Despite wearing heavy armor, Vilkas led the charge to Pelagia farm.

I stuck close on his heels, leaving Farkas and Aela behind. Even from inside the walls, I could hear the dragon bellowing as it flew over the farm. I tried to catch sight of it as we ran, but it was flying too low for me to see over the city walls.

The guards opened the gates for us, and we took off down the cobblestone path leading towards the farm. By now, I could see the scaly beast circling the farm's windmill. A few town guards stood beneath it, shooting arrows at it, but the tips only deflected off the dragon's armor.

"Yol, toor SHUL!" the dragon roared as a torrent of fire spilled from its toothy maw. The guards scattered, some managing to avoid the flames, but others being roasted alive. I cringed as their screams echoed through the plains.

"Gods above..." Farkas murmured. "How can we possibly—"

"Stop this now, brother," Vilkas growled. "We are Companions. We will fight this foul worm, and we will win."

By then, we had made it to the farm's gate. Aela shot an arrow at the dragon, drawing its attention away from the guards. It growled and shot more fire at Aela.

"Look out!" I shouted, shoving Aela to the ground. The fire narrowly missed us; the heat licked my boots.

Aela didn't look pleased with being pushed flat, but I didn't care, considering I had saved her life.

A monstrous thud shook the ground behind us. I turned to see that the dragon had landed. It glowered at me, amber eyes flaring with rage.

"Dovahkiin," it hissed. I prayed that the others hadn't heard it.

I had just turned to order an attack when Farkas bellowed a war-cry and ran for the dragon's wing. At the same time, Vilkas swung at the dragon's tail. I tried to warn him, but it was too late. The dragon swatted Vilkas with its spiky tail, sending my poor friend flying backwards. He smacked into a stone wall and crumpled.

"Vilkas!" Farkas shouted, running to his brother's aid. That left just myself and Aela to fight this beast.

Could be worse, I thought to myself as I readied my sword. I could've been stuck with Torvar.

I stabbed the dragon's nose, then slashed at its unprotected eye. I missed, and the dragon swung its head into my side. I stumbled, but regained my balance just in time. I sidestepped the dragon's bite and stabbed it in the neck. I got a clean hit under its scales, and blood squirted freely.

As the dragon howled in pain, I risked a glance towards the brothers. Farkas was kneeling next to his brother, a hand on Vilkas's forehead. To my relief, Vilkas stirred.

"Ylva!" Aela shouted behind me.

Too late. The dragon swung its head again, knocking me flat. I dropped my sword in the process, and it skittered well out of my reach. Only as I tried to stand did I feel pain. I looked at my side, where the dragon had hit me, and to my horror, I saw a spike embedded deep in my side. I gasped, but told myself to keep crawling away from the dragon.

The dragon, however, had other plans. It growled and bit my leg. I screamed as the razor-sharp teeth ripped through my flesh. I swung my fist back and tried to get the dragon to let go, but to no avail.

"Let her go, beast!" Aela shouted as she shot an arrow at its face. Her shot ran true, and the arrow shaft stuck out of the dragon's left eye. Now blinded on that side, the dragon howled and dropped me. I crawled away, groaning in pain.

Oh, gods, this hurts, I whimpered inwardly. My leg burned like wildfire, my side throbbed in agony. Black and red spots danced before my eyes. Every movement sent waves of pain through my body.

But I couldn't just lie there and do nothing to help my friends. Summoning what courage I had, I rose to one knee and watched the battle. Aela was still shooting what arrows she had left in her quiver at the dragon. Vilkas had recovered and was now hacking at the dragon alongside his brother. Dragon blood spilled on the ground, making the cobblestone tacky and wet.

With a roar of rage, the dragon unfurled its wings, pushing Farkas and Vilkas to the ground. It snapped at Aela, catching her armor on its teeth. She struggled to get free, but the dragon started beating its wings, rising off the ground.

"No!" I said. I couldn't let that dragon take Aela away. With Farkas and Vilkas running to my aid, I forced myself to stand. I set my feet, ignoring the pain coursing through my body, and sucked in a deep breath.

Talos help me.

"Joor, zah FRUL!" I Shouted. The whirling blue tornado of power wrapped the dragon tight, forcing it to the ground. It roared, dropping Aela, and hit the earth hard. Aela scurried away, then rallied back to us.

"What can we do, Dragonborn?" Aela asked, her voice carrying a hint of awe.

I sucked in a sharp breath, letting it out in a groan. "Fight until the serpent stops moving," I said.

"By your command," Farkas said, raising his weapon. He yelled a battle cry, and they engaged the dragon. They hacked, slashed, stabbed, and cut at the scales until they were up to their ankles in dragon blood. With a dying scream, the dragon raised its head to the sky, flopped down, then lay still.

I, too, dropped. I fell on my good side—thank the gods. My head spun, my vision faded, and I knew the end was coming. In an effort to stay awake, I focused on the dragon's dead body, watching the scales and skin burn away. Its essence, its very soul, swirled and danced above the bones for a moment, then rushed towards me. A breeze blew over my body as the dragon's soul was absorbed into mine. I felt a rush of power as the soul settled within me. The power woke me up, but when it faded, I was back to waiting for death to come.

We had done our duty. We had slain the beast. Our—my—job was done. I closed my eyes, waiting. Soon, I would be back in Sovngarde, where I would sing, fight, and feast for all eternity. What Nord didn't want that? Death was not so bad when you knew what was on the other side.

I wonder if I'll see my parents there this time.