The Wolf Queen Awakens

Chapter 33

Odahviing finally landed, after a flight that been dizzyingly fast, the wind whistling through Elisif's hair as Skyrim whirled below her, the Rift's lakes and rivers gleaming in the sunlight. Her raven friend had seemed to enjoy itself (herself?) too, cawing as they flew, eyes shut but head lifted and clearly having a good time.

So it was Elisif felt rather reluctant as she slid off Odahviing, the raven fluttering up to perch on top of a stone monolith and put its feathers back in order. She'd liked flying. Now she was back on solid ground, and the ruin lying in wait over the bridge did not look inviting.

"This is as far as I can take you," Odahviing said, glancing over at Skuldafn itself, where a torrent of magic was pouring from the roof, rising into the sky. The portal, Elisif presumed. "Krif voth ahkrin, Yolaazov. I will await your return... or Alduin's."

Elisif whispered goodbye and then Odahviing was gone, disappearing into the west, leaving her alone. Steeling herself, Elisif whispered a prayer to Kyne and ran over the bridge.

It proved to be as bad as she'd feared, worse in fact. Archers fired at her, Draugr both, and she'd had no problem sprinting round to dispatch one then returning to deal with the second – only to be met with two Draugr Scourges running to fight her... and then the dragon landed.

Breathing fire sent the Draugr staggering back, but not for long, and then Elisif found herself hiding behind her shield, having to fend off the dragon's fire breath, and blows from the two Draugr, crying out in pain as their swords drew blood, and she sank to her knees, realising she'd seriously misjudged her capabilities. She should have brought Cicero after all. Sovngarde awaited, but not the route to it she'd hoped for.

And then there was the fluttering of wings, her raven friend wheeling overhead, wheeling round the Draugr and expertly darting in to peck at the eyes of first one, then the other, and then it was coming into land, feathers fluttering in Elisif's peripheral vision as it suddenly seemed to grow in size... and then twin fireballs sent both Draugr reeling as Keirine was there, casting mage armour as the dragon turned on her.

It turned out even a Hagraven could look nervous, but she didn't falter. She crossed her arms over and drew her claws against her own flesh, flinging her arms out and letting her blood fall to the ground.

"Agar y agarma, Brencailleachta calwad cavairta!" she cried out, harsh Hag tones sounding authoritative enough to give even a Dovah pause. "Teg y tegma, agarta ansio tolad!"

Where her blood dropped to the stone, two portals shimmered into being, and from them Elisif heard two voices, one male, one female and both familiar.

"Agar y agarvia, cuvachtvi'an te!" Two shapes sprang through the portal, one Nord warrior in full Blades armour with an ebony battleaxe in his hands who went straight for the dragon, and the other a mage who Elisif had seen only a few hours ago, clad in Stormcloak gear but definitely not one of them.

Argis and Eola, and the two of them were tearing into her opponents, Eola smacking fireballs into the Draugr while Argis dodged around the dragon with surprising agility for a man who'd been bleeding out in her arms not two days ago.

"What...?" Elisif whispered, feeling a bit dazed as Keirine helped her up and casting a healing spell on her.

"I knew you'd have problems," Keirine sighed. "My brother's optimism is boundless, but sometimes his feelings can blind him to someone's shortcomings. So I followed, with Argis and Eola on standby in case I needed to call them, and here we are. Now, my nephew's healing is only just done and my niece can hardly be expected to fight two Draugr on her own, so about you go and help with the dragon and I'll sort the undead out with Eola, hmm?"