Skyrim: A Nord's Tale

Twenty Three

The trip to the warrens is disgusting and dangerous. We meet five of the Thalmor and between my blade and Elisia's magic we are able to incapacitate them easily. We shove their bodies to the side of the tunnel, showing them the same respect they would show to our corpses.

We finally reach a door that looks heavily guarded. Against what? I have a few guesses.

"This looks like the place," Elisia says sheathing her dagger. "Delphine did say that he was paranoid."

I nod and sheath my own blade. Walking to the door I knock twice.

An old voice comes from within the room. "Go away!"

"Esbern?" I call in a raised voice. "Open the door. We're friends."

The voice sounds slightly more panicky as Esbern replies, "What?! No, thats not me. I'm not Esbern. I don't know what you're talking about."

"It's okay," I say trying to reassure the old man. "Delphine sent us."

"Delphine? How do you... so you've finally found her, and she led you to me. And here I am, caught like a rat in a trap."

Wow this guy is paranoid, I think to myself. In a last attempt to convince Esbern of our honesty I plead, "Delphine needs your help to stop the dragons."

There's a long silence following my words and when Esbern replies, his voice is thick with emotion. "So Delphine keeps up the fight, after all these years. You'd better come in and tell me how you found me and what you want."

Elisia and I step back as the sounds of several locks being turned reaches us. Finally with the last click, Esbern opens the door and ushers us into a surprisingly large room. Introductions are short and after locking the door behind us, Esbern gestures for us to sit down at a small wooden table.

With a sigh, he sits down across from us and looks us over critically. "I thought Delphine would have realized it's hopeless by now. I tried to tell her, years ago..." Esbern trails off as though lost in thought.

Elisia leans forward and asks, "What do you mean its hopeless?"

Esbern turns his gaze on my friend and his eyes are dark and sad. "Haven't you figured it out yet? What more needs to happen before you all wake up and see what's going on? Alduin has returned, just like the prophecy said! The dragon from the dawn of time, who devours the souls of the dead! No one can escape his hunger, here or in the afterlife! Alduin will devour all things and the world will end. Nothing can stop him! I tried to tell them. They wouldn't listen. Fools. Its all come true... all I could do was watch our doom approach..."

"Alduin... The dragon who's raising the others?" Elisia asks.

Esbern leans back in his chair and places his hand over his eyes. "Yes! Yes! You see, you know but you refuse to understand!"

"You're talking about the literal end of the world?" I ask not wanting to sound patronizing.

Esbern does not move his hand but he replies, "Oh yes. Its all been foretold. The end has begun. Alduin has returned. Only a Dragonborn can stop him. But no Dragonborn has been known for centuries. It seems the Gods have grown tired of us. They've left us to our fate, as the plaything of Alduin the World-Eater."

Getting to my feet, I take Esbern's hand off his eyes and look into the dark eyes of an old man who has lost all hope and who now is prepared to die. "Its not hopeless Esbern. I am Dragonborn."

A spark appears in Esbern's eyes and he squeezes my hand. "What? You're... can it really be true? Dragonborn?" Esbern smiles for the first time and kisses my brow. "Then... there is hope! The Gods have not abandoned us! We must... We must.. We must go, quickly now. Take me to Delphine. We have much to discuss."

Esbern jumps to his feet with the energy and vigour of a much younger man. He grabs a pack and begins to pile objects into it. "Ana, that book beside you, bring it to me would you?"

Looking at the book he's referring to, I see that its a journal and the title SkyHaven: Alduin's Wall has been scratched on in black ink.

Once everything is packed up, Elisia leads the way back to the Flagon while Esbern follows and I bring up the rear. We don't meet anyone and I don't think I have ever been so happy to see the Flagon in my whole life. When we emerge from the Ratway we discover that night has fallen and we decide to stay at the Bee and Barb then head out for Riverwood in the morning.

We arrive at the Sleeping Giant Inn, the day after we leave Riften. When we arrive in Riverwood, Delphine greets us outside the inn.

Esbern greets his old companion with a look of shock and awe. "Delphine! I ... its good to see you. Its been a long time."

Delphie grips the old man's shoulder and I can see that her eyes are shining with tears. "It's good to see you too Esbern. Its been too long old friend. Too long." Turning her attention to me, the shining in her eyes is replaced by a steely glint. "Well then. You made it. Safe and sound. Good. Come on, we have a lot to talk about."

***

Hey guys I really hope you enjoyed this chapter and this may seem kinda random but I was wondering... Have any of you guys played the game Shadow of Mordor?

If you have, what did you think of the ending? What did you think about Talion as a character?

I know this has absolutely nothing to do with Skyrim as a game or as a story but... I don't know I love to talk about the story behind video games.

Anyway guys see ya later!