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The leader of the Grey Beards was a dragon.

At this point I had been fairly convinced I had seen all Skyrim had to offer. Call it cynical, but I had traveled back and forth across the land more times than I could count, had faced endless monsters and every type of evil spoken of in myth and legend. But this...this I had not...could not have guessed if I walked the roads of Skyrim for a thousand years.

The Greybeards were the guardians of the way of the voice, Dragonborn's commanded the voice and fought dragons. How could a dragon have been responsible for safeguarding The Way of the Voice?

The fact that Parthanaxx had turned out to be a dragon continued to overshadow the purpose behind my visit until I was well on my way down the mountain. Ten thousand steps and I had used every one of them to come to grips with this new reality.

The ancient dragon had been civil, sad even, and a bit funny at times. The fact that he had watched the ages of the world slip by on top of that mountain spoke to his strength of character. Strangely when he had greeted me in the dovah tongue I had, for the first time, not been inclined to attack a dragon on sight. I had never encountered a thu'um from a dragon that hadn't hurt in some way or another.

After our meeting, as usual, I found myself back on the road with Stenvar trailing along behind me. He had enjoyed the hospitality of the Grey Beards and stayed wisely in his quarters where I left him until I returned. Now, he was keeping up a running monologue about the things we were passing or stories they reminded him of. He didn't seem to need my input to keep the conversation going, and I appreciated the time to sort through my thoughts.

Parthanaxx's advice had been surprising. He did not know the shout Dragon Rend. Although he had an idea of where I could find it and as ridiculous as it was, I didn't honestly have a better idea. Dragon Rend had been lost to time, so I needed to bend time to find it. An elder scroll was the only thing strong enough to do so. Most of those had been lost to time as well.

Parthanaxx had suggested I ask the mages in Winterhold about it. He had suggested it offhandedly, as though the secretive mages would just welcome the opportunity to help me. In my experience it was never that easy, and everyone always wanted something from the Dragonborn.

I needed to speak with a mage before I ventured into the College of Winterhold blindly. Unfortunately, I only knew two well enough to ask the questions I needed answered. One of which was the court mage in Riften, it was both out of the way, and Wylandriah was a forgetful thing who wasn't likely to understand the subtlety of my questions. The other...I sighed and led the way down the path back towards Windhelm...and Ulfric.

I was as unsure about how I felt about returning to Ulfric's city as I was about taking advice about defeating the dragons from an actual dragon. I glanced over my shoulder at Stenvar who was chatting about a cave nearby and felt a deep stirring of loneliness in my chest. I missed Mjoll, even if she was a little slow on the road, I could have confided in her about my thoughts about Parthanaxx and maybe about Ulfric. Well...probably not Ulfric, but she more than likely would have already noticed and brought up the subject herself. Stenvar was too new. He was here for the adventure with the Dragonborn. He didn't care about the uncertainty in Freyja's heart.

We stayed the night at a camp a few hours outside of Windhelm. We could have pushed on through the night, but it wouldn't make any difference. Wuunferth wouldn't see me in the middle of the night. In fact, I would be lucky if he would deign to see me the first day of our arrival. No doubt he would be upset about my sudden departure and continued absence from Windhelm.  He was going to want that favor.

I had one last idea before I turned to the mages. I had been turning it over in my mind all day and as much as I wished it was unnecessary, I couldn't deny it as a possible source of information. It was likely a shot in the dark and almost as unnerving as going to the mages themselves, but I needed to explore every option and speak with every living person who might know about the ancient shout. Outside of the Grey Beards I only knew one who had mastered the Way of the Voice.

It was early morning when we crossed the bridge into Windhelm. I froze when I saw a familiar form move down a side hallway of the ramparts. Just who I was looking for. It was a bit of a relief to be able to approach him away from court. I had every intention of following, but I didn't want company. I turned to Stenvar. "We will likely be here for a few days. Why don't you head home."

"Your word you'll send for me before you leave?" Stenvar asked pointedly.

I bit back a sigh of defeat. It seemed he was starting to get to know me after all. "You have my word," I assured him.

I waited until he walked through the gates of the city before turning down the same hallway. My leather boots were silent on the stone steps but he stiffened nonetheless when I stepped within a few feet of his back.

"Only three days Dragonborn, you must miss us," he jested lightly.

I had a brief moment to wonder how he could have possibly known it was me. He turned to face me, his blue eyes serious as he ran them over me critically. When he didn't see any visible injuries he appeared mollified as he finally met my gaze. He always saw so much more than I wanted. He seemed to read the question in my eyes.

"There are few the guards would allow to approach me here," he said gesturing to the small balcony that overlooked where I had fallen in the river. A strange possessive feeling rose in my chest. It had been a favorite spot of mine to come and think while in the city. I didn't want to share it with Ulfric. He complicated everything.

"Bold of you to allow anyone to approach your back," I observed casually.

Ulfric cocked his head to the side, a glimmer of humor in his ice blue eyes. "Bold of you to approach a Jarl without summons," he growled but there was a teasing light in his eyes.

I licked my lips. "I have a couple of questions for you," I told him. I hated this. Hated going to him and asking for his help. Somehow needing this information from him made me feel even more vulnerable than when I had been injured. As irrational as it seemed, at least then I didn't have a choice.

"Is that so?" Ulfric asked and one corner of his mouth twisted up.

I swallowed and glanced over my shoulder.

Ulfric made a noise in the back of his throat. "Either you  are worried we will be overheard or are considering running," he leaned a hip against the low stone wall and crossed his arms over his chest. Ever a patient Hunter.

I remembered our last meeting here when he had grabbed my hip and ordered me to stop running from him. I swallowed as my mouth suddenly went dry. Ulfric was dangerous to me in so many ways other than just the obvious one.

"Ask Dragonborn," he said it like a general and not like the man I...the man I what? I didn't even know. Thinking of him as a general made it easier, or at least less complicated to ask my questions.

I opened my mouth and stopped. Unsure where to even begin. How much did he truly need to know. Looking in his shrewd blue eyes I was sure he would demand everything.

"While I was in the Reach," I began. "When we found...we found a temple, hidden in the hills. One only the Dragonborn could open. There we discovered a possible way to stop the dragons."

It wasn't a lie. I was just omitting the truth. I wasn't ready to fess up to my prophetic fate. It was all too big still, too much. If I talked about it with Ulfric, who made me feel so safe. I didn't know if I could keep my composure.

"I've heard your thu'um," I said, for some reason feeling a warm flush in my cheeks at the memory of it in my chest.

Ulfric nodded slightly and maybe it was my imagination but it seemed as though his eyes darkened as he took in my body's reaction to the memory.

"In that temple we found evidence of a...a shout, that could rip a dragon from the sky."

Ulfric's eyebrows arched up in interest. "I don't know of one, but a shout like that..." he started to say. "Could certainly change the tide of a battle against an individual dragon," he allowed and then there was that flash of dangerous, intelligent cunning. "But how could that stop all the dragons?" He asked, arching a brow.

I bit the inside of my lip cursing both myself and Ulfric.

"You have come to me for help, don't think you can feed me half truths and lies," Ulfric warned, his jaw tight.

I swallowed. "There is one, his return...he is resurrecting the others. If I defeat him..." I couldn't bring myself to say the name. It seemed so absurd, that me, Freyja, would face a creature so shrouded in myth and legend.

"One dragon..." Ulfric mused his voice a thoughtful growl. "The world eater..." Ulfric said suddenly. "Isn't that the story?" He asked with a frown.

I had said too much, I should have known Ulfric was too observant to let half truths stand. My silence was all the confirmation he needed.

Ulfric's jaw was like iron. The muscles flexed as he ground his teeth and I could see the strain it took for him to control his temper. "You keep secrets Dragonborn. Many of which you should not."

I opened my mouth to respond. Unsure what I was going to say in the face of Ulfric's anger. I wanted to be equally as mad at him, to match his rage with my own, but he wasn't wrong to be upset. I had come here for help, and he had aided me time and time again. He had offered his allegiance in the fight against the dragons without stipulation. I owed him an explanation. But what? Where did I begin?

A cry echoed up the valley, saving me from having to make any kind of decision. I swung around, my eyes narrowing as I tried to locate my quarry. I felt it growing in my chest as it drew closer.

"I don't see it," he said, his eyes on the sky even as his hand dropped to his ax.

"There!" I called as it came over the mountains to the northeast of the city, headed straight for the farms and farmers out tending their crops. It shouted and fire rained down, igniting the trees, crops and fences in reach. The farmers shouted and ran.

"If you jump off this bridge-" Ulfric growled, but there was affection in his voice I hadn't expected.

I turned and ran back out onto the main road. I lifted my chin to the sky and shouted, trying to call the dragon off the poor farmers. It hesitated, turning its liquid eyes towards me. It felt the same draw I did. The possessive need to fight another of its kind for territory. It hesitated for only a second as though confused I did not have the body of a dragon.

The guards rained arrows down upon it. It tried to dodge them, but there were too many. From behind me, a thu'um filled the air and shook the ground at my feet.

Ulfric

Unrelenting Force slammed into the dragon, making it loose altitude. It landed no more than fifty yards in front of me. It had been long enough and I shouted once more. My own thu'um echoing through the mountains with Ulfric's. The dragon staggered on its feet as the guards continued to pelt it with arrows. The dragon roared.

The last dragon I had battled here was starving, wild and so feral it couldn't think. This one was intelligent and cunning. I felt a smirk tug at my lips. A worthy adversary. I drew my twin swords and I charged it.

"Freyja!" I heard someone shout my name, but I ignored it.

I launched myself at the dragon. I slashed once and my swords bit deep between the scales. I must have caught it by surprise. It pushed off the ground into the sky.

As soon as it was airborne another volley of arrows assaulted it and it shouted it's rage. Enough time had passed and I shouted once more. The dragon staggered in the sky and then landed once more before it fell out of the sky. It was safer on the ground than in the air. I slashed, hacked and stabbed. Moving through as many power attacks as I could manage in the first few seconds it was on the ground. It reared back it's head and spewed molten fire at me from less than a foot away. I felt the heat burn across and over me, but my enchantments held. Staring into its eyes as I withstood the full force of its thu'um I tasted its fear. I swung myself up, landing on the wide, flat portion of its head. I fought to keep my balance as it tried to throw me off. I dropped to a knee, slamming both blades down through its skull.

The dragon shuddered and I rolled off, landing on my feet just in front of it, a blade in each hand, dripping with dragon blood.

It threw its head back and shouted one last time to the sky before it collapsed at my feet. I stood before it, panting, my chest rising and falling with each breath. A low rumble started and a blast of energy hit me as the body burned to ash. I gasped, throwing back my head as the soul hit me. It ran through my body as it fought to merge with my own. I shuddered. I held so many within.

There was movement behind me but I didn't turn. I needed to compose myself first. I couldn't let anyone see the wildness I could feel burning inside of me. I didn't have control of my expression yet.

Footsteps approached, moving into my space and I knew it had to be Ulfric. His scent washed over me. "You will be the source of every red blooded Nord's dreams tonight Dragonborn," Ulfric said in a low voice as he passed me.

I look up at him in surprise and followed his gaze to see a whole line up of soldiers staring at me in awe. A blush heated my face and I looked away. I took a couple quick steps away from the corpse and when I turned around I found almost all eyes were on me. It made me uncomfortable. I turned and began cleaning my swords in the snow, using the edge of my cloak to dry the blades so they would stick to the inside of my scabbard. I slid my swords away and pointedly stepped back, giving the Stormcloaks room.

Wuunferth approached me looking thoughtful. "I came out to help, but it seems you had the situation well in hand..."

I glanced at him and marched over to the corpse. There were valuable scales and bone still there. I pulled my dagger and began harvesting, trying to ignore Wuunferth trailing behind me. "Two dragon attacks in a month," Wuunferth observed crisply. "I wonder if they are drawn to you," he mused.

I froze, the dragon scales still in my hand. I could feel them, I had never considered if they could feel me in the same way. If they could, if they could feel me wherever I was...I really was as dangerous to the people around me as I feared.

If so, I needed to leave here before another dragon came. What was it about this place? Or me in it? My eyes flitted towards the roads the led out of Windhelm.

"Ah, trying to slip away again Dragonborn?"Wuunferth asked.

"What I'm doing is important, Wuunferth. I will repay your favor when I return."

"No," he said sharply. "What you are doing is dangerous. I'll not wait and have you die before my boon is repaid."

I hesitated, pressing my lips together. He wasn't wrong. What I was doing was dangerous. I couldn't blame him for being cautious. But I needed to find that scroll. All of Tamriel depended on it.

"And have you chosen your boon?" I asked tartly.

Wuunferth smiled an oily smile that made me wish I had never even considered offering him a favor.

"I have indeed Dragonborn. But it will take time to explain and I'll not stand out here and freeze. Come to the palace."

"I need to know about the college of Winterhold," I told him.

He chuckled darkly. "Thinking of joining the mages up in their tower? I'll explain over a hot meal."

I sighed. There was no getting out of this. The smile Wuunferth flashed me before turning to head back into the city said he knew the same thing. I was trapped.

I followed the others back towards the palace. Ulfric was on the lead, shouting orders to his men on disposal of the remains and how to help the farmers who had been attacked.

I couldn't help the wave of fresh guilt that consumed me. Had it really been my fault? Were the dragons tracking me here? I looked up at the mountains that surrounded Windhelm. It was true I hadn't been in the city in a long time. Perhaps the dragons had settled here without my disturbance. And now that I had started visiting the city, they felt compelled to defend their territory. I licked my lips. I didn't like the idea of them claiming Windhelm as their territory. I looked around at the rock and ice covered ancient city. There was something about it that called to me, I wouldn't let them claim it. It was mine.

"Dragonborn," I turned to see Ralof fall into step beside me. He kept his head down and wouldn't meet my gaze.

"Ralof," I greeted.

"I didn't expect you to return to Windhelm so soon," he commented. He pressed his lips together as though he wanted to say something. He stopped and touched my arm, encouraging me to do the same. The group of soldiers continued towards the main gate without us.

"You saved my people," he said. "Even though..." he shook his head. "I should never have yelled at you. You were just trying to be honest. Yes, you lied to me in the past, but you shouldn't be punished for finally trying to do the right thing. Seeing you fight that thing...you are right, you are not the woman I fell in love with," his eyes softened and were a little sad. "If she ever existed at all," he cleared his throat. "You are the Dragonborn, a formidable warrior and ally. I would be stupid to continue to stir your ire."

I nodded, thinking this might be as close to an apology as I would ever get from Ralof. "I don't deserve your forgiveness nor your understanding," I told him. "But once, we were friends who fought side by side for a common cause."

"Perhaps we could again one day," Ralof agreed and he held his hand out to me.

I smiled gently and shook it. I didn't have the heart to explain to him that I wasn't here to join the Stormcloaks. I couldn't. I turned away from Ralof and stopped. Ulfric was standing like a statue at the main gate watching us. His eyes were locked on where Ralof was touching me.

Ralof noticed and dropped his hand. "Be careful of him Freyja," Ralof said in a low voice.

I turned to him with a frown. "You trust him. Follow him."

"Of course I do, he's Ulfric Stormcloak, but it doesn't mean I would trust him with you. If you had seen the way he was looking at you when you were standing over that thing...I've not seen a man look upon a woman with such lust. And Ulfric cares only for our victory. He wants control of your power. Have care." He advised and he stepped around me heading towards the gate. He nodded to Ulfric as he passed him.

I took a deep breath and followed into the city. Ulfric fell into step near me. "My lady Dragonborn," he greeted formally. "I must confess I'm surprised to see you will be joining us this evening. Was it Ralof who convinced you to change your mind?" The question felt dangerous.

I stopped and met his gaze. His words had all been formal and correct, but there was a wild glint in his eyes the matched what I still felt in my chest. I wondered if he remembered how it felt when our thu'ums echoed through the valley together. I looked away, unable to hold his gaze.

I shook my head. "No, Jarl Stormcloak," I said formally, bowing my head respectfully. There were too many eyes on us to be as familiar as we had on the bridge. "Your court wizard suggested I remain in the palace for the evening. He has matters he wishes to discuss with me."

Ulfric's lips twisted, but I wasn't sure I would have called it a smile. "Then you shall be a guest in the palace once more." He said.

There was something in his eyes that made me shivery. I remembered what Ralof had said, about his lust for my power. But I couldn't help thinking he was wrong. Or perhaps I simply wished it. I shivered again and wrapped my arms around myself.

Ulfric moved away and I swung back around. I narrowed my eyes at Wuunferth. Wuunferth who desired to keep me here. Wuunferth who was far more likely to desire to use my power for his own. "Have you done something?" I snapped suspiciously.

"Done something?" He asked in confusion and then his eyes flickered back and forth from Ulfric to me. He threw his head back and laughed. "No, not me, just your natural attraction."

"I find that hard to believe," I said. Wouldn't it be convenient if I could blame all this messiness on Wuunferth.

"Why? Because you were enemies? You are both characters from legend now. Would it be so terrible to believe you found someone who might very well understand what you face? Ulfric has been a legend since he was a boy and became a hero of the Great War as a teenager. He has lived his whole life under the burden of history...no Dragonborn, I had nothing to do with this. I can assure you a magical attraction is much...messier, more physical, than the dance you two have been leading around each other...And why would I wish to have the Jarl watching my prize so closely? Before this he wouldn't have bat an eye at the news of your death. Now, he would punish me if it was discovered I was responsible."

"I doubt that," I said in a low voice 

"Which part?" He challenged.

"Ulfric wouldn't punish you."

Wuunferth smiled wryly. "We may yet find out. The errand I am sending you on will not be without danger. It will take time. But, as you are already on your way to the college, perhaps you can kill two birds with one stone. I seek the staff of Magnus. It has been lost for many eons, only the secretive mages in the college may know it's location, but you won't find it without winning their trust."

I huffed out a sigh. "You want me to enroll in the college of Winterhold? I'm no magic user."

"You are Dragonborn, they won't be able to resist you."

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I sat at the long banquet table, feeling only slightly out of place. I remembered Wunfuurth's words clearly and glanced towards Ulfric. He was doing a good job of pretending I wasn't there, which I appreciated. I was already uncomfortable with the looks I was getting from the soldiers who had been out on the road. I was used to being appreciated for my abilities but this was something else entirely.

I quietly ate my food while the soldiers recounted the tale. When we were done I took a step towards the door but Ulfric's steward stepped in front of me.

"My lady," he greeted with a bow. "I have heard that you were leaving in the morning for Winterhold."

"That's true," I acknowledged cautiously. I slid my gaze towards Wuunferth, surprised at how quickly my business had spread through the court.

"I have asked Ironkettle to prepare a room for you," he said gesturing towards the guest wing of the palace.

I shook my head. "I couldn't," I said, taking a step towards the door.

"The room is already prepared. You saved us. We couldn't possibly allow you to pay for a place to stay. The Jarl has made it perfectly clear that you will have a room here always. We will not abide you paying to stay in our city. Not after all you have done for us."

I opened my mouth, trying to come up with another excuse to not stay in Ulfric's palace. I didn't like the idea of having all of my movements monitored, but after having spent so much time in the palace after being injured it was hard to turn them down.

I lifted my gaze from the steward to see Ulfric watching me from across the room. His lips were twisted in a smirk and his eyes were daring me to turn down the offer. I scowled at him and his smile turned into a wide real one. I hated that he had played me and won.

I wouldn't be rude to the steward who had been so kind to me. "Thank you," I said with a nod.

He smiled warmly. "It's the same room you used during your last stay."

I nodded my thanks and turned away from his warm face. When I accidentally caught Ulfric's eye he was watching me with more intent now. I was reminded of his words out on the road and a blush heated my cheeks. His eyes darkened as though he knew what I was thinking and my breath caught in my throat. I turned away, terrified he would see something else in my gaze I didn't want him to see and hurried for the guest wing of the palace.

I slammed the door to my room closed behind me and leaned against it as I fought to contain my rapidly beating heart. I needed to get out of this city. I had made a mistake coming here. I needed to stop allowing myself to be distracted by Ulfric and stay focused. There was a fight coming and I couldn't afford any distractions.

I allowed myself a couple hours of sleep and rose in the middle of the night. I gathered my things and slipped down the stairs. I wasn't going to stay and have to face Ulfric in the morning. I had already been through enough humiliation.

When I stepped out into the banquet hall I was convinced I was home free until I heard slow clapping behind me. I turned around to see Ulfric sitting at the end of the table, watching me.

I scowled at him.

"You made me wait longer than anticipated. I expected you to leave as soon as the lights went down."

"I was tired," I said petulantly.

"Glad you could make sure you were well rested before sneaking out of my palace and throwing my hospitality in my face."

I glowered at him but said nothing. He just grinned at me, his white teeth glittering in the darkness. I hated that he was amused by me.

"Thanks for the hospitality," I said and I walked out the door.

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