This was another story requested by the lovely Liz_Danly! I hope you enjoy!

-------

18th of First Seed, 4E 202

My heart thundered within my breast. Sweat trickled down my brow and spine. My hands trembled. Oh, gods, was this really it? Everything had led to this moment. In just a few moments' time, I would be facing the threat I was always destined to face. I would be staring the World Eater himself in the eye, and I would have to find the strength to destroy him.

Even after the months of training and adventuring, after the countless hours spent traipsing over Skyrim's cold and harsh landscape, after all the work I had done, I still felt like the small girl staring death in the face and being so terrified of it. I still felt like that no-good mercenary, moving from Hold to Hold, looking for work, no matter how little it paid. I still felt like the girl who played at being a woman, the girl who had hardened her heart to everyone, including the gods who created her.

Around me, the spirits of the long-dead Tongues drew their ethereal—but still quite solid—weapons. Hakon One-Eye, Gormlaith Golden-Hilt, and Felldir the Old, heroes of legend, had agreed to help me slay Alduin, but had told me that I would be the only one who could deliver the killing blow. It was my destiny, after all, and not theirs.

"Also," said Hakon as we made our way across the skeletal bridge spanning the gap between Shor's Hall and the rest of Sovngarde, "we failed to defeat Alduin once already. It would be best not to give us another chance to fail again."

With that reassuring thought, we stood together, facing the dense fog that blanketed Sovngarde.

"We cannot fight the foe in this mist!" cried Felldir, his silver hair glowing with a soft yellow light.

Gormlaith readjusted her grip on her sword, determination etched into her glowing features. "Clear Skies—combine our Shouts!"

The four of us turned our faces to the mist, taking in deep breaths and setting our feet. I concentrated on the words of the Shout, allowing them to fill me with their meaning, with their power.

As one, the Tongues and I used our Thu'ums: "Lok, vah KOOR!"

As the thundering of our words faded into the air, so did the fog. It began to clear, as if a strong wind were blowing it away.

Then, the voice that haunted my every waking moment arose from seemingly nowhere, saying, "Ven-Mul-Riik!"

The mist came back, twice as thick as before. My heart sank within me.

Gormlaith, however was unaffected by the setback. Her eyes now gleamed with a lust of battle. "Again!"

Felldir nodded, although he was far more reserved than Gormlaith was. "We can shatter his power if we Shout together!"

Again, we Shouted as one, and again the mist cleared.

And again, Alduin Spoke, his twisted words bringing back the fog. "Ven-Mul-Riik!"

Hakon's one good eye filled with anguish. "Does his strength have no end? Is our struggle in vain?"

Gormlaith shook her head. "Stand fast! His strength is failing! Once more, and his might will be broken!"

"His power crumbles; do not pause for breath!" said Felldir.

For what I prayed to be the last time, we Shouted into the fog. The gray mist vanished completely this time, with no trace of it being able to come back. I started to smile. We had defeated Alduin in this test of strength!

But then a roar that brought a chill over me ruptured the sky, and the black mass of dragon rose into the air before me.

Panic threatened to rise in my gut, but I forced it back. I couldn't panic now. I had to stay focused.

"Nust wo ni qiilaan fen kos duaan," (Those who do not submit will be devoured) growled Alduin as he flapped his mighty wings. His glowing red eyes glowered down at me, making my blood turn to ice. If I hadn't been so frightened, I may have taken the time to realize that I had understood every word of Dovahzhul that Alduin had said.

"We shall see about that, dragon!" said Gormlaith next to me. "Dragonborn! Use Dragonrend!"

As those words left her lips, Alduin Shouted, and the sky above us turned dark. Red clouds swirled, and balls of fire and rock pelted down around us. I remembered this Shout from the day I had first seen Alduin: the day I was supposed to be executed in Helgen.

I forced the memory of pain and death away and instead used my Dragonrend Shout on Alduin.

"Joor, zah FRUL!" I cried, the ball of blue light and sound rushing towards Alduin, colliding with his scaly hide. His wings seemed to stop working, and with a bloodcurdling roar, the World Eater crashed into the ground.

Alduin howled his rage, tail thrashing and teeth gnashing. "Pahlok joorre! Hin kah fen kos bonaar!" (Arrogant mortals! Your pride will be humbled!)

The Tongues and I rushed forward, weapons drawn and voices raised in a singular battlecry. The fear I had felt before vanished, and in its place was a determination for victory. I would not be defeated by this dragon. I would not fail. I would fulfill my destiny and end this dragon's reign once and for all.

"Dovahkiin!" Alduin bellowed. "I am Al-Du-In! World Devourer! I cannot be vanquished by you or any mun!"(man!)

"Niid, nivahriin vith!" I said. (No, cowardly serpent!) "I am Dovahkiin! The Last Dragonborn! And I will vanquish you! You will no longer plague Skyrim or Sovngarde!"

"Yol, toor SHUL!" Shouted Alduin, and a tornado of fire flew from his scaly maw.

"Look out, Dragonborn!" screamed Hakon. I dodged the torrent of flames just in time; the intense heat blew past my back, searing me through my armor. I refused to think about the pain as I got to my feet and stabbed Alduin in the nose.

"Dragonrend is wearing off, Dragonborn!" Gormlaith said to me. As she spoke, our foe began to shake free of his binds, his wings unfurling and neck curling towards the sky. "The World Eater will soon be able to fly once more!"

"No, he won't." I once again let Dragonrend fly from my mouth, and Alduin was stilled once more.

Alduin turned his burning gaze to the Tongues, malice radiating off him like heat haze on a scorching, dusty road. "Zu'u lost kriaan hi ont, nu hin sille fen nahkip suleyki." (I've killed you once, now your souls will feed my power.)

"No!" I said, ducking under his tail. "Not today! Never again! You will be destroyed, Alduin! And you will never take another soul from this place again!"

"Zu'u Alduin! Zok sahrot do naan ko Lein!" (I am Alduin. Most mighty of any in the World!)

I hurtled through the air as one of his wings caught me in the stomach. I smacked into a large boulder, wind knocked from my lungs and head swimming. I blinked and shook my head, trying to clear my vision as I forced myself to my feet. I found myself face-to-face with Alduin, found myself staring into one of his glowing eyes. Behind him, the Tongues all lay on the ground, their weapons left beside their groaning forms.

No! I screamed in my head.

Alduin must have seen the fear on my face, for he let out a low chuckle as he brought his massive jaws closer to me. "I have already defeated your friends once, Beyne. (Scorn). I do not fear them."

I felt my blood boiling within my veins. My heart beat furiously. A cry for vengeance swelled in my throat, desperately clawing to be released.

I screamed and jumped to my feet, catching my dragon enemy by surprise. I grabbed onto one of Alduin's horns and swung myself onto his neck. He thrashed and squirmed, trying to buck me off. My hands locked in a death-grip around his horn, I set my feet on either side of his head and readied my sword.

"Zu'u unslaad! Zu'u nis oblaan!" (I am immortal, I cannot die!)

"Wrong, you snake." I drove my blade into his skull. "You can die. Just like all other dragons."

I yanked my blade from his skull and found myself slipping to the ground. I fell into the soft grass a few yards from Alduin's writhing body. Exhaustion took over where adrenaline had been, and I could only watch through hazy vision, listen through buzzing ears, as my biggest enemy screamed through his death throes.

A hand wrapped around my shoulder, shaking me. "Ylva, wake up."

I startled awake, sitting up in bed. The covers slipped and pooled around my waist as I panted in the dark. My heart hammered in my breast, as if I had been sparring for hours. My entire body was coated with a cold sweat, making my skin feel tacky.

Next to me, my husband sat up and wrapped me in his arms. I returned his embrace and closed my eyes. It was just a nightmare. Nothing more.

"Was it Alduin?" asked Vilkas, one hand slipping up and down my spine.

I nodded into his shoulder. "Yes, it was."

"Why does it haunt you so? He was evil. You had to defeat him."

"Whether I had to or not, he was still a living being. He still felt pain, and he made his pain known in his last moments." I shuddered as a chill ran down my back. "I'll never forget or outrun the sounds of his agony."

"It'll be all right, love." Vilkas kissed the crown of my head, his hand on my back stilling. "Lie back down. It's still a few hours to dawn. You should sleep."

"But my nightmares—"

"There's no nightmare that I can't scare away." He helped me lie back down, pulling the blankets back over us. "You'll be fine."

With reluctance, I settled back into my pillow, back facing Vilkas and hand braced under my cheek. Vilkas snaked his arm around my waist and pulled me into his chest. A ghost of a smile twisted my lips as he nuzzled his face into my neck. His warm breath sent a comforting heat through my body, calming my still-racing heart.

"Nothing's going to harm you, Ylva," said Vilkas in a soft, sleepy voice. "I won't..." He paused to yawn, which made me smile even more, "I won't let anything hurt you."

"I know." I laced my fingers in between the ones he had braced on my stomach. "I love you."

"And I you." He yawned again. "Good night, Ylva."

I sighed and closed my eyes. "Good night, Vilkas."

With the sound of his deep, even breathing in my ears, I pushed the memory of that fateful battle aside and let sleep claim me once more.