"But this land is ours and we'll see it wiped clean. Of the scourge that has sullied our hopes and our dreams." So many times I have heard a bard sing this tune in praise for Ulfric Stormcloak and it has always been these words that have truly given voice to my fight. Many believe that the push for Skyrim's freedom started when Ulfric killed High King Torygg and declared himself king, but I believe that it started long before that.
The year was 4E 171 and Emperor Titus Mede II rejected the Aldmeri Dominion's ultimatum, war followed. To many families in Skyrim the war seemed far away, but not to my father and brother. My father was a seasoned veteran of the Imperial Legion and my brother was a fresh new recruit. They were to serve with Ulfric Stormcloak who was not yet a Jarl but a man who understood war and battle well enough. So my father and brother left our small farm while I, who was five at the time, stayed behind with my mother to look after my infant sister Veroth. Three years later a man came to our door and spoke with our mother. My father and brother had been captured by the Thalmor Elves; it was the first time that I had heard their name, but not the last. Only one year later Ulfric himself came to our door to tell us that both my brother and father died in a Thalmor prison. My sister and I cried with our mother though she tried so hard to hold back her tears so she could stay strong of us. Life got harder after that, without my father's legion wages and no one but my mother and I to tend to our crops and with my lack of any business skill money became a problem when those who bought the crops cheated me. Things got even worse when my mother got bitten by a skeever, Ataxia followed. We had no money for medicine so she died that same year with tears in her eyes just thinking about how Veroth and I would survive. That was the last straw before we sold the farm to a rich Imperial man who had just come to Skyrim. With nowhere else to go I rented a small room in the nearby town of Whiterun and decided to go from there. The gold from selling our farm would not last long so I began to look for work but not many people were willing to hire an eleven year old boy who they didn't know. One woman however was different; a new shop was opening, War Maidens it was called. The owner, Adrianne Avenicci gave me a job sweeping the floor and carrying crates; the pay was not much but I was only sweeping and besides that it was enough to pay for what I needed.
4E 180 was a good year, I was fourteen when I heard that Hammerfell had gained its freedom from the Thalmor. At this age all I really knew about the Thalmor was that they were hated by the Empire, they had killed my father and brother and they hunted Talos worshipers. I was careful not to mention that I was one of those worshipers. But the fact that the Redgaurds had beaten them was great news. It was in that same year that Adrianne told me that I would be her apprentice; learning to make things out of iron was hard work, but I actually liked it quite a bit. The feeling that I was making something with my own two hands was so rewarding along with the feeling that I was a blacksmith, I had purpose. Adrianne would carefully inspect everything that I made and gave it an approving nod; it was the closest thing to a smile that she ever showed, most days her face looked as hard as the anvil that she worked at.
That same year I met a girl named Lydia; she was a quiet girl but not a shy one, rather she stood and spoke with purpose or else had little to say. We met when her father and she came to place an order for a few swords; it was a great honor to have the Captain of the Guard come to our shop rather than to Euroland Greymane. "A bit young to be working the forge?" he asked with a smile. "It's never too soon to learn I guess, that's why I've brought my daughter along." He turned to her now, "Someday Lydia you'll be the Captain of the Guard but first you'll need to run small errands like this. So blacksmith, we need them as soon as possible so get started." Over the next few days Adrianne and I were busy making lots of swords.
When they were done I was sent to the guard's barracks to deliver them, and it was Lydia who came to the door. "Follow me," she said. I walked through the barracks and into the armory "just place them here blacksmith." I did as I was told but as I turned to leave, Lydia took up one of the swords and began to strike at a practice dummy. It was really quite amazing how fluently she moved from stroke to stroke of the blade, but that was not surprising considering her father was in charge of the guards.
"Dose something interest you blacksmith" Lydia said without stopping her attacks on the dummy.
"I'm sorry, I didn't realize that I was starring." I apologized quickly. "I was just admiring your form, you have great skill with a blade."
She nodded and cracked a small grin. "This is a fine sword," She said examining the blade, "You have great skill at your craft as well."
"I should hope so, it's all I know." I replied giving a slight chuckle."
Lydia handed me another sword. "It's all you know?" I nodded taking the sword. "Nothing of the sword?" I shook my head. "Perhaps you could learn for the right price."
"I have too little coin to spend on training."
"Perhaps you can pay me in another way then, I've always wanted a steel sword."
"I don't know anything about forging steel yet," I replied.
"Well when you learn then you know where to find me." That was a good point to leave at, I had already been there too long and was afraid that Adrianne would be upset.
I returned to the fore to find that she was not angry with me, rather she was pleased that the order was finished. So pleased in fact that she began to tech me about working with steel. There was something different about steel, it had a different shine and a beautiful feeling to it. When I returned to the Inn my sister was sitting by the fire listening to a bard sing the deeds of some Companion. She was at the age where many children wanted to join them for the glory and adventure, most grow out of it but she didn't. Every night she listened to the tales and often I could find her by the old Gilder green tree staring up at Jorvaskar. Once she asked me to come with her to see one of the Companions come back from an adventure. That was the first time I had ever seen Kodlak Whitemane, and although I didn't admire the Companions the way Veroth did I was still awestruck by this man. I was not sure by what, but something about him seemed magnificent and it was not just his deeds. He seemed aware of me watching him, but he just walked on. It was a few days later when I saw him again; he came to the forge and asked me to make him the finest sword that I could. I got to work immediately, but Kodlak just watched me as I worked.
When I finished he took the sword and gave it a few swings then nodded approvingly. "This is fine work for such a young boy, yet you are an apprentice here. As it turns out, our smith is looking for an apprentice of his own. I think that someone with your skill would benefit greatly from training with Eorlund."
I had heard Adrianna talk about him from time to time; supposedly he was the best smith in Skyrim, and now here was an offer to learn from him. Still, I had to think about my current master. "Thank you, but my master gave me work when I would have starved to death, and she gave me purpose when I had none. I will need time to think about it." Kodlak only nodded and walked off. I thought about it up until I had to go home, but before I left I had to tell Adrianna. "Master Avenicci, may I speak with you?" She nodded and I told her about Kodlak's offer, the whole time she wore the same expressionless frown she always did.
"Eorlund Grey-Mane is a fine smith," she said "and you would learn much from him, but be aware that most of his metal goes to the Companions so there will be less gold for you and your sister. Also I always benefit from your help here and I would hate to lose that. I won't tell you not to go, but just make sure you know what you're doing."
That just made my decision easier, it was true that Eorlund was a fine smith, but so was Adrianne and that was enough for me. I told Kodlak that I was going to keep working for Adrianna but I thanked him for the offer. I told Veroth about it and to say she was upset is not enough; she never forgave me for that, but neither would I when ten years later the Great Sweep happened.