Stepping Into the Sunlight
Chapter 14: A Dream of Sovngarde

My Moon and Stars,

From now until the end of my days, I will be with you always.

All my love,
Marlena

Odahviing flew into the sun as it rose over the Velothi Mountains, Marlena having to shield her eyes somewhat as she gazed down upon the hills, valleys, rivers, forests, and settlements they passed over. Facing south she could see the Throat of the World disappearing into the clouds as it reached skyward, their path of flight following the White River into Eastmarch, the woman recognizing the fork where the White River met the Black River. Now that the sun had risen high enough that she could shield her eyes and look ahead, her eyes swept over the jagged the mountain range that divided Skyrim and Morrowind. These must be the mountains Odahviing spoke of during their first meeting.

The peaks drew closer over the next half hour until Odahviing began to descend, her eyes picking up on structures nestled in the mountains, their shape too angular and flat to be natural formations. But from this distance she could see that Odahviing was right when he told her that it was impossible to reach Skuldafn on foot. The mountain range rose up ahead, behind, and around the temple in steep cliffs that would have been impossible to climb for such a distance, and Marlena could only assume that it would be just as impossible if one were to approach from the eastern side of the mountain. Unlike High Hrothgar, this was not a place intended for mortals to tread. The dov dived low before veering sharply upward and settling on a small outcropping on the other side of a bridge, just a short distance from Skuldafn. It was clear that Odahviing had no intentions of lingering as he immediately brought his head toward the ground so that Marlena could dismount. She used the last few seconds of her superior height to identify several ancient and powerful dragur that patrolled the ancient temple's upper levels, as well as several dragons that were nesting among the surrounding peaks. Her best approach would be to use the environment to stay in their blindspots and pick them off individually. It had been some time since she'd last fought completely on her own, a practice not condoned by the Companions, and for this reason Marlena knew she had to be more careful that ever. While the open air meant plenty of room to fight and shout, it also meant that she could be surrounded or attacked just as easily.

"I will await your return, or Alduin's," Odahviing said in a gravelly tone, eyeing her with onyx eyes that sparked thoughtfully as he regarded her one last time before pushing off the ground and ascending into the sky. Notching her first arrow, Marlena started toward the temple with a purpose; in her head she could still hear Esbern's voice reciting the prophecy of the Dragonborn as they stood side by side in front of Alduin's Wall.

When misrule takes its place at the eight corners of the world

The arrow flew, felling its target as it pierced the dragur's skull.

When the Brass Tower walks and Time is reshaped

At last she drew her blade, her Voice scorching the temple's guardians as they advanced and rousing the dragons that were tasked with preventing anyone from entering Skuldafn.

When the thrice-blessed fail and the Red Tower trembles

With each puzzle and wave of dragur she overcame as she passed through the temple proper, she pulled the victory into herself, using each success to steel her resolve.

When the Dragonborn Ruler loses his throne, and the White Tower falls

The Word Wall stood tall before her, offering her knowledge that the ancients preserved millennia ago- she accepted it eagerly, drawing in the new word and tasting it on her tongue as the souls of dovah she had slain rushed to help her understand as they once had in life.

When the Snow Tower lies sundered, kingless, bleeding

Nakrin's body sparked to ashes as his form crumbled before the portal to Sovngarde that reached skyward in iridescent tendrils of orange, blue, and yellow. A pair of dark-scaled dragons remained still on either side of the large pillar of light, watching as Marlena approached but making no move to intervene.

The World-Eater wakes, and the Wheel turns upon the Last Dragonborn

Ahead the path was clear, and Marlena moved willingly to meet her destiny. Alduin's return had been prophesized thousands of years ahead of its time, but he was not alone. With one last look skyward, she jumped feet-first to what was either her doom or her triumph.

The ground beneath her palm gave way easily as she curled her fingers, the sheet of white that greeted her as she opened her eyes accurately reflecting the environment of her mind at that same moment. There was a strange rushing in her ears, and she wondered momentarily if she were in fact dead, or if the world had ceased to exist and she was left to suffer with that knowledge for eternity as punishment. Slowly she pushed herself upwards, finding the ground quite solid beneath its snowy coating and more than willing to support her weight as she drew her knees up under herself in order to kneel and gaze about at the sight that greeted her.

Dragons, at least ten, perched on the mountaintop encircling her and observing with knowing eyes. Then, one spoke and others joined.

"Mu los vomir!"

"Alduin mahlaan!"

"Thu'umii los nahlot!"

"Dovahkiin los ok dovahkriid!"

One by one they took flight, encircling the mountain as another came to land nearby; Marlena instantly recognized his battle-worn ivory hide and milky blue eyes that were focused solely on her own.

In that moment, she knew what had been done- what she had done. The darkness of her mind's eyes was quickly replaced by memories of her last battle with Aludin, joined by the very ancients that cast him forward using the Elder Scroll. The memory felt strange, though: every detail seemed so clear and pronounced, but it also felt far away as if it had occurred long ago. Inside she felt completely exhausted, but her body sung with energy that belied her internal fatigue and made it impossible to make any sort of determination of exactly how long she had been in Sovngarde at all.

"Alduin dilon. The Eldest is no more, he who came before all others, and has always been," Paarthurnax ruminated as Marlena drew herself to her feet. She could hear a slight melancholy in his voice, something she had never heard from him or any dov.

"You regret Alduin's fate," she ventured, recalling previous conversations she'd had with the dovah in which he mentioned the relationship he and his brother once shared.

"Zeymahi lost ont du'ol Bamahu. Alduin was once the crown of our father Akatosh's creation. You did what was necessary. Alduin had flown far from the path of right action in his pahlok- the arrogance of his power. Zu'u tiiraaz ahst ok mah. He was my brother once. This world will never be the same," the dovah agreed solemly, his voice somehow cutting through the joyous shouts of the dragons that circled overhead.

"That is the destiny that was set before me: the world would be different, but there would be a world. Only one of us could claim victory, and as for myself, it was a victory that I sought for all mankind. He strove to consume us all, as was his destiny, but it was not his fate," Marlena responded slowly, taking the time to choose her words carefully.

"Indeed. You saw the outcome more clearly than I- certainly more clearly than Alduin. Alduin wahlaan daanii. His fate was doomed when he claimed for himself the lordship that properly belongs to Bamahu- our father Akatosh. Rok funta koraav… Perhaps now you have some insight into the forces that shape the vennestiid… the currents of Time. But I forget myself. Krosis. So los mid fahdon. Melancholy is an easy trap for the dovah to fall into. You have won a mighty victory. Sahrot krongrah- one that will echo through all the ages of this world for those who have eyes to see. Savor your triumph, Dovahkiin. This is not the last of what you will write upon the currents of Time."

With a knowing look, the ancient dov pushed off the ground and soared into the sky, flying in a tight circle with an aura of new found energy.

"Goraan! I feel younger than I have in many an age. Many of the dovah are now scattered across Keizaal. Without Alduin's lordship, they may yet bow to the vahzen… rightness of my Thu'um," the dragon turned to hover, facing Marlena as something she could only assume was a smile formed on his reptilian features, "But willing or not, they will hear it. Fare thee well, Dovahkiin, and know that if you ever need my counsel, simply call and I will answer."

She watched as he ascended to briefly join the other dragons that circled overhead before the group began to disperse. One, however, descended to land in the spot Paarthurnax had vacated. The crimson dragon whose scales shimmered in blue and purple regarded her with obsidian eyes, his gaze both approving and pleased.

"Odahviing… I didn't expect our paths to cross again," Marlena admitted, the dov letting out an amused huff.

"Nor I, Dovahkiin, though I had my suspicions. I wish the Old One luck in his… quest. But I doubt many will wish to exchange Alduin's lordship for the tyranny of Paarthurnax's 'Way of the Voice'. As for myself, you've proven your mastery twice over. Thuri, Dovahkiin. I gladly acknowledge the power of your Thu'um. Zu'u Odahviing. Call me when you have need, and I will come if I can."

Nodding gratefully, a faint smile formed on the Imperial's lips as she momentarily turned her gaze toward the beauty of Skyrim that stretched far beyond her sight.

"Odahviing- might I ask a favor of you?" she asked at length, the dov cocking his head slightly before responding.

"What would you ask of me, Thuri?"

"Might you take me home? I'd also like to see Keizaal in the way of the dovah once more," Marlena inquired thoughtfully, the dov regarding her calmly for a minute before speaking again.

"You will not bring paak- shame upon me by imprisoning me in the hofkahsejun again, will you?" he asked, but something about his countenance and tone made it easy to see that he was teasing her.

"Not unless you give me a reason to, Odahviing," Marlena promised with a true smile, approaching the dov as he lowered his head to allow her to climb on. Holding onto the two largest horns atop Odahviing's head, she closed her eyes as they ascended into the cloudy gray skies. The landscape that rolled beneath them seemed more placid in the cloud-diffused afternoon sun, shrouded in the same sort of peace she felt within herself.

Cries of "Dragon!" floated in from the streets outside Jorrvaskr, accompanied by the orders of the city's guards for citizens to get indoors. Vilkas, however, had the exact opposite reaction. He bolted out doors and out onto the steps in front of the Companions' dwelling, his eyes quickly locating the source of terror as it arrived from the South-East. But it stayed East of the city, nearly bypassing it entirely before circling around toward Dragonsreach.

The dragon seemed familiar somehow, and considering he'd only interacted with a handful of dragons in the past it didn't take long for him to identify it as the one that Marlena had departed on. By the time he realized this, Vilkas was almost at the top of the steps that lead up to Dragonsreach, heading across the wooden bridge at the sprint and passing through the heavy doors that opened into the heart of the palace. Most of the court appeared to have retreated to lower levels of the fortress leaving the hall unusually empty and making it easy for Vilkas to reach the steps that lead to the upper level and head for the Great Porch.

His hand was on his sword as he pushed open the door, ready to do whatever necessary to find out what the dragon knew about Marlena's fate; but as he finally caught sight of dragon, it was just its back as it launched itself off the Porch and into the air, letting out a shout as it rose into the sky. Instead, his eyes were forced to the form that remained on the outcropping of the porch, standing with their back to him. But the figure was one he recognized in an instant.

She was here… Alive. Safe. He advanced toward her at a measured pace, his heart thumping so loudly in his chest that he was sure she could hear it as he drew closer. It was all he could do not to run to her the instant she turned, but as she walked to meet him it wasn't long before he could take her in his arms and hold her close like he'd been longing to do since the moment he was forced to watch her leave him on the back of a deadly creature.

He reveled in the warmth and strength of her arms encircling his waist as her forehead came to rest against his collarbone, pulling her close and cradling the back of her head for a long moment. Neither felt the need to speak, knowing what her return meant and quietly basking in the renewed prospect of the rest of their lives.

"It was like looking into the fabric of time itself- every color swirling around and just going upward forever. At the end… it was so bright, like staring into the dawn of everything," Marlena murmured somewhat distantly, her eyes unfocussed as she tried to describe Sovngarde to the man who now held her, lying skin on skin in the afterglow of a very thorough and pleasurable reunion. Her head laid comfortably on Vilkas's chest as her own body partially covered his, one hand smoothing over a particularly long and deep scar that ran along his side. "Ysgramor was there, in Shor's Hall. And Jurgen Windcaller, and Kodlak, too… He said he was proud of you, of us- and grateful that his soul was truly able to reach Sovngarde," she murmured, her hand falling still as Vilkas gently swept a few strands of hair back over her shoulder.

The Nord let out a soft laugh that seemed somewhat out of place, prompting Marlena to tilt her head just enough to look up at him somewhat quizzically, meeting his pale blue eyes as he gazed down at her in turn.

"Once I thought of Sovngarde as the ideal way to spend the afterlife, but more and more I'm beginning to think that it wouldn't even be half as enjoyable as spending my eternity with you, like this," he said thoughtfully, drawing a loosely-curled fist up and down her back. She couldn't help but smile at that, propping herself up on one elbow enough to peer down on his features. "I'll make you a promise, then…when the time comes, I'll meet you in Sovngarde," Marlena promised softly, returning the smile her husband offered in reply.

"Aye… But if the gods continue to smile upon us, I pray that day won't come for many, many years," Vilkas agreed at length, studying the face of the woman before him. Ever since returning to Nirn, something in her eyes was just a little different, more alive. They were the eyes of one who had seen the land of the Gods and returned.

Even to Marlena it felt strange that the long-unseen threat that had lurked just beyond the horizon for so long was finally gone. It was almost like Alduin had been nothing but a bad dream that had wormed its way into her waking hours and cast a shadow over her that she couldn't shake no matter how hard she had tried. There were times where the darkness had waned slightly, but it wasn't until now that the veil had finally been lifted and the rest of her days were hers to do with whatever she pleased. And like the man beside her, there were few other ways she would have preferred to spend them.

A/N: Thank you all so much for coming with me on this journey; it's my first work that I've actually completed and published, and the comments and thoughts of those who have read through it have been welcome sources of encouragement throughout the entire process. I have been working on other stories in between chapters, and for those of you who wish to read more Skyrim-based works, I will potentially be publishing the first chapter of a new story in just a short time.

Once again, thank you all for your support and for being the kick I needed to finish this story- I truly appreciate your interest and attention and hope to see you all again in the future.