Chapter V

The dragon flew above the mountain path of Winterhold and a jet of fire illuminated the cold night sky in a hellish red light.

“Arms!” Bartleby cried over another deafening roar. “To arms! All Blades to battle stations! Bas! Get to the college and get the Arch-Mage out here now! Get that portal open it’s now or never!”

Bastian was already gone, forcing his way through the crowd of people that blocked his way. He finally made it to the bridge and heard a terrifying roar beneath him. He cast a spell that caused a gust of wind to hurl him across the rest of the bridge just as a dragon flew up and crashed through the stone.

Bastian cursed as the dragon turned to face him and let out a breath of hell that illuminated the night sky.

“Fod zu’u krii hi Alduin fen du hin sil ko Sovengarde joor!” The dragon bellowed.

“Evo dovah fein hi lost fael!” Bastian replied in defiance.

The dragon chuckled and lowered itself closer to Bastian.

“Ah!” The dragon said in the tongue of man. “You speak the tongue of the dovah! Amusing. But it seems to lack a certain… flare!”

The dragon breathed another mouthful of flames and Bastian had to shield his eyes from their light. The flames subsided and the dragon chuckled darkly.

“You speak like a child, clumsy and stupid!” The dragon said. “You know the words but not what it truly means to zaan!”

“I do not need your power dragon. I have no use for it!” Bastian said.

If there was one thing he learned from his time fighting the beasts, it was that they loved to talk and Bastian had used that time that the creature spent "monologuing" to gather his magicka. The wizard brandished his staff and spoke in the ancient elvish words of magick.

"Fea en'hrive fain'lle aha!"

The mage unleashed a mighty storm of frost and shards of ice as sharp as razors dug into the dragon's scales and tore his wings to ribbons. The dragon roared in anger as if fell from the sky and plummeted into the watery rocks below. Bastian didn’t take the time to relish his victory. He knew that soon the dragon would return and it would not be happy. He sprinted into the courtyard as the remaining mages exited the Hall of Elements.

“It’s the dragons, they’ve found us!” Bastian said. “They destroyed the bridge.”

“I suppose those masking spells wouldn’t last forever.” Savos said. “Bastian, you focus on getting that archway working. Mirabelle and I will guide the refugees to the college.”

“Yes Arch-Mage,” Bastian replied.

“Azura's light guide you all,” Savos said.

He and Mirabelle ran to the bridge and Bastian led the other students to the Hall of Elements.

-The Pony Scrolls-

Back in Winterhold every man and woman that could hold a bow was focusing their efforts on a dragon that was breathing ice down upon the masses.

“Archers! Bring that damned thing down!”

A volley of arrows rained through the air and struck the dragon, most of them bounced harmlessly off of its scaled back but several managed to dig into its soft underbelly. A Bosmer took careful aim with his bow from his perch on the roof of the Inn. He saw the glint of his hawk’s beak in the moonlight as it flew underneath the dragon. The Bosmer let his arrow loose and the hawk flew out of the way just in time as the poisoned arrow pierced the dragon’s heart. The dragon roared in pain, flew over the Inn and fell down the side of the mountain.

“I count two more heading this way.” The Bosmer yelled to Bartleby.

“Good work Faendal. Everyone else, get to the college now!” Bartleby yelled.

“Something is coming up the path!” A Blade Knight Brother yelled. “Gods, its Draugr! They brought Draugr!”

“How many?” Shahk called.

“I don't know? All of them!”

Bartleby gazed down the mountain path and cursed. Marching towards Winterhold seemed to be every Draugr in Skyrim armed with cruel looking weapons and torches. Their guttural chants echoed up the mountain path and at the front of the horde were Dragon Priests.

“That’s... That's a lot of Draugr,” Shahk said as Faendal and an Argonian came up behind them.

“Take a team down there and stall their progress,” Bartleby said. “Faendal, Han-Za, take your archers and cover them.”

The archers nodded and Shahk called for the blades to rally on him.

“Half of you lot come with me. The others stay here and make sure that not a damn thing gets through our barricade understand?”

The Blades drew their weapons and held them in the air.

“For Skyrim! For Tamriel!” They shouted.

“This ends tonight!”

-The Pony Scrolls-

Inside the Hall of Elements Bastian and the other mages were casting spells into the flames around the archway, using their magicka to fuel their only hope of escape.

“Give it everything you’ve got!” Bastian said.

“You said it needs time to calibrate! How long does it need?” Haala asked.

“Too long,” Bastian muttered.

Bastian felt his Magicka leave his body at an alarming rate. His vision blurred and his body began to weaken. He dropped to one knee but kept his hands raised.

“Bastian!” Lielle cried.

“Don’t move!” Bastian bellowed. “Keep focusing your Magicka!”

Lielle grimaced but did as Bastian said.

“How much magicka does this thing need?” Heciri snarled as sweat dripped down his brow.

“More than we can give.” Bastian realized.

“I have an idea.” He yelled. “Hold your positions until I return!”

Bastian broke from the group, ignored their cries of protests and questions and bolted from the Hall of Elements. He ran to the trapdoor that led down to the midden and pulled it open. He jumped down into the darkness and landed in the icy cave beneath the school. Without wasting any time he ran through the old dungeon until he came to the room where the Augur of Dunlain lied in wait. Bastian expected the door to be sealed tight but was surprised to see it open for him. Bastian ran into the room and found the glowing ball of light waiting for him, hovering in the air above his well.

“Augur, I need your assistance once again.” Bastian panted.

I know why you have come to me Bellrend. The Augur said, his mystical voice invading Bastian’s mind. Another reason the young mage disliked dealing with the mystical object. Long ago, the Augur was a student at the school until his thirst for knowledge turned him into the being of immense magical power Bastian saw before him. No one liked talking about the Augur and Bastian had been told its story by Savos Aren himself, perhaps as a cautionary tale in light of Bastian’s own desire for knowledge and power.

I told you that your efforts would be in vain, that your path would only lead you to disappointment.

“We need your help,” Bastian said. “The archway is ready. All we need is more magicka to get it going.”

And what would you have me do? Sacrifice myself so that maybe you and your friends may live? You cannot escape fate Bastian Bellrend.

“It is not our fate to die!” Bastian yelled. “I won’t let it end like this!”

It is not your choice to make. All things end in their own time. Empires fall. Kingdoms crumble. Worlds' burn. The world eater will fulfill his role as he has done and will continue to do. One man cannot hope to stop the nature of creation alone.

“You sound like the greybeards.” Bastian spat. “If you really believe that everything is going to end anyway, that we’re all going to die then why don’t you help us?”

The Augur was silent.

“You were mortal once weren't you? A man.” Bastian said. “It was your pursuit of knowledge that led you here just like it was mine. I decide my fate, not prophecy or gods. I choose when things end and they will not end here for us!”

A sound much like a chuckle invaded Bastian’s mind.

If you insist, Bastian Bellrend.

The Augur of Dunlain flared brighter than Bastian had ever seen it. Bastian screamed and covered his eyes as a power unlike any he had ever experienced filled him. He felt magicka, pure and raw coursing through his body, so much that it felt like it would burn him away into cinders. He saw what only an augur could see. What was, what is, what will be even what could have been. Bastian screamed as the power finally overcame him and his world went white.

-The Pony Scrolls-

Shahk bashed in a Draugr’s head with his Warhammer and roared in triumph.

“Come on you stinking bags of mammoth shite!” He roared.

The sounds of battle echoed up the mountain path as steel met steel in a bloody battle between Men, Mer and an army of the undead. While the Draugr had overwhelming numbers, the Blades had something to truly fight for. This was their last stand and there wasn’t a single living soul on that mountain that wasn’t ready to go down without a fight. Shahk pulled an axe from his belt and hurled it at another draugr. The axe blade buried into its skull and split its head in half with a crack. He kicked out another Draugr’s knee with a heavy foot and brought his hammer down on its head, nearly splitting the rotten body in half.

He could feel the berserker spirit of the Orsimer pumping through his veins, setting his very soul ablaze in a righteous fury that the Nords could only hope to emulate, and gods willing it would see him through this day. He pulled his hammer free and spotted a Draugr Death Lord further down the path. The Death Lord stood taller than the rest of his undead kin and wore a horned helmet on his head. His eyes glowed with the cold chill of death and in his hand, he held a large wicked looking sword molded from ebony, a weapon presented to only those truly devoted to their dragon overlords. The Death Lord held a Knight Brother in the air by his throat and drove his sword into the struggling man’s chest, the cruel blade cutting through his armor like damp parchment before ripping the blade out of the man's chest. He cast the grizzly remains of the fallen warrior aside and made his way through the thick of combat, his eyes set on Shahk Gro-Dushnikh Yal.

Shahk let out a battle cry that would make his forefathers proud. He charged at his enemy and swung his hammer in a wide arc with the intent to take the Death Lord’s head clear off of his shoulders. The Death Lord avoided the blow and slashed out with his own sword, their weapons met and sent sparks flying between them, their faces mere inches from each other. The Draugr took in a rattling breath through rotted teeth and began to speak in the guttural language of his dragon masters.

"FUS RO DAH It shouted.

Its voice became raw power and a typhoon was unleashed from the Death Lord’s mouth that sent Shahk flying backward. A pair of Blades were also caught in the thu’um’s wake and was thrown from the side of the mountain, their screams of terror fading as they disappeared into the swirling white below. The shock of the flight was enough to snap Shahk out of his berserk, causing him to see stars instead of red.

“I hate it when they do that.” He muttered.

The Death Lord raised his sword above his head with a roar of victory, ready to drive his weapon into Shahk’s heart.

“As my Pa said.” Shahk thought. “Seek a good death.”

The Death Lord raised his sword and started to bring it down when suddenly there was a spark and a clatter as an arrow struck the Death Lord’s weapon, knocking it from his grasp. The Death Lord looked up and two arrows pierced his eye sockets. It fell to its knees and landed on top of Shahk who cursed loudly as black blood oozed all over him.

“You couldn’t have done that sooner Faendal?!” He sputtered.

“I could but I know how you love near death experiences.” The Bosmer called from where ever it was he had set up shop.

Shahk kicked the corpse off of him and grabbed his hammer. He rose to his feet and growled at the approaching Draugr.

“Lousy!”

He slammed his hammer into a Draugr and bashed it to pieces like a damp piece of rotted wood.

“Stinking!”

With a vertical chop, he slammed a Draugr to the ground. He stomped on the corpse's skull, crushing it to dust and blocked a blow from another Draugr with an armored forearm before he slammed his helmeted head into the Draugr’s face, nearly knocking the undead’s head off.

“Draugr!”

He flipped his hammer around and drove the spike of his weapon into a Draugr’s skull. He ripped his weapon free and kicked the body away. Even though he had carved a crimson path of destruction through the battlefield, there were still at least a hundred Draugr left on the path, and possibly thousands on their way.

“COME ON!” Shahk bellowed.

A dragon slammed on the ground in front of Shahk knocking several Draugr off of the path and causing the very ground to shake. The dragon opened its mouth and roared at Shahk who pounded his chest and roared back in defiance.

“Orcs,” Faendal scoffed.

He pulled a gold-colored arrow from his quiver. It was designed by Bastian and based on Dwemer technology. He let the arrow fly and it whistled as it soared through the air. It stuck into the dragon’s eye and smoke began to billow out of the arrow’s shaft. There was a boom as the arrow exploded and took out the dragon’s eye along with several scales on its head. The dragon roared and thrashed with rage, having no idea where such an attack had come from. Shahk swung his weapon and it collided with the dragon’s jaw, the powerful blow sundering the dragon’s head even further and knocking loose scales and teeth. In retaliation, the dragon breathed a cone of frost that caused all of Shahk’s exposed skin to go numb with cold. The orc grimaced and felt ice collect on his ink black beard.

“WULD NAH KEST!”Bartleby yelled charging down the path.

The Nord became a blur of movement as his shout hurled him down the mountain path, blasting through and scattering any Draugr that had been in his way. Using the momentum from his shout, Bartleby landed on the dragon's head, driving his sword deeper into its remaining eye until Bartleby could no longer see his own hand. The blinded dragon roared and threw his head back, trying to shake Bartleby off but the Nord held tight, like a tick on a dog. Needless to say, the dragon was royally pissed. Bartleby let go of his sword and left it in the dragon’s eye before jumping off of its back and rolling away. The dragon continued to thrash and roar in anger as it struggled to find its footing, raking its claws through the ice and snow that covered the mountain path.

"Shut up and die," Shahk growled.

The Orc raised his hammer and brought it down on the dragon’s neck with a bone shattering crunch. The dragon's body went limp and it slumped to the ground dead.

“Death to you.” Shahk said.

“And all dragon kind.” Bartleby said as the two clasped hands. “Come on! The last of the refugees are going to the college as we speak. It’s time to-“

“Don’t say retreat.” Shahk growled.

“Tactical withdraw.” Bartleby said.

Shahk grunted and spat on the dragon’s body as Bartleby ripped his sword out of its eye socket. The two readied their weapons and made their way back up the path towards Winterhold.

-The Pony Scrolls-

“We can’t keep this up for much longer!” Heciri shouted. The students magicka reserves were nearing their breaking point and keeping the spells going now was causing them physical harm.

“What is the matter Heciri?” J’zargo asked with a groan of pain. “Perhaps you need a break? Would you like J’zargo to fetch you a chair, maybe a bottle of wine?”

Heciri scoffed and held his ground. Lielle felt faint. Her vision was darkening. She wanted desperately to go find Bastian but if she moved now she knew that it would be all over. Suddenly, she felt a surge of magical energy sweep through her. She felt more powerful than she had ever felt before. She looked up and saw that the effect seemed to have taken hold of her fellow apprentices as well.

It’s okay.

She saw Bastian appear next to her. He seemed to be glowing, radiating magicka. He looked down at her with white eyes and in a voice that wasn’t his own said, “Finish it.”

Empowered by Bastian’s aid, Lielle and the apprentices gave a final burst of magicka and all of the flames flared to life and turned pure white. There was a burst of light and Lielle felt the last trace of magical energy leave her body. She and her fellow apprentices fell to the ground, completely drained of their magical energy. She looked up and saw the space in the archway had turned white. Bastian looked down at her and the augur’s voice said: “The sun and the moon will fall beneath the golden king.”

The Augur of Dunlain faded from its host and Bastian fell to the ground next to Lielle.

Author's Notes:

Translation notes:
The dragon says to Bastian “When I kill you Alduin will devour your soul in Sovengarde mortal!”
To which Bastian replies “Bigger dragons than you have tried.”
I also thought that it was funny that the dragon word for have is lost.
Thank you for reading and don’t forget to review.