AN: I have a question, does anybody read my author's notes? I mentioned that I wouldn't use Aela for actual story reasons and people are like 'oh, he needs to be with Aela'. Also, having his powers off the bat doesn't 'mean there can't be story progression. Have you ever thought that maybe, just maybe progression and character development exist beyond the size of one's biceps? Do you accuse superman of not being able to have progression since he's so strong at the beginning of his story? You have a brain, use it.

AN2: To those who were confused at Dagon calling Atreus a mortal, that's because Atreus would be confusing to most beings. His mom is a giant that I'm unsure if she counts as a deity, his father was a demigod who became a god, then lost godhood, then took it back again. Plus, he lived for years with the body of a mortal, so I think his whole existence is ten types of weird.

AN3: I'm down to two pairing options for Atreus. The first is Idgrod the Younger from Morthal, that whole family has prophetic and ethereal abilities so it would fit the future seeing half giant that is Atreus. The other option is a villager of the Skaal as they seem more like the tribal hunting people that Atreus would associate with given how he was raised. Tell me who you want and say why. If you want someone else, then include an actual reason why you think they should be the pairing. If you just put a name, put a name and a substandard reason like 'she's hot', or put Aela you will be ignored.

Son of War, Son of Skyrim

Chapter 2

-Atreus-

Sitting back in one of the surviving buildings of Helgen, Atreus sipped at the bottle of mead that was left for him, his weapons laying on a bed nearby. Throughout the room, surviving soldiers and a few villagers were getting patched up, most of the villagers having already fled, been evacuated, or sadly perished in the dragon raid. "That was some strength you showed back there." The now familiar voice of the General sounded from behind Atreus as the greying man walked around, taking a seat across from him with some mead of his own.

"You should have seen my father." Atreus chuckled, rolling his shoulders as he remembered juggernaut that had raised and trained him "I doubt I'll ever be as strong as he was." Taking a deep bull of the mead, which he was pleased to find was made with Juniper berries, Atreus looked to the general, "I assume that you have questions for me?"

"Yes." The General nodded, waving over another soldier who was relatively uninjured, Atreus recognized him as the man holding the list from before. "First, Hadvar said your name was Atreus correct?"

"Yes, son of Kratos and Laufey." He nodded, "I hail from Midgard." Judging by their blank expressions they'd never heard the term, likely wouldn't know the name Jotenheim either.

"Regardless, Hadvar mentioned that the Stormcloaks claimed to have found you on the side of the road?" the General pushed away from what he likely assumed was the name of a town or a small island.

"I wouldn't know." Atreus shrugged, "I woke up in the carriage, my wrists tied together by rope. Before that I was back home and working on closing some Realm Tears, rips in reality that have often let monsters and undead through." He added the description at their confusion. Given their nods and mutters of 'conjuration magic' they likely had something similar in this realm.

"His name wasn't on the list General Tulius." The soldiers, Atreus assumed this was Hadvar, spoke up "And we had everyone else accounted for."

"Well what are your plans now Atreus?" the general asks, their now empty bottles set aside as they rose from their chairs, Atreus swiftly and easily donning his armor and reattaching his weapons.

"I think I'll either find some maps to begin figuring out my way home or try contacting those back home for help returning." Atreus shrugged, deciding not to mention that Brok and Sindri would likely come find him soon enough, even if only to have him take Mimir away from them. The old head loved lecturing those smiths when he got bored.

"Then I'd like to hire your services." The General gestured for Atreus to follow as the man led him and Hadvar outside towards the stables that were safe given their location outside the city proper "The closest settlement is Riverwood, where Hadvar is from, and beyond that is the closest main City, the Hold of Whiterun. I'm sending Hadvar to warn and reinforce the logging settlement before going on to warn Jarl Balgruff. I'd rather he not travel alone given the dragons but I can't spare any of the men I have here. Agree to help guard him and I'll let you keep the horse you use for the trip."

"I can agree to this." Atreus nodded, grasping arms with the general as he hoisted himself up into the saddle of one of the larger mounts, knowing it would be needed given his size and armor.

"Then take these and ride safe." The General nodded, passing a pair of letters to Hadvar, "Stay safe and ride fast." A slap on their horses' flanks sent the steeds thundering down the forest road. The road, while winding, was relatively clear. The local bandits apparently having enough wisdom to avoid attacking to heavily armored men on horseback. That or they were still warily hiding from whatever dragons they might have seen in the sky, which now stretched suspiciously empty.

They rode in silence till midday when Hadvar straightened in his saddle, "The Standing Stones, Riverwood won't be far now." As the man spoke, Atreus saw his eyes flitting about, scanning and searching the trees and rocks.

"You have been looking for something since we departed on this errand." Atreus noted, deciding to no longer remain silent, "What are you searching for?"

"…Ralof, the blonde man from the carriage you rode in." Hadvar admitted "We grew up together in Riverwood. When the dragons attacked Helgen he stayed behind to fight while most of the Stormcloaks fled, he managed to slip out after the battle ended though." The man's expression showed his inner conflict at the situation.

"At the very least, you can know your old friend values the lives of his people first." Atreus attempted to console the man, not sure what to say otherwise. Even after all these years he wasn't the best with people, a fact he happily blamed his father for…although the fact that nobody ever disagreed with him on the matter was rather telling.

"I was wondering if he had come this way to Riverwood," Hadvar shook himself, expression once more filled with military focus, a look Atreus had so often seen on his father's own visage, "Although it is doubtful now that I think on it. He likely went east through the mountains to get back into Stormcloak territory and return to Windhelm.

"Can you explain something else to me?" Atreus absorbed that all as they rode, a village starting to come into view in the distance, "When I killed that dragon it dissolved and was absorbed by one of the fleeing cowards. What was that?"

"You've not heard of the Dragonborn before?" Hadvar blinked surprised before launching into the tale of the legendary hero who had power gifted by the gods to stop the ancient dragons that had enslaved mortals for centuries. Given this new dragonborn was so quick to flee from a fight, hadn't tried to protect the innocent, and wasn't even skilled enough to be an officer in their rebellion, Atreus had his share of doubts about these stories.

-Mimir-

"Move faster you sorry todgers!" the severed head shouted at the two dwarves "The lad is stuck who knows where!"

"Well it's not our fault you can't slip into the realm between realms on your own." Brok huffed irritably as the two smiths continued attempting to make a way for all three of them to track Atreus and, more importantly, bring him back.

"Have either of you even tried to find him on your own yet?" Mimir demanded, once more cursing the fact that he was nothing more than a head.

"…Uh…" the two dwarves look at each other before Sindri vanishes.

"No…that would be a no then." Mimir wished he had a palm to slap to his face.

"Oh, shut it ya whiny belt ornament," Brok grumbled, once more resuming his work "and if you insist on yapping could you at least make it something useful?"

"Useful!?" Mimir gaped indignantly "Like what?!"

"Know any drinkin songs?"