The first time I had seen the man that stood before me, he was bound and gagged. We had been on our way to the chopping block, him by Imperial decree, me by accident. The sound of the horse hooves was what brought me back to the present world. I could smell the scent of leather and sweat. It was something that was a common scent after I had grown to love and it was comforting. This was such a strong memory, more so than the dragon attack that was soon to follow. I was terrified. The heat was so intense and the adrenaline coursing through my veins was what kept me pounding the ground, searching and looking for cover. Screams and shouts were all around me and one by one those imperial dogs were running about, some getting eaten.

The dragon was such a fearsome and magnificent creature. A figure of power and beauty, the dragon roared and shot flames in the air. Some people cowered, such milk-drinkers. That was my first encounter with the strength and leadership of Jarl Ulfric Stormcloak. He rallied the Stormcloaks and quickly got them in line before ushering them to make an escape. Our eyes met briefly as he nodded at me. I was the daughter of a Thane of Winterhold, so I had heard many stories about Jarl Ulfric. He truly was not what I expected. But I had been caught in an ambush and brought here to Helgan looking for my horse as it had run off. I had been on my way to Windhelm for the sole purpose of joining up with the Stormcloaks, much to my father's dismay. I wanted to be a warrior, a fighter, not some milk-drinker of a woman whose biggest ambition is to birth an army of kids to some noble sot. I watched those damn knife-eared elves torture my mother for wearing an Amulet of Talos that my father had presented her on their wedding day. I was forced to watch them slit her throat in the market place for all to see. Those Thalmor elves are a blight and need to be crushed.

The second time I had seen Jarl Ulfric was on his throne in Windhelm. I had managed to acquire a good set of Orcish armor, well made and had been battle tested. My sword was made of ebony, sharp and honed to perfection and enchanted to look like it dripped blood. With each foe I felled, I became stronger and my wounds healed. Between Helgan and Windhelm I had managed to kill five dragons on my own. My training each night had been to some benefit. I could handle my sword in one hand and my shield in my other just like my friend Jukka had taught me. That relationship was over and done with. The Thalmor took Jukka as well and killed him. All of that anger, that ferocity and emotion boiled over at this point. Here and now I was needed. After being called the Dovahkiin, the Dragonborn, I knew my place was here in the front lines. Fighting for the freedom of Skyrim, for the freedom of their own worship, and fighting for the freedom of the Nords was something that I treasured. It was important for us to be a free people. My hand tightened on my ebony blade as Jarl Ulfric made a very grand speech about taking Skyrim back for the Nords. I took a deep breath and focused my mind on the task at hand.

"I'm glad you made it Dragonborn, I'm glad to have you at my side. I knew that when I first met you in Helgan that you were a true daughter of Skyrim."

"Thank you my Jarl. I'm with you till the end."

"Hopefully it won't come to that. You, me and Galmar will take Castle Dour and deal with Tulius. The three of us will be more quick then a battalion of soldiers."

Ulfric gave a rather vicious and blood thirsty grin as he swung his sword in an experimental manner. I smirked as I made some movements beneath my armor. I didn't much care for the way that I was looked at by the Jarl. Ulfric's eyes were, different. The way they looked at me over any other woman in his army was just plain creepy. But our eye contact broke and I felt my cheeks flush. These past few weeks, from my imprisonment and waking up to see Jarl Ulfric staring me down to now, I wasn't quite sure why I felt so compelled to fight along his side.

"We fight for Skyrim!"

Jarl Ulfric lifted his sword high in the air and with a mighty shout, the army surged forward. My blade sang through the air, a blurred mass of black, hacking and slashing its way ahead of Ulfric. Every so often I would look up to Ulfric. He would give a grin before shouting and diving back into battle once more. I took an arrow to my shoulder, but with a quick swipe I pulled it out and kept fighting. Once we made our way up to the steps of Castle Dour, I paused and surveyed the carnage around me. Everything was silent, everything moved in slow motion, my battle senses were on over drive. I watched as Ulfric wrenched his sword from the chest of an Imperial bowman. For a moment I saw his handsome features glinting in the morning light, the look of the utmost concentration and focus as his blade flashed in the slivers of early morning sunlight. Quickly I brought up my shield to block a blow, I spun under the imperial soldiers arm, stabbing him in the ribs before quickly running to catch up with Ulfric.

"Are you ready?"

I quickly grinned and wiped the blood from my blade.

"At your side Ulfric."

He paused for a moment, flashing a smile before he kicked the door down. I shouted, using the power of my Thu'um to knock back the legionnaires that had gathered in the main hallway. I growled, using my shield to knock an orcish imperial back, dazing him as he slid to the floor.

"This is it Brenna. This is it."

I froze, looking at Ulfric in a questioning way.

"You actually know my name?"

"Why wouldn't I? It is such a beautiful name. I must say your father chose well despite his disliked for me."

I could feel the heat rising up under the collar of my armor. I truly wished that I had paid a tad bit more attention to my mother's lessons on proper etiquette for addressing someone such as Ulfric. But now wasn't the time for wishful thinking in that manner.

"But there is more to do now. We will finish this conversation shortly."

With that last word, Ulfric pushed the door open with his shoulder and we were ready to face Tullius and whatever generals he had inside.