Alduin tilted his head up, shouting into the clear sky above. Instantly, the clear night sky clouded over in dark clouds that started to spew forth balls of molten fire. Paarthurnax was struck in the back with one, causing him to wail out in pain. Jack dodged a few that landed around him, racing closer to Alduin. The fire balls were avoiding him, which made staying by him the safest place to be. Jack glanced over his shoulder briefly to see Paarthurnax jump over Mark, taking another fire ball to his back in an effort to protect Mark. Alduin then took his full attention. Alduin tried to bite him and Jack slashed the blade across his face. Alduin hissed in pain, choosing to hop away and strike with his tail. Jack slashed at his tail, cutting it deep enough that it too began to bleed. Alduin circled around him, snapping at him in an attempt to scare him into a mistake. 

Jack wasn't falling for it. He had Alduin right where he wanted him. Alduin stopped circling to glare at him. Jack kept the sword at the ready between them. Alduin panted heavily, growling out. "You think yourself a hero... but can you live with your guilt?" Jack raised an eyebrow, unsure what he was implying. He didn't have anything to be guilty about that he knew of. Alduin flashed him a smug toothy grin, stating out. "I know what scares you..." Jack stayed strong, showing no hint of fear. At least, until Alduin turned his massive head in Mark's direction. Jack gasped, realizing what Alduin was planning. He couldn't hurt Jack, but he could hurt Mark. Paarthurnax glanced in their direction, just as Alduin leapt for him! Jack screamed Mark's name as the fire balls rained from the sky all around him again. Paarthurnax staggered to the ground as Alduin tugged him off his feet by the scuff of his neck.

Mark began to back up as Alduin crawled over Paarthurnax toward him. Mark turned tail and ran. There was nothing he could do to defend himself against a beast like Alduin. Alduin extended his neck out for Mark, his tongue almost able to reach him. When a massive white foot, slammed into Alduin's neck to pin his throat to the snowy mountain side! Alduin thrashed, trying to back out from under Paarthurnax's hind foot. Paarthurnax twisted on his back, roaring out to Mark. "RUN, HATCHLING!" Mark raced back down the path as Alduin bellowed out furiously. "TRAITOR!" Paarthurnax jerked his head in Jack's direction, calling out in a panic. "This is your chance, Dovahkiin! Strike with all your force!" Alduin clawed at Paarthurnax's leg with his injured one, drawing blood as he growled out. "Paarthurnax is weak! I am strong!" Jack trudged through the snow as fast as he could, listening to Paarthurnax bellow out loudly. "Hurt him while he is grounded!"

Alduin was starting to wiggle free, only to catch a face full of searing hot flames from Paarthurnax! Jack halted long enough for Paarthurnax's flames to stop, then rushed in to Alduin's side. Alduin's voice came out strained as he finally managed to pull his head free, while grumbling out. "I have feasted on many greater than you!" Alduin sank his teeth into Paarthurnax's hind leg, giving Jack the opening he needed. Raising his sword, he plunged it to the hilt into Alduin's ribcage. Alduin gasped in pain, releasing Paarthurnax and hunching himself up. Jack removed his sword, ready to strike again. Although, Alduin appeared to lose his fighting spirit. Alduin slumped to the ground, breathing heavily as he strained out. "Meyz mul, Dovahkiin... You have become strong... but I am Al-du-in, firstborn of Akatosh! Mulaagi zok lot! I cannot be slain here, by you or anyone else! You cannot prevail against me. I will outlast you... Mortal!"

Jack shook his head, telling Alduin sadly. "No, Alduin. Your time is over. Rest in peace." Alduin coughed loudly, growling out. "I SHALL NOT!" Alduin surprised everyone by suddenly jumping to his feet. Alduin's injured wing knocked Jack back into the snow. While Alduin head-butted Paarthurnax away from him. Jack sat up feeling a little dazed, but watched in pure horror as Alduin outstretched his wings. Alduin's body began to glow with a bright white light that healed his injured leg and wing back to normal. The effect appeared to exhaust him though, because he panted even heavier, before taking to the sky! Jack jumped to his feet, shouting toward him again with Dragonrend... but it missed. Alduin was too fast as he soared rapidly away from the Throat of the world. Mark strolled back out into the open, asking Paarthurnax confused. "What just happened? Did he just get away?!"

Jack staggered to his feet, picking up his sword as he asked Paarthurnax just as confused. "I don't understand either... How is he still alive?! I mortally wounded him! What the fuck!" Paarthurnax winced from his headache, answering them both a bit groggily. "Alduin is not so easily killed... I had hoped the war had left him vulnerable... Without souls to mend himself. I was wrong. He retained some. He is far from his normal strength though. Thanks to you, Dovahkiin." Jack shrugged, feeling like he had lost. Paarthurnax looked out in the direction that Alduin had taken, informing Jack proudly. "Alduin has never fled from a fight before. Lot krongrah. You truly have the voice of a dovah. Alduin's allies will think twice after this victory." Jack sighed heavily, muttering out. "It wasn't really a victory, since Alduin escaped." Paarthurnax turned his head slowly to look at him with soft eyes, answering. "Ni liivrah hin moro. True, this is not the final krongrah - victory. But not even the heroes of old were able to defeat Alduin in open battle."

Paarthurnax lowered his head down more to be more at eye level as he continued on. "Alduin always was pahlok - arrogant in his power. Uznahgar paar. He took domination as his birthright. This should shake the loyalty of the dov who serve him." Jack placed a hand on Paarthurnax's bloody nose, asking him softly. "I need to find out where Alduin went." Paarthurnax nodded, answering in a weary voice. "Yes... One of his allies could tell us. Motamhus... But it will not be so easy to... convince one of them to betray him." Paarthurnax tilted his head slightly in thought for a moment, before he added in curiously. "Perhaps the hofkahsejun - the palace in Whiterun... Dragonsreach. It was originally built to house a captive dovah. A fine place to trap one of Alduin's allies, hmm?" Mark moved in closer, huffing out loudly. "The Jarl of Whiterun might not think so."

Paarthurnax dipped his head in an understanding nod, but stated causally. "Hmm, yes. But your su'um is strong. I do not doubt that you can convince him of the need." Jack glanced at Mark, asking curiously. "Dragonsreach was built to hold a dragon?" Mark opened his mouth to answer, but Paarthurnax did the honors for him, saying simply. "Yes. This was years ago, you understand. There were more of us then. Before the bruniikke - the Akaviri - came and killed all my zeymah." Paarthurnax's eyes took on a distant look as he recalled aloud. "I used to visit him from time to time. Nearly crazed by loneliness and captivity. Tiiraz sivaas. He did not even remember his own name. I do not know how he came to be caught. But the Bronjun - the Jarl... was very proud of his pet. Paak! The hofkahsejun has been known as Dragonsreach ever since." Jack felt for Paarthurnax, petting his nose empathically.

Mark showed the Elder Scroll to Paarthurnax then, asking him hopefully. "Do you know where we can take this? Someplace safe?" Jack blinked with embarrassed shame. He had been so focused on Alduin that he had forgotten that he had dropped it. Paarthurnax shook his head sadly, telling him seriously. "The Kel is a powerful tool. I know of no such place. My advise would be to keep it with you. Keep it hidden and safe from those who would use its power... unwisely." Mark sighed lightly, mumbling out. "I was afraid you'd say that..." Paarthurnax then turned to Jack, telling him hopefully. "Dovahkiin... I know that you seek Miraak... but we have never been this close. Alduin must be found and defeated. If he returns to full power... All will be lost." Jack let out a soft groan, reluctantly saying. "I can't... I... Miraak is a BIG threat to me. Alduin is too... but..." Jack turned away feeling torn between them.

Paarthurnax nudged Jack's shoulder with his nose, telling him sweetly. "I leave this choice to you, Dovahkiin. Whatever you decide." Jack turned around, seeing Paarthurnax's wings dripping blood. Swallowing anxiously, he asked Paarthurnax honestly. "How fast to you think Alduin will recover?" Paarthurnax looked off in the direction that Alduin had fled, softly stating out. "I'm not entirely sure. He is very weak. The battle in his time took a lot of his power... and now the fight with you... I've never seen him weaker." Jack nodded in understanding. This was on him. If he chose wrong... the other could rise to full power. Jack sheathed Dragonbane, answering seriously. "I need to think about this." He wanted to heal Paarthurnax... but healing a dragon could kill him. They required so much magic. Mark laid a hand on Paarthurnax's neck, sweetly telling him in a genuine voice. "Thank you, Paarthurnax. We couldn't have done it without you."

Paarthurnax seemed to blush a little as a smile pulled at his lips. Mark gestured for Jack to follow him and Jack started to... When Paarthurnax asked him in a fragile voice. "Dovahkiin... That sword. It's of Akaviri make, is it not?" Jack slowly turned to face him, giving him an honest nod. The look of worry on Paarthurnax's face was all too clear, upon him saying cautiously. "I see..." Jack moved back toward Paarthurnax, honestly admitting to him. "I know what this sword has done to your kind... And I swear to you, Paarthurnax. I will never use it against your kind without just reason. For now, that reason is Alduin. After that, it will be put away. Just like the Elder Scroll." Paarthurnax smiled loving at him, tilting his head in a subtle gesture for Jack to come closer. Jack moved up and wrapped his arms around his neck in a hug. He could never repay him for all that he had done for him.

Paarthurnax purred loudly, whispering to him sweetly. "I trust you, Dovahkiin." Jack pulled away, backing up slowly as he asked him a bit worried. "Will you be alright?" Paarthurnax gave him a confidant nod, purring out. "I just need rest. As I am sure you do. Come see me again when this is all over, Hatchling. I enjoy your visits." Jack grinned, then followed Mark back down to High Hrothgar. The Greybeards were all wide awake and Arngeir bombarded them with endless questions about what had happened. Mark answered the questions for Jack. Jack was just too tired after the fight. His nerves were shot. Dropping down by Agro, he tried to calm himself down. Mark made his way to him after a time. He had reassured them that Paarthurnax was alright, but that didn't make them care about Mark. He was still an issue with them. Mark sat down next to him, wrapping an arm around his shoulders.

Jack wanted to say something to him. Something loving and hopeful. Yet, all he could do was rest his head on Mark's shoulder. Mark held him close, rubbing his arm as he told him softly. "What a night..." Jack could only nod, his body slowly shutting down. His adrenaline was gone. He couldn't even think anymore. He just wanted to curl up in Mark's safe arms and forget the world. It was well past noon, before Jack woke up. He was huddled in a bedroll with Mark on the floor with the horses. The smell of incense and other herbs filled the air. Jack watched them from his bedroll as they hurried in and out. He guessed that they were taking healing remedies up to Paarthurnax. It made him feel slightly better that the Greybeards cared for Paarthurnax so deeply that they would deplete their herb stores for him. Beside him, Mark still slept. Which gave him time to think about what he wanted to do.

He had to chose who to go after now. Miraak wanted him dead and who knows what else he had planned. Alduin would recover and enslave all of humankind again. Both needed to be dealt with, but the hardest part was deciding who was the greater threat. Alduin had been weakened. He felt confidant that the threat had been neutralized for now. That left Miraak. A wild card. A growing threat that he wasn't as confident about. He wanted to know what Miraak was after, at the very least. Maybe learn how he was still alive. The more he thought about it, the more certain he become. He had to go back to Septimus. He needed answers and he knew of only one being that had the answers he was looking for. Hermaeus Mora. Mark wouldn't be happy about his decision, but his gut told him that this was important. Once he made up his mind, he got to work packing up the horses.

Jack packed everything that he didn't need onto Agro's saddle. Even the wrapped up Elder Scroll. He kept Dragonbane strapped to his hip though. He needed a weapon and he felt safer with it on his person for now. Once he had finished packing up both horses of their supplies, he fetched dinner from the Greybeards. It consisted of cold cabbage soup and a loaf of bread. The cabbage tasted more like slime than food... but he managed to get it down. He just needed something to tide him over, until they set out. Eventually, Jack got so bored waiting for Mark to get up that he invented his own game. Dragging an empty basket to the far end of the room, Jack picked up an apple and tried tossing it into the basket. Then because he was too lazy to keep walking over to get it, he used Telekinesis to bring it back to him to try again. The Greybeards kept giving him disapproving looks, but he was far from caring.

He had almost died more times than he could count. He felt he was entitled to a little selfish game for a change. It wasn't hurting anyone. When he grew tired of that, he went out into the courtyard to practice with his sword. Mark used to practice every morning before going to the pits to fight. Sometimes he'd spar with him and teach him a few tricks. Now he felt like he should have been paying closer attention. Jack swung at nothing, trying to visualize his target. As light as Dragonbane was... He felt weird trying to wield it one handed. The hilt was so much longer than he was used too. He was amazed that he had managed to strike Alduin at all. Turning on his heel, he swung the sword up and it clanged against another blade. Mark had blocked Dragonbane with the glass sword, giving him a warm smile as he told him lovingly. "Katanas are best used with two hands, Jack."

Jack stepped back away from Mark, taking a sparring stance as he playfully challenged Mark. "Hey, I took on Alduin with this thing!" Mark tapped Dragonbane with his sword, playfully shooting back. "You caught Alduin off guard with it. Next time, he will be ready for it." Jack slid his sword down Mark's blade as he stepped closer, asking him smugly. "Than show me how to keep surprising him with it." To Be Continued...