back on during the flight back – started as he stepped forward, slapping Deinmaar's large arm with a chuckle, "Old Rob, heard ya were looking for a 'Guardian'?"

Among the gathered people beyond the main gates was an imposing old man that steps forward without fear even when the giant of a man stood two times taller than him.

The old Nord stared up at the giant Atmoran for several quiet seconds… Before offering his hand. "Welcome back home, son."

Deinmaar takes in a slow, shaky breath before clasping that offered arm with his own and giving it a firm shake. "I've made you all wait too long."

"Bah!" Old Rob sneers and slaps the giant over the shoulder without care or fear, "Shut the fuck up and come get your fuckin' barrel of mead already!"

"Just a barrel?" Leonidas pipes in, waving a hand towards the titan of a man, and Old Rob squints his one good eye back at Deinmaar.

"By Akatosh's hairy asshole, I don't think I got enough barrels for this son of a bitch…"

Leonidas shrugs, "Just hope that the mead is strong enough to put him down before he finishes all the barrels?"

Those words light a fire in the eye of every Nord within hearing distance, "Now that sounds like a challenge to me!" Old Rob hollers, nostrils snorting steam like a bull, "Bring your fat ass in, Deinmaar! Lemme show ya how the proper Nord Mead of the Fourth Era is far better than whatever Skeever piss y'all used to drink back in the day!"

Hanging back, Leonidas watched as Deinmaar was dragged into the City by the descendants of people who never forgot about him, and who waited entire Eras for his return.

The flames within his eyes flickered purple for yet another moment that went unnoticed by all, but they went back to normal as soon as he shook his head.

Despite how mentally exhausted he was after that far too risky and sudden fight, he still made sure to keep up appearance and straighten his shoulders-

A lone figure stepped out of the open gates, and Leonidas' composure faltered but for a moment.

Hildr gazed at him with her lone eye glistening with unshed tears and overflowing with worries, and that look alone stopped Leonidas from greeting her in any of his usual ways.

Any of the words he wanted to say just failed him. His mind just… Refused to collaborate. He was beyond tired.

He stumbles slightly in place when Hildr throws herself at him and hugs him tightly, her hands and arms shaking as she holds him with as much strength she could muster.

Within his mind, Leonidas found himself cursing the Gods for being unable to even feel a hug that he really, really wanted.

But outside, he merely starts patting Hildr's back, "I'm okay." He whispers softly in her ear, "I'm okay."

"No you're not!" Hildr cries out against his shoulder, "I can see you slipping away more and more each passing day!"

Her grip on his robes grows even tighter, "Just… Please, let's go to Saarthal already…"

Shaking his head, Leonidas pulls away and takes one of her hands in his, "Come on, I got a present for you."

"D-Don't just change the subject!" She whines even as she lets Leonidas drag her back into the City and ignore his issues.

"Meh." The Undead shrugs without care, receiving a kick to the shin that he doesn't even feel, "I made sure Gretel and Aurelia get a present too."

"Hopefully, Gretel will love her new dagger made out of a nail that comes from the World-Eater."

Hildr bit on her lower lip even as she squeezed Leonidas' unaware hand as hard as she could.

She hated how easily he toyed with her heart.

~~XXX~~

A meteor crashes down in a distant, empty valley far outside of Skyrim.

Beasts, animals and birds swiftly make themselves scarce as the presence of the Apex Predator among them spreads forth, and Alduin's form stumbles out of the crater his form had created.

He now saw his weakness.

He saw what he lacked.

He saw what he needed to improve on.

What good was all his might if he didn't know how to use it? What good was his title when he didn't have the might to back it up?

Alduin cursed his laziness. Alduin cursed himself for not improving upon what he has.

He achieves strengths far easier and faster than all of the other Dragons, and that together with his role got to his head.

He thought himself untouchable.

And now, this was his third greatest loss. Worse than all the other ones.

Konahriik had toyed with him at the start of the war, stalling him for an entire month, allowing the races of Men and Mer to overthrow his kind now that they did not have the cunning guidance of their slaves.

And then, when he had managed to… 'Remove' her off the board and join the fray, his might instantly became useless.

For he too fell into a trap due to his pride and hubris, and had an accursed Elder Scroll turned upon him, sealing him across time and space and robbing him of his immense might.

And then, the Anomaly and the Traitor wounded him. The first ones to do so since he came to be.

The World-Eater gnashes his teeth, swearing vengeance within his mind.

He would lay waste upon that land. Leave it a scorched wasteland where naught but filth and cockroaches will be able to survive in.

But to do that, he needed his might back. And to gain it back, he needed slaughter.

The light of the Sun above shining down him was suddenly interrupted, and Alduin's baleful red eyes narrow as he stands to face the newcomer.

A Dragon, much smaller in size than him but with a presence far greater than his own, sat upon the hill before the World-Eater.

The Sun shone down on his royal blue scales, apathetic glowing golden eyes sparkling like gems beneath a pair of curved golden horns, staring straight at Alduin as if he were a mere inconvenience.

The World-Eater growls, "Lah."

The Great Sage feared within his kind merely blinks slowly at Alduin.

"What do you want?"

The wings of the seated Dragon shudder as if he merely gave them a light stretch, either uncaring or not noticing how tense the World-Eater was. "I am… Displeased."

The Great Sage starts, voice dignified and soft. "Your rather pathetic temper tantrum… It could have endangered my dearest Wife."

Indifferent golden eyes lock onto Alduin, and the World-Eater feels his very instincts howl at him-

"May you never repeat this mistake again if you do not wish to anger me."

A relaxed flap of wings, a flex of Illusion Magic, a thousand voices Chanting as one in the languages of Men and Dov.

And the Heavens wailed as they crashed down like the gavel of a furious God.

An endless abyss is punched into the earth, one Lah didn't even bother to stand around and watch as it took shape.

He merely cast a longing gaze in a general direction.

"Wait for me, my dear. I will find a way to grant you Eternity by my side."

A.N. And with this chappy, the end of this arc draws closer!

The group's reunion will be in a few chapters, and Deinmaar has joined the gang of misfits, something he will regret very soon!

And also, with the end of this Arc will also come Leonidas's strongest power-up just yet! One I am eager to write about!

Finally, I wanted to share some things!

First of all, my favorite type of Villain is the one that learns and becomes more terrifying after each loss!

Second, do y'all wanna know how big of an impact Leonidas has had so far on the whole story?

In the 'canon' of this Skyrim world, they would still have won of course, but at a great loss.

Aurelia would have completed her duty and gone back to being a Paladin afterward.

Hildr would have lost Gretel in Falkreath, then would have gone to the College and completed that questline there, becoming so powerful she defeats the Dragon Priest holding the Staff of Magnus and becoming the next Archmage.

Deinmaar? Bit of a spoiler, but he would have never existed if it weren't for Leonidas!

I like writing a character that, despite being an idiot, has an enormous impact upon the world without realizing.

So yeah, I am loving writing all of this!

Hope y'all enjoyed!

Toodles!