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Sky Haven Temple basks in the evening sun as I cross the bridge to the island whereupon it rests. I am happy to enter its halls again and to gaze upon Alduin’s Wall, as now the story this intricate mural tells is complete; I, the Last Dragonborn, have returned victoriously from Sovngarde and fulfilled my part of the grand tapestry of fate.“Excuse me, Dragonborn?”It is one of my Blades who snaps my mind out of monologuing to itself.“Can I help you with anything, friend?”, I ask the Blade in response.“Well, I simply wanted to congratulate you on your victory – you kicked Alduin’s ass, I hear!”“Thank you kindly.”“You’re welcome, sir. I was also sent by Delphine to tell you to come to the balcony of the temple. She needs to speak to you about something. She sounded almost angry, so it must be pretty serious.”“I can’t think of anything particular she could be getting all angry about, but I’ll go see what’s wrong this time. Thank you again, friend. You can resume your duties, if you have any left for the day.”As I climb through the caverns to reach the temple, I ponder what could be occupying Delphine’s mind. Perhaps she has found some confirmation about the reason for the Thalmor’s presence. Those Altmer are the messengers of the sinister forces that brood over all of Mundus, and both the Imperials and the Stormcloaks are falling right into their trap. The Aldmeri Dominion is neither interested in the genocide of man, nor in the disappearance of Talos; the Throat of the World -the Snow Tower- and what lies within are what they are truly after – having control over Skyrim is only a mean to their true end.
And, oh, they will see through not only the end to this war but everything we as mortals hold dear. Their true goal is to topple Nirn’s Towers and undo creation itself. They wish to invoke not just a new Merethic era, but a new -and permanent- Dawn era altogether, where magicka flows freely and the boundaries between Oblivion, Mundus and Aetherius are broken. The Thalmor wish to stop the laments of their race and return to a time where they and their ancestors are one and the same, taking all other life with them. The Thalmor already have the Crystal Tower, the White-Gold Tower and the Green-Sap Tower in their clutches. The Snow Tower is simply their next target.
I did not defeat Alduin for nothing. I did not delve into dangerous ruins and and expose myself to the overwhelming might of that Elder Scroll for nothing. The people of Skyrim did not get slaughtered by Alduin’s minions just for a pack of delusional Altmer with a superiority complex to take everything away from them.
I will see to it that the Thalmor do not win this war. I want to push them back all the way to Summerset. I want my face to be the one that haunts their dreams each time they fall asleep. My role in Mundus is to keep reality from ending. I did it with Akatosh’s first son and I will not hesitate to do it again.“Dragonborn, I’m glad you came immediately,” Delphine says as she sees me step onto the balcony. Esbern is standing a few meters away from her, overlooking the valley.“The gentleman who told me you wished to see me said it might be something serious, so I came,” I respond. “Do you perhaps have news concerning the Thalmor or the Civil War?”“No, it’s not about them, this is about Paarthurnax. We know about him.”“What? I’m confused. What is the problem?”“He’s a dragon, Thor. The Greybeards have harboured him for ages … I’m sorry, but we would dishonour our oaths as Blades if we continued to help you unless he dies.”“This is what you call me here for?! Tell me, Delphine, what exactly do you mean by ‘helping’ here?”“We’ll no longer allow you into the temple and you lose your allegiance with the Blades.”“So, because you don’t agree with the fact that I associate with Paarthurnax, you’re just going to lock me out of the very army that has sworn to follow my and only my command? I don’t think you quite understand, Delphine, but Paarthurnax is no longer the men-slaughtering beast he once was. Through great effort, he has overcome his evil nature. He recognises his wrongdoings and is now actively helping us mortals! Did you forget it was him who showed me the way to that Elder Scroll? If it weren’t for him, Alduin would have murdered us all now! Do you know what it takes to aid in the killing of your own brother? Deep respect for the people you once subjugated! If only you could return that respect to him, Delphine …”“Justice demands that Paarthurnax dies for his crimes, Dragonborn”, Esbern interjects. “You may be sure of his changed attitude now, but how long before he returns to his old ways?”“Did you not listen to anything I just said, Esbern? After thousands of years of meditation, being instrumental in preaching the Way of the Voice and helping me to kill his elder brother, I have no reason to believe Paarthurnax will return to being a warlord at any point in the future. He chooses to be better every day and has done so for thousands of years. And yet, after all of the proof he has shown that he has renounced who he once was, you dare to stand before me and make sweeping accusations about him. You are both blinded by your hatred, to the point you’re willing to dissolve an entire army built to protect Skyrim and her people from dragons who are actually dangerous. By the nine, I can’t believe either of you!”“You can’t change our minds on this, Dragonborn,” Delphine responds coldly. “You’ll have to choose: the Blades … or that beast.”“Alright then, if this is how you wish to play it … I choose you, Esbern and Delphine-““Oh, good, we thought we lost you for a minu-"“… To leave. You seem to forget that I am still in charge – remind me, to whom did the Blades swear an oath of service all those centuries ago? The Dovahkiin. The Blades swore to serve those born with dragon blood. Those who came before you swore an oath to serve the Dovahkiin of the past … and now me. And so, by the powers vested in me, I discharge you both. You are no longer welcome in Sky Haven Temple and, by extent, Odhundaal Town. Go now, and leave your Blades armour and equipment at the door.”“Dragonborn,” says Esbern with a shocked expression, “I-I don’t think that is a wise deci-““You can’t just kick us out”, Delphine interrupts angrily, drawing her sword. “If wasn’t for me and Esbern, the Blades wouldn’t have been here at all. No matter how much power you think you hold here, I won’t let you just cast us out.”
A flood of rage washes over my whole being. Who does Delphine think she is?! First she bosses me around and makes me do all of her fetch-quests, and now she threatens me with a sword because I finally exercise my powers as the rightful leader of the Blades -an army that I had to build from the ground up- and don’t give into her demands which consist of quite literally murdering a wise dragon who has been nothing but kind and helpful to me?!
I will not let this happen. Though Delphine has her sword pointed towards me, I take a step forward. Delphine and Esbern carefully take one back. I take one forward again, and they take another one back. We keep this little dance up until Delphine notices we are nearing the balcony’s edge.“Don’t be a fool, Thor of Dawnstar,” Delphine snarls.“Fus …”“Dragonborn, I implore you to stop this, we can still come to an agreement!”, Esbern demands.“… RO DAH!”