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As she leans up against the wall, awaiting your answer, you say nothing. You, the dragonborn? But what does that even mean? Why you? Despite the rush across the rooftops, the chase of the guards, the fall into the earth and her grand story about her past and her vengeance, all you can think about is home. You never really wanted any of this. Rushing through Solitude, you were heading into the unknown, you were caught up in the moment and for a brief time, you felt the excitement of adventure. But now, there was no excitement, there was a choice. To help Clarity fight a battle that she herself admits she cannot win without help, or to go home, your wonderful home which you have spent your entire life to establish. She senses your hesitation, and as you look up to her and meet her gaze, your choice is clear. She nods slowly. “I should not have asked this of you, human. You may be dovahkiin, but you are not ready, not yet.” You ask, with guilt, how she will be able to slay Vedinok and capture his soul without you. She says that there are other ways of capturing a soul, even the soul of a dragon. She admits that it will not be easy, but to her, the help of the dovahkiin is a mere convenience. Something about the way she says this seems to hint to you that she is making it sound easier than it was. You again feel guilty for turning her down, but you have made your choice. You have chosen not to travel halfway across Skyrim to get slashed open by a dragon named Black Death, for a woman who you had just met not hours ago.
She motions for you to follow her, so that she can show you the way out, back to Solitude, and you follow. She takes you through several tunnels until you come upon a curved shaft. She brings you to the end and holds out her hand for you to use the door. You stare at the door and she walks away, your backs turned against each other. You hear her footsteps cease, and you glance back towards her. At the end of the curved tunnel, you see her, probably for the last time, staring back at you with fiery orange eyes, and then she was gone. Seeing nothing here for you now, you open the door into the light, and walk out to find yourself at the base of the mountain, near Solitude. Your home is only a short ride by horseback from here, and you head for the stable.

Your journey ends here, you only hope that Clarity will be able to defeat Vedinok and finally regain her dragon form. . . without you.


This image continues from:
Clarity Beckons - Hideaway Part 2