I hate mountains
Yang was still heaving when a wide eyed Goodwitch finally caught up to them. She looked at the skeleton of the dragon before looking over at Yang, a look of understanding falling over her features. The mage took a deep breath to steady herself before turning to the sisters. She held her hands out gold light enveloping them before sending out a stream of light towards Yang. The bruises and cuts from the fight mended themselves and Yang let out a breath finally feeling her lungs clear.
“Yang you need to return with me to Dragons Reach right now.” Goodwitch left no room for argument. “Ruby, you will return to Jorrvaskr. You will not speak of this.” She gestured between Yang and the bones.
“Hold on, you can't just expect me to leave my sister, especially after that! What even was that!?” Ruby all but yelled.
Glynda sighed pinching her nose “This is about the survival of all of Remnant what your sister just did… What she is could save us all so when I say go back to Jorrvaskr and keep your mouth shut you will obey.”
Ruby's shoulders hunched; she knew the battle was lost. She went to Yang pulling her close into a hug. The blonde was still shell shocked and barely reciprocated the embrace. It seemed as if she still hadn’t processed what her two companions were spatting about. Ruby pulled away holding Yang at arm's length, silver eyes flitting over her face.
“Yang… I know this is a lot but if they try to make you do anything you don’t want to do all you have to do is say no. Come find me in Jorrvaskr when you're finished. Hazel and I, the companions have your back.” Ruby gave her sister one last pat on the back before heading back to the ruined tower to check on the survivor and Oscar who was currently comforting the man. She still had to inform the guild of the fallen members and give them a proper burial. This was going to be hell to explain back home.
Once her sister was gone Yang seemed to finally snap out of it wheeling on Goodwitch with a glare.
“You know what just happened, don’t you?”
The mage nodded somberly “I do but there’s no time to explain here. I promise you will be made aware of everything once we return to Dragons Reach. The Jarl will want to speak with you.”
Yang was frustrated of course but most of all she was exhausted. So she nodded and motioned for Goodwitch to lead the way. She grimaced as they walked past the corpses of Beacons guards she had not previously noticed. So many men and women charred down to ash. The smell had yet to leave her nose and it made her head spin. Glynda must have felt the same because her pace quickened until they reached the main road that would lead them back to Beacon.
The walk back was quiet and they stopped for no one when they reached the city. They paused when they reached the stairs to the Jarls keep. The mighty stone building resembled a castle with huge wooden doors at the entrance. It towered over the rest of the city standing on a hill. Guards were posted on every corner black and yellow armor gleaming in the now afternoon sun.
Yang had lived in Beacon for many years before she left. Not once had she climbed the stairs to reach the keep. But as she took those first steps up rather than feeling excitement all she felt was dread.
The guards posted at the doors saw Goodwitch approaching and immediately pushed open the doors without question. The great hall in the keep was huge. The ceiling was so high Yang was willing to bet even the dragon she just killed would be comfortable in here. A long table filled with food and ale of all assortments was currently occupied by a few of the Jarls family and close confidants. Speaking of the Jarl he was currently seated on a throne his eyes focused on the girl his housecarl had brought back with her.
Yang had seen the Jarl sparingly throughout the years when he would visit Hazel at Jorrvaskr. Ozpin was his name, he wasn’t a big man, quite scrawny in fact. Pure white hair sat under his crown and amber eyes pierced through anyone who approached him. People did not fear the Jarl for his brawn, but for his intelligence. He always seemed to be two steps ahead of everyone else and was greatly respected for it.
Goodwitch marched up to the throne standing by the Jarls' side whispering into his ear. Ozpin's eyes widened by the second as the elf recounted all that had occurred at the watchtower. He beckoned Yang forward with a flick of his hand. Yang did not bow or show any form of respect to the man but she did step forward.
“Yang Xiao Long, I hear you killed a dragon.” Yang glowered and was about to open her mouth to respond when he continued “yes yes you will be rewarded greatly, I know what you are mercenary.” Her mouth snapped shut and she clenched her jaw.
“What I am most interested in now is what Miss Goodwitch has informed me of. You absorbed some type of essence from the dragon then? Fascinating indeed, I have not heard of this happening for thousands of years.” Ozpin rubbed his chin.
“Everyone but me seems to know what the hell is going on so does someone mind explaining!?” Yang was pissed now.
Ozpin smirked amused with the girl's attitude “You are the Dragonborn.”
The once bustling keep seemed to go dead quiet and all eyes were on the throne and the girl covered in dragon blood standing in front of it. Goodwitch glared at the crowd, hands glowing with the promise of magic and the staring stopped and the busy keep became lively again.
“What the fuck is a Dragonborn.” Yang spat unamused with the short unhelpful answer.
“DOVAHKIIN” the very sky seemed to yell the word. The keep shook dust and pebbles falling from the ceiling. Yang reached for her greatsword believing that another dragon had come to finish the job.
“It seems you have been summoned, Miss Xiao Long. Best not to keep the Greybeards waiting. They will explain this all to you and teach you to hone your powers. In exchange for your help with killing the dragon I shall name you Thane of Beacon and you will be awarded with 500 gold coins. Take these gifts and go to High Hrothgar, there all your questions will be answered.” And with that Yang was ushered out of the keep.
She scoffed as she made her way back to Jorrvaskr. Those rich bastards thought she was going to roll over and listen to their orders as if they had any authority over her. She killed the dragon and she got paid. That’s the end of it. She’d kiss a draugr before she’d climb her ass up the tallest mountain to talk to some old men who thought they knew everything.
She pushed open the doors to the guild finding Ruby talking animatedly with Hazel at the head of the long table. The other members were nowhere in sight.
“So much for keeping our mouth shut huh Rubes.” Yang shook her head.
Ruby smiled sheepishly before bombarding her with questions. “Where were you?! Did you see the Jarl? What’s he like? Are you going to turn into a dragon now? Did you hear the loud yell earlier?”
Yang rolled her eyes “I’m not turning into a dragon Rubes, and the jarl must think I’m a dog the way he was ordering me around. Apparently that yell was some men called the Greybeards; it was their way of ‘summoning’ me because I'm to be the Dragonborn.” She said that part with air quotes. “I'm meant to ride up to High Hrothgar on the highest mountain this side of Remnant.”
“By the eight.. The Greybeards? Dragonborn? Yang this is serious, our lives could be resting in your hands.” Hazel spoke up behind her. The blonde turned to him, eyes threatening to turn red.
“I'm sick and tired of hearing that. Take care of your own lives. I have enough to worry about on my own. I'm leaving tomorrow morning.” She huffed out before stomping downstairs to Ruby's room. Ruby reached out with her hand before dropping it with a sigh.
“That temper of hers is gonna get her killed one of these days.” Hazel shook his head taking a long swig of his ale.
“These Greybeards.. Are they important?”
“Extremely, they haven't summoned someone like that in thousands of years. Yang must go. Whether she wants to hear it or not, if she really is the Dragonborn, she's Remnant's last hope when the dragons return.”
Ruby nodded, “I'll talk to her.” she started walking off before Hazel spoke again.
“You can't go with her, you know? We need you here now more than ever. You're the only one left who's seen a dragon and knows how to kill it. This is Yang's journey alone.”
Ruby's shoulders tensed but she stayed quiet heading downstairs. Yang was sitting on a chair in her room furiously wiping at her blade, cleaning off the dried dragon's blood. She did not acknowledge her sister as she walked in. The red head took a seat across from her sister pulling out her own axes to clean them off.
“Where do you plan on going tomorrow?”
“Anywhere but here.”
Ruby felt a pang of hurt at her words, she knew the anger wasn't directed at her but she couldn't help but flinch. Yang looked up and grimaced at her own choice of words. She passed over her blade again with a rag before setting it down on her lap.
“I'm sorry.. There's just so much going on right now and I hardly understand what's going on and I don't know what to do.” Yang apologized.
“Sounds like these Greybeards can help with that.” Ruby started out gently “Maybe you should give them a chance. They can help you understand what all this means, being the Dragonborn and all.”
Yang's hand clenched around the pommel of her sword before letting it go with a deep huff. “Ok.”
“Ok?”
“Ok.”
Ruby grinned, shooting up to pull her into a hug. Yang rolled her eyes patting her sisters back. Ruby's grip tightened and she let out a sniffle.
“I'm gonna miss you.. Promise me you'll come back safe?” Ruby choked out.
Yang's own voice trembled before she tightened her grip on her sister. “I promise.”
The next morning Yang had all her things packed and stowed away in her saddle bags on Embers back. She adjusted the straps on her saddle one more time before patting her horse's neck. Ember currently had her face stuffed in Rubys hand where she was spoiling her with an apple. Yang stepped back watching her two closest friends together fondly. Ruby caught her eye and patted Ember on the nose one more time before turning to Yang.
“Remember you always have a home here.” Ruby said, pulling the Dragonborn into another hug.
“I'll be fine, no one can take your old sis down” Yang grinned, pulling away to give her sister one last look over. “I'm so proud of you. Keep it goin Rubes.”
Ruby's silver eyes immediately watered but she nodded, giving Yang a weak smile. Yang turned, swinging herself onto Embers back. With one last goodbye she was off towards that godforsaken mountain. Hopefully the trip there would be uneventful… It was not.