Lady Grey

Skyrim fanart, featuring Paarthurnax and my favourite Odahviing<3 !

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"I am the one they know as the Dragonborn, the slayer of Alduin the world-eater. The petty battles of mankind concluded, and a tentative peace restored to the land, I retreated to the monastery of High Hrothgar to further my study of the Voice with my mentors, the Greybeards. Eventually, I became one of the order, embracing my masters' pacifistic, non-partisan philosophy.

At the same time, my increased understanding of the Thu'um brought me closer to the dragons, especially my faithful companion Odahviing, and of course our master, Paarthurnax. In time, I was accepted as one of their kind--my triumph over Alduin didn't hurt--and given a name, shorter than what they usually have, in the dragon tongue. 'Beautiful'--I was flattered. The script is tattooed onto my skin, a mark of my pledge of kinship to them, and theirs to me.

And yet, even though I am a sister to the dragons, I lack their greatest gift--their wings, with which they soar high above. I lack that freedom, that ability to distance myself from the troubles down below. The furthest I can get is here, at the Throat of the World, and even from here, all I can see of my huge, winged kin are tiny silhouettes against the endless sky. They are my kin now. Of that, I have no doubt. But between us, there is still a distance that can never be bridged.

What of the world of men, then? In truth, it is no better. Worse, perhaps. 'Greybeard'--the very name suggests that it is a title to be bourne only by men. And yet I am a woman, dressed in the mantle of grey. There are those who disagree. Those who feel that my presence has undermined the order, somehow. Those who have lost their respect for the age-old advisers of mankind, because there is a woman among their ranks.

I stand at the top of the world--the top of the world I was born into, at least--as the sun sets over Skyrim. Below me are the people who look up to me as a Greybeard, who expect of me wisdom and guidance. And above, soar the majestic dragons who are my kin at heart. Can there be lasting peace between the two? A peace, it seems, it is my duty and calling to foster.

I stand at the top of the world, as the sun sets over Skyrim. The first chapter of my life has drawn to a close--the battles have been fought, won, and left behind. I have tasted glory, and triumph, and basked in the rewards of my achievements. But the fight isn't over. There are new battles, in a different form, yet to come."

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[ photoshop ]
- September 2012 -