The light streaming in from the slit in the deep purple curtains, woke Jack.  Shifting a little, Jack grinned.  Mark's arm was draped over his back.  Beside him, Mark was still sleeping.  Jack loved seeing him like this.  He couldn't explain it.  Mark just looked so handsome and calm.  Jack bit his lower lip and playfully booped Mark's nose with his finger.  Mark continued to sleep on, blissfully unaware.  Jack did his best to suppress his chuckle.  Carefully slipping off the bed and out from under Mark's heavy arm, Jack stood up to stretch.  He'd let Mark sleep awhile longer.  He'd just step out to get them some breakfast and check on Argo.  Grabbing his cloak and sword, Jack slipped silently from the room.  Walking down the wooden steps, Jack placed an order with the Tavern nord named Wilhelm and even bought a few carrots.  Wilhelm handed Jack the carrots and told him in a tired voice.  "Your food will take a few minutes". 

Jack nodded to the man with a smile, before taking the carrots outside.  Outside the Inn, Tim and Argo stood patiently.  Tim looked to be asleep on his feet.  While Argo nibbled on some tall grass by his feet.  Jack walked up to the railing they were both tied to, reaching out to stroke Argo's neck.  Argo lifted his head and Jack held out one of the carrots for him, whispering to him softly.  "You ok, buddy? Looks like you got out of the lake alright".  Jack hesitantly moved around Argo to the side the dragon had hit with its tail.  There were a few red scars along his body from the ordeal, but they weren't very deep.  Argo turned his head to stare at him and Jack hugged his long nose, petting him gently as he said.  "I'm sorry, buddy. I'll fix you up".  Releasing Argo, Jack went from scar to scar casting the spell for Healing. 

When he finished, Jack patted Argo's leg, telling him sweetly.  "There. Do you feel better"?  Argo's answered by quickly snatching another carrot from Jack's hand.  Jack chuckled, moving around him to look over Tim, replying smugly.  "You seem to at least have an appetite. So, I'll take that as a yes".  Tim's sleepy eyes turned to check out what Argo was eating and his eyes grew wide.  Tim tried to snatch some of the green leaves hanging out of Argo's mouth, but Argo simply raised his head high out of reach.  Tim shifted angrily, snorting loudly at Argo.  Jack quickly held out a carrot for him to see and he almost took his fingers with it!  Jack exhaled nervously, telling Tim sternly.  "For fucks sake! Calm down! I got enough for both of you"! 

After taking care of the horses, Jack made his way back inside the Inn.  This time there was a guard talking loudly to Wilhelm.  The guard lifted his mug of ale, telling Wilhelm excitedly.  "I'm tellin' ya the truth! I just came from there. The Jarl wants to 'see' him. The people there claim they saw him shout the dragon off a roof! Then this same man sucked out its soul! They are calling him a hero".  Wilhelm huffed sarcastically, snapping back dryly.  "Some hero. I bet the dragon was after HIM! Besides, you can't trust anything the people in Riften say. They are all liars and thieves".  Jack quickly flipped up the hood to his cloak as casually as he could.  He didn't want to draw attention to himself... but his hair would most likely do that anyway. 

The guard took a swig from his mug, replying sourly.  "I'd love to disagree with you, but I was there. I saw the dragon bones myself. Helgen and Whiterun were attacked too. They say that the Dragonborn was present for both. It would be safe to say that wherever he goes... They seem to follow".  Wilhelm chuckled, refilling the guards mug as he asked the guard sarcastically.  "What are they saying about him? I'm sure Ulfric will be so flattered.  Provided that he doesn't get eaten by a dragon first"!  The guard shook his head solemnly, stating aloud.  "No. No. No. Ya got it all wrong. The Dragonborn isn't Ulfric. It's another guy. He's not even a Nord".  Jack tried to make his way silently toward the stairs.  He had to wake Mark.  They had to leave.  He was right.  The word was spreading fast.  Wilhelm chuckled distastefully, asking aloud.  "Oh, is that right? Then I guess every Jarl will want the bastard as their new Thane.  While Ulfric and Tullius piss it out to win his favor, eh? What does this new 'Dragonborn' even look like then"?  The guard answered just as Jack was reaching the steps.  "They say he is a scrawny lad. Mage type. Has this strip of green hair on his head and rides a scrawny nag. Kinda like the one ya got outside".

Jack froze on the first step as Wilhelm jerked his head up to stare at him in disbelief.  The guard took a moment longer, before he jerked his own head up, snapping out loudly.  "Motherfucker! HE'S HERE"!  Jack dashed up the steps two at a time!  As he turned the corner at the top, he crashed into Mark's chest!  Mark dropped their bags to steady Jack, asking in a worried panic.  "Jack?! What's wrong"?!  Jack straightened up as the guard rushed up the steps with his weapon drawn.  Mark pushed Jack behind him, drawing his own sword.  The guard slowed on the last step, telling Mark bitterly.  "Out of the way! You're interfering"!  Mark pointed his long broad sword at the guard, stating back calm but firmly.  "What do you want with him"?  The guard crossed blades with Mark, snapping back.  "Stand aside, lad! Don't you know who that fucker is"?! 

Mark's eyes narrowed in sharply as he growled back defensively.  "Yes. Now move. Before I make you a head shorter".  The guard stepped up the last step, telling Mark sternly.  "What's going through your head, lad? You can't threaten me like that! I'll take you both back to the Jarl"!  Jack snatched up the bags to remove them from Mark's way.  The guard tapped his blade against Mark's to test how firm Mark's grip was.  Mark kept his eyes on the guard, but told Jack bluntly.  "We need to cross the bridge at the throat of the world. We'll be out of the Jarl's reach there. It's across the border and puts us in Whiterun Hold".  The guard struck Mark's blade sending out a sharp metallic ring as he yelled back.  "You'll never reach it"!  Mark didn't wait a second longer.  He just swung his long blade hard and the guard managed to block it but was pushed back from the force of it. 

The guard recovered faster, sliding his blade down Mark's to try slashing for Mark's ribcage.  Mark quickly spun in, swing his sword as he did.  The guard took the blunt of Mark's blade across his back.  The guard let out a sharp cry as Mark's blade cut through his light armor and found flesh!  For good measure, Mark kicked the guard in the back, sending him to the floor on all fours.  Mark raised his sword as if he was going to run him through, but Jack quickly intervened.  The guard was down. That is all that mattered.  Killing him would be a crime that they couldn't handle right now.  Gently pushing Mark toward the stairs, Jack rushed out.  "Mark, let's go"!  Mark blinked a bit shaken, but nodded.  Mark kept his sword at the ready and lead the way down the steps quickly with Jack following at his heels with their bags. 

Wilhelm cringed when he saw them, but he simply ducked behind his wooden counter.  Mark stepped out of the Inn and checked the area, before telling Jack quickly.  "Saddle up and head THAT way for the bridge".  Mark gestured in the direction and Jack nodded.  Argo and Tim shifted anxiously in place.  They could sense the urge to be on their way.  Mark mounted up, scanning the area for more guards.  Jack climbed into his own saddle and they bolted for the bridge.  A few guards jumped out of their way and snapped out fowl curse words, but none of them seem to recognize him.  Within seconds the wide stone bridge came into view, but they didn't slow down.  They kept up the pace until they reached the other side.  Mark slowed Tim to a rough halt and turned him around to see if anyone was following them. 

There was no one behind them.  Mark breathed a sigh of relief.  When an older man asked them curiously.  "You boys going up to High Hrothgar"?  Jack glanced in the direction of the mountain.  Where just a little ways up an older man stood by a little stone shrine.  Mark shrugged, defensively asking.  "What does that matter"?  Jack swatted Mark's arm, growling back.  "Be nice. He's not a soldier".  The older man chuckled, before he told them.  "It's really quite alright. Nowadays, it's healthy practice to question your neighbors. I simply asked, because if you are... I'd like to ask a favor of ya".  Mark glanced and Jack and shrugged.  So, Jack answered sweetly.  "What do need"?  The old man pointed to a large bag by the shrine, answering.  "Could you take that up to the Greybeards for me? I'd do it myself... but I'm getting to old to walk up seven thousand icy steps. You'd really be doing me a favor". 

Mark raised an eyebrow, asking suspiciously.  "What's in it"?  The old man opened the bag a little to show them some of the contents, answering honestly.  "Just normal supplies. Mostly food. They don't leave High Hrothgar. So, every month. I bring them fresh supplies. I'd send someone else, but no one goes up that high anymore. Too much for them... or they're too afraid of them. Would you do this for me? I could pay you"?  Mark sighed heavily, answering.  "Alright".  Mark nudged Tim forward and the old man rose his hands in fright, telling him in a rush.  "No! You must dismount"!  Mark pulled Tim to a stop, asking a bit rudely.  "Why should I"?  The old man gestured to the shrine and steps, answering sincerely.  "This may not look it, but it's a holy place. You can take your horses with you on the journey, but you must walk the steps. It's tradition! This holy pilgrimage is meant to bring you closer to enlightenment. You must honor this, please"? 

Mark reluctantly dismounted, shooting a look up at the many stairs leading up the snowy mountain side with disgust.  Jack smirked, dismounting himself.  He knew Mark was thinking how long and how tired they would be by the time they got to the top.  The old man smiled at them, handing the bag off to Mark.  Mark loaded the bag onto Tim, while the old man asked Jack sweetly.  "This your first pilgrimage"?  Jack nodded and the old man gestured for him to the shrine.  Jack lead Argo to the small stone shrine and the old man told him proudly.  "Along the way up, you will see these shrines. Be sure to stop and read them. They tell the story of Talos. The very first Dragonborn. Go ahead. Read the first part".  Jack licked his lips nervously, stepping closer to the shrine tablet to read aloud.  "Before the birth of men, Dragons ruled all mundus. Their word was the voice, and they spoke only for their needs. For the voice could blot out the sky, and flood the land". 

Jack winced and covered his eyes as images began to flash before his vision.  Images from a time long past.  He was looking down into the rushing water, his body a large green dragon flying over a crystal clear lake, before rising over rich autumn forests.  Jack blinked and the image faded into another image.  This time he was in the body of a large white dragon, soaring high over a beautiful field that appeared to be... Whiterun and Riften... Only without any castles or homes.  Jack blinked again and the images faded away completely.  Memories.  From Strunsossoh and Mirmulnir.  The old man touched his shoulder tenderly, asking him.  "Are ya alright, lad"?  Jack turned to look at him and the old man gasped in shock.  Jack could see his reflection in the old mans eyes.  His eyes were glowing a solid light blue.  His eyes faded back to there normal look and a blade touched under the old man's throat.

The old man froze up as Mark's deep voice growled out.  "Don't say it! You never saw him. Got it"?  The old man didn't once look at Mark, he simply pushed Mark's blade away from his neck slowly as he told Jack low and warmly.  "By the grace of Talos... I never thought I would live to see one. Lad, What is your name? Please grace it upon me"?!  Jack shot a worried look at Mark, but told the man honestly.  "It's Jack".  The old man gently took hold of Jack's hand, tears forming in his eyes as he whispered to him.  "I knew the legends were true. I prayed to Talos at every shrine on these steps for the means to end this war. He answered"!  Mark carefully pried the old man away, telling him as nicely as he could.  "That's good and all, but we've got to get going now". 

The old man nodded happily, telling Jack excitedly before leaving.  "I was afraid for the future of Skyrim, but I'm not anymore! Blessings of the nine upon you, Jack! The fate of man rests with you"!  Jack wrapped a nervous arm around Argo's nose.  Why did the old man have to say that?  Now he was starting to feel the weight... and it was heavy.  Mark watched the old man leave, before reaching out to touch Jack's cheek.  When Jack looked up at Mark, Mark smiled warmly at him, telling him lovingly.  "One day at a time, remember"?  Jack leaned against Mark's warm palm and nodded confidently.  To Be Continued...