Dragon Rising

With the permission from the guards, I entered the Dragonsreach and went to room I last found Farengar in.

But this time he was not alone. There was another person in the study. From the figure, the person looked to be a female.

"Farengar, I got you your Dragonstone."

"Ah! The Dragonstone of Bleak Falls Barrow! Seems you are a cut above the usual brutes the Jarl sends my way." Farengar took the stone from my hand with excitement and his companion turned to me.

"You went into Bleak Falls Barrow and got that? Nice work." She said with surprise, then she turned to Farengar. "Just send me a copy when you've deciphered it."

"Do I need to do anything else?" I asked.

"No. That is where your job ends and mine begins. The work of the mind, sadly undervalued in Skyrim."

"Woul-" Just as I was about to reply to this annoying wizard, the dunmer woman that previously stood next to Jarl Balgruuf ran in.

"Farengar! Farengar, you need to come at once. A dragon's been sighted nearby." Then she turned to me. "You should come, too. We need all the help we can get."

"Can my friend come with me too?" I asked as I pointed to Arvel who was standing so still that he was about to become invisible.

"Bring him. We don't have much time, hurry up."

"A dragon! How exciting! Where was it seen? What was it doing?" Then Farengar jumped in like an excited kid. Something is wrong with this guy.

"I'd take this a bit more seriously if I were you. If a dragon decides to attack Whiterun I don't know if we can stop it. Let's go." Then she led us upstairs where the Jarl was sitting behind a desk and a guard was standing in front with a messed up armor. Platings were crushed and there were tears in the cloth here and there.

"So, Irileth tells me you came from the western watchtower." Balgruuf said.

"Yes, my lord."

"Tell him what you told me. About the dragon." Then Irileth butted in.

"Uh...that's right. We saw it coming from the south. It was fast...faster than anything I've ever seen."

"What did it do? Is it attacking the watchtower?"

"No, my lord. It was just circling overhead when I left. I never ran so fast in my life...I thought it would come after me for sure."

"Good work, son. We'll take it from here. Head down to the barracks for some food and rest. You've earned it. Irileth, you'd better gather the guardsmen and get down there."

"I've already ordered my men to muster near the main gate."

"Good. Don't fail me." Then Balgruuf turned to me. "There's no time to stand on ceremony, my friend. I need your help again. I want you to go with Irileth and help her fight this dragon. As a Companion you have proven your worth more than enough. I have sent a request for aid to the rest of the Companions too, and you will be rewarded accordingly. But I haven't forgotten the service you did for me in retrieving the Dragonstone for Farengar. Here, take this."

Then he grabbed a shield passed by a guard and passed it to me.

It was a circular shield that was mostly used by the guards. And from what I could feel, it was enchanted.

"It is enchanted to be resistant to magic. Now, my friend. Will you help the people of Whiterun in this time of our need?"

I knew that this moment was coming ever since I escaped from the jaws of the dragon in Helgen. And I was mentally prepared for the incoming battle. Ever since I first saw the dragon, I knew that peace was never an option, nor was running. So, there was only one answer; "I will, my Jarl." That was to do everything I can to kill the dragon. Who knows, maybe these times would be the birth of a hero who could save us all.

"And what about this friend over here?" Then he sighted Arvel who was trying to become one with the shadows.

"N-" he was about to reply when I cut him off. "Of course he will too. You don't need to ask my Jarl."

"Then I thank you on behalf of the people of Whiterun." The Jarl looked grateful upon hearing our replies.

"I should come along. I would very much like to see this dragon." Farengar said.

"No. I can't afford to risk both of you. I need you here working on ways to defend the city against these dragons." But he was rejected by the Jarl.

"As you command."

The Balgruuf turned to Irileth, "One last thing, Irileth. This isn't a death or glory mission. I need to know what we're dealing with."

"Don't worry, my lord. I'm the very soul of caution." She nodded solemnly.

"I should go to Jorrvaskr and meet up with the rest of the Companions." I added.

"You do that and let's hope the gods won't abandon us."

With that me and Arvel parted ways with Irileth at the gates of the Dragonsreach. She went towards the main gate while I went towards the Jorrvaskr.

"A-are you seriously thinking of joining the battle?" Arvel asked.

"Yes."

"But that's suicide! We will die!"

"We are all gonna die one day, why are you so afraid?"

"No! I still have at least thousand years to live! I don't wanna die yet!" He cried indignantly. Then I grabbed him by the collar and lifted him up.

"Listen here you shit, if we don't do anything now, the dragons won't let us live when they finally conquer the land anyways. We can't run if we want a chance to live. You want to live, then do whatever you can to kill the dragon, understand? And if I see you trying to run, know that my blade will find your throat before the dragon kills us." Then I let him go when I saw him shut his mouth. But I could see him shaking and his eyes were starting to water.

We finally reached Jorrvaskr just in time to see a group fully decked in armor prepared for war.

Kodlak was right in front of the group and I could see Farkas right behind him with Ria, Athis and Njada. It was a pity that Aela, Skjor and Vilkas were currently out on quests. They would have been wonderful additions to our ranks.

"Alaric, I presume you heard the news?" Kodlak asked.

"Yes. But are you sure you want to join in on this Kodlak? I'm not trying exempt you from the glory but you body was getting worse and worse last I heard." I asked with concern. Years were taking their toll on the old man. I wasn't even sure if he could hold his shield steadily.

"Hah! You worry to much youngling. I may be old but these old bones of mine have quite the fight left in them. I would worry about myself if I were you. Go to Eorlund and get yourself a proper armor. Leather gear won't do much against a dragon."

"I will take up on that offer then. Who knew that for me to finally get something from Eorlund, a dragon had to attack. Hope they become frequent then." I said with a smirk.

"Haha don't jinx it brat. Now, go. We are in a fight against time. Both literally and figuratively. And who is this friend of yours?"

"Oh, this is Arvel. He wanted to repent for what he has done, so I took him with me."

"Oh, a man trying to redeem what he has done is an honorable act my friend. Ask Eorlund for a few pieces for him too."

"Will do." Then he nodded as he walked past.

"We'll be waiting for you at the main gates." Said Farkas as he patted my shoulder.

"Got it."

"A fellow dunmer! It rare to see our kind in this kind of business, if we survive, the drinks are on me." Then Athis said as he patted Arvel's shoulder.

"O-okay." Arvel replied meekly.

"Come on Arvel, let's go."