This is not a rebuttal to The Blades: Enemies of the Dragonborn — in fact where it discusses The Blades deviation from their own codes and attempts to order around the Dragonborn I believe Teresius is absolutely right — but a matter of discussion on the nature of Paarthurnax and his supposed crimes. It has always bothered me that the crimes the Blades deem worthy of execution are never shared with the Dragonborn, to allow them to decide whether or not they view the execution as just. Yet it is my theory/belief that Paarthurnax, and his crimes, may be so twisted that an execution is truly justified.

I have never trusted Paarthurnax, something has always struck me as off, so I began to anolyze my distrust. The first thing that struck me as odd was his wings: certainly the weapons of the Nords would be able to make such wounds, but they would have to deliberately seek only to tatter the wings, whereas the claws, horns, and teeth of other dragons could — and since the wings are the largest target while a dragon is airborne, would — do that. The second thing was both his absence while Gormlaith, Hakon, and Felldir fought Alduin, and Alduin's instant realization that it must have been Paarthurnax who taught them the Thu'um. The third, and final, sign that points to the truly dark nature of Paarthurnax's crimes is Odahviing. The Blades not only know of Odahviing, but also know that he was Alduin's right-hand, yet they do not ask the Dragonborn to slay Odahviing.

So what do I believe Paarthurnax must have done that would make The Blades standup to a Dragonborn? Well, mind you this is all hypothetical, but keep reading if you'd like to see.

It is my belief that Paarthurnax was always a strong dragon, and thus earned his position as Alduin's lieutenant. Yet I believe Paarthurnax envied Alduin's position as leader of the Dov, and his ability to feed off of the souls of mortals to regain power. Strong though he was Paarthurnax would not have been a match for Alduin at first, but we know Paarthurnax is wise, and I believe he would have stayed on the edges of many great battles, slaying any injured dragons who might flee to absorb their souls and grow in strength and wisdom, until he was ready to confront Alduin; and learned that the great, black dragon, could not be defeated, or even harmed in such a state — thus the tattered wings.

Cast out by Alduin, and needing a new way to defeat him, Paarthurnax turned to Alduin's only opposition: the rebelling mortals. Claiming to have defected because Alduin had declared himself a God, while spreading the legend that Kyne intervened, he taught the mortals the secrets of the Thu'um. When the Mortals developed a shout that would render even Alduin's defences useless, Paarthurnax fled to safety, knowing that none of them could absorb the soul of the fallen dragon he could flee to safety (coincidentally, when there was competition for Alduin's soul, he happened to be there), and could return to destroy the weakened heroes.

Seeing the mortals fail and cast Alduin into a time-break, Paarthurnax continued to train mortals in the way of the Thu'um — battle-tested warriors and mages, not scholars for fear of Alduin's return — right up until Jurgen Windcaller, whose Thu'um was unrivaled, and whose philosophy Paarthurnax adopted when training mortals in hopes of replicating it's strength (also entertaining to note, 3 Heroes were overpowered by Alduin, and there are always 4 Greybeards).

So when the mortal Dovahkiin went and defeated Alduin, he moreorless made Paarthurnax king; all Paarthurnax has to do is wait for the mortal to die — and even if the Dovahkiin lives another 200 years, that's nothing to Paarthurnax.

Now I realize there are a few holes in this, like how little health Paarthurnax has when you 'fight' him and the fact that he actually doesn't fight back. Both can be justified (ie still weakened after his ancient fight with Alduin, and knows he couldn't possibly defeat the Dragonborn), but don't fit as well within this theory.

Discuss.