Whiterun, the center of commerce in Skyrim. Much has changed since Alduin, the World Eater, has been defeated. The great civil war between the Empire and the Stormcloaks escalated after Ulfric's conquest of Solitude. The Thalmor sent their mightiest warriors against the Nords. For two years, the Empire and Skyrim fought an atrocious and highly destructive battle for supremacy and everything was going well for the Imperials, backed by their Thalmor allies. They managed to take control of most of the southern Skyrim, installing puppet Jarls in Falkreath, Markarth and Riften and executing the old ones. Ulfric Stormcloak had no choice but to retreat to secure the holds that still remained under his control. With the Imperial army advancing towards Whiterun and laying waste to every settlement in its path, many nobles allied with Ulfric tried to convince their High King to sue for peace. But the stubborn Nord refused and decided to meet the Imperials in battle outside Whiterun.
Many songs will be sung about this battle, dubbed The Glory at Whiterun by the citizens of Skyrim. The Thalmor, however, would have another name for it: The Shame in Skyrim. In the beginning, it was a massacre. Five thousand Nords were killed during the first engagement between the two armies. Among the victims, laid Ulfric Stormcloak himself, killed by a flurry of arrows loosed upon him by Bosmer rangers. The remaining Stormcloaks were ready to surrender until a sound was heard, music to the Nords' ears but poison to the ones of the Thalmor invaders. A warrior with long, blond hair and blue eyes, armed with a sword in one hand and an axe in the other emitted a Shout, Kynareth's gift to humans. The power of the man's Thu'um summoned a mighty dragon from the snowy peaks of the Throat of the World. The dragon pulverized the Thalmor army and the warrior, who was none other than the Dragonborn, restored the morale of the Stormcloak one. Nine thousand Thalmor perished that day and all their other garrisons in Skyrim were destroyed one by one in the coming months. In the end, the Empire had to admit their defeat and a peace treaty was signed at Solitude by the Imperials, the Nords and the Thalmor: Skyrim declared its independence from the Empire and Talos would be restored in the pantheon of the Nine Divines. Also, the Empire swore a holy oath that they would never attack Skyrim again. Trade between Skyrim and the Empire was, of course, still allowed and every man and woman from Cyrodiil and other provinces controlled by the Thalmor would be free to visit Skyrim if their intentions would be peaceful. Also, the one who would be chosen as High King would have to marry an Imperial lady, to show the new friendship between the two sovereign states. After the signing of the treaty, which was dubbed The Noble Concordat, a moot elected the Dragonborn as the new High King of Skyrim, the successor of Ulfric Stormcloak. He accepted this honor and he was crowned as King Rasmund the Dragonborn, the one who gave Skyrim its freedom. His reign marked the beginning of the Fifth Era. Rasmund eventually married Clara of Skingrad, a fair and compassionate woman, descendant of an illustrious line. From the first time he saw her, the Dragonborn fell instantly in love with her, and the feelings were reciprocated by young Clara. It was now the fifth year of the fifth era, or 5E 5…