Elder Scrolls: Empire of Blood

12: Dragon Born

Frother had not even been high king for two weeks when word had reached him of the war in the Reach.

Gathering the forces of Solitude and Markarth he and his childhood friend Jarl Sigmund marched south of Solitude to deal with the insurrection.

Sigmund had brought with him a few of his best warriors a group of legendary Nord berserkers to fight the orcs that filled the ranks of the enemy.

Frother's second son Alfred had accompanied his father while his older brother returned to Whiterun to aid his mother the high Queen in ruling the kingdom in his father's absence.

It was around midday when the king's army stopped to camp in the western hills south of Dragon's Bridge.

It was also around this time that Alfred had discovered that his younger brother Baldwin had hidden among the supply wagons.

"What are you doing here, are you crazy!?" He shouted at his younger brother fuming.

It was one thing to follow them on a hunt but following them into the midst of battle was suicide.

"Hey I'm not a little kid anymore I can fight and I want to help father defend Skyrim," Baldwin replied standing his ground he was determined to be a warrior of legend and prove himself to his family.

"You are going to get yourself killed and not to mention mother is probably worried sick about you do you ever think about anyone but yourself!?" Alfred asked him crossing his arms.

Baldwin felt ashamed of his actions the moment his brother mentioned the worry he was putting their mother through he should have left her note telling her and Eric where he was going.

"I'm sorry Alfred I...I just want to help save Skyrim and prove myself to you and the rest of our family that I'm not a little kid anymore," said Baldwin as he hung his head in shame.

Alfred let out a sigh he felt sorry for his little brother for he knew how it was to feel that you had to prove yourself to the world and those around you.

Growing up the youngest of a pair of twins was not the easiest especially having to grow up in the shadow of the heir to the throne of his people.

"Eric is going to kill me for this," he mumbled to himself before placing his hands on his brother's shoulders "you can stay but you must stay close to me and out of Father and uncle Sigmund's sight okay?"

Baldwin's face lit up with joy at his brother's words he had been worried that he would send him home.

"I will I promise, I will stay near you and do everything you say," he replied nearly jumping for joy.

Alfred chuckled and shook his head at his brother's antics and prayed to Mara that he had not just signed his death warrant.

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Sunna and the others had crossed the border into Skyrim with no trouble though she had noticed that the people were on high alert and both suspicious and wary of outsiders.

They soon learned that a war to the North was the cause of all of the distress among the locals with stories of whole cities and towns being put to both the sword and torch.

Traveling North of the small town of Kyne's Pass the three companions arrived at the old tomb of the Dragon Priest.

J'zargo could feel an uneasy presence in the air around them as they dismounted their horses.

"We should be weary of our surroundings who knows what lurks inside those accursed halls," he told the others as they made their way to the entrance.

While the old cat felt weariness from the old ruin Sunna could feel nothing but power pulsing from somewhere deep inside this both frightened and excited her for reasons she knew not.

Entering the first level of the tomb the trio checked the floor for any signs of traps or wards safely disposing of the ones they found.

As they made their way further down and to the dark depths of the creepy place they couldn't shake the feeling that they were all being watched.

"I don't like the feeling this place gives off," said Brynjolf as the three rounded a corner.

Sunna was about to reply when the three of them were blasted by a heavy magical force that followed the sound of a deep voice shouting.

Pulling themselves back to their feet the group turned to face their attackers and came eye to eye with death itself.

From all around them poured forth the lumbering bodies of undead warriors with rotting flesh and glowing blue eyes that were the things of nightmares.

"Who dares disturb my slumber!?" Hissed an evil voice full of both power and malice.

"It is I Sunna Dragon Caller who has come here to vanquish you once and for all!" Sunna replied as she and the others fought their way through the hoards of the undead and towards two massive iron doors that were etched with artworks of dragons.

Together Brynjolf and Sunna rammed the doors while J'zargo protected their rear by blasting everything that moved.

On the other side of the doors was a vast chamber where an undead Man dressed in ragged robes and wearing an ancient mask of power sat upon his throne watching the three intruders with cold dead eyes.

"At last you have arrived and it comes that I should be the one to kill you," he said as he rose from his throne "you will all soon join the ranks of my forces and replace those which you have taken from me!"

Raising his staff the Priest hurled a ball of fire in the trio's direction which they all avoided by dashing behind columns and fallen rubble.

"Anyone got a plan?" Asked Brynjolf as they all ducked another assault.

J'zargo thought over the layout of their surroundings and came up with an idea.

"Brynjolf you go to the right while Sunna you go left I'll stay here and provide cover."

The Nord and the Redguard nodded and then followed their friend's instructions as he pelted the priest with magic attacks of his own.

Finally, the three were in the right position and they all leaped from their hiding places and charged their foe head-on in a relentless assault.

After a long and exhausting battle, Sunna defeated the ancient being by driving her sword through his chest.

As the three companions took a moment to recover from the fight the young woman could hear the sound of chanting coming from an old wall at the back of the crypt just beyond the old throne.

Stepping forward she could see a group of words that were beginning to glow as she drew closer to them.

Placing her hand on the ancient stone Sunna was met by visions of great battles and the roars of mighty dragons as a magical force surrounded her.

At first, she couldn't understand the words that were being spoken to her but slowly everything fell into place, and like the pieces of a once broken puzzle.

As the power poured forth from the wall the chanting began to grow louder and louder with one name ringing clear.

Dragon Born.