After buying enough food to last us, we head off to Whiterun.

"It's a 3 day journey from here to Whiterun." Ralof informs us. We cross a small bridge overlooking the White River, and follow the path.

"As if we haven't done enough adventuring already," I grumble.

"And we'll be doing a lot more if we want to win this war." Ulfric reminds me.

"I just hope we win this quickly." I reply.

Memories of my parents' death start to come into my mind. I quickly push them back, as I have been doing a lot lately.

I hear howling. Ulfric immediately draws his sword. We all do the same, with our respective weapons. 4 wolves approach from the front, 3 from the back. "Valund, Ralof! Cover the back! Tymvir and I will get the front!"

We get in our positions, and the wolves start their attack. Ulfric dispatches one almost immediately, just as I drive my sword through another's head. I roll out of the way of one of the beasts leaping at me, and I kill that one, too. The Warrior Stone is really paying off, I think. Ulfric has defeated the last wolf attacking us.

We turn around, and see both Valund and Ralof defending themselves from their last assailant, and Valund bashes its skull in with his warhammer.

After the minor setback, we continue on the path. We encounter no more delays that day. That night, we sit around the campfire, all telling stories from each other's past.

"So, Valund, how did the Imperials capture you?" Ralof asks.

"Ah, that." Valund says. "I was working undercover. I posed as a guard in Helgen, watching for activity to report to Ulfric. There were two others. One was posing as a guard, like me, and the other was a mage, pretending to be a scholar. He snooped around, a bit too much. They caught him a couple weeks before we planned to leave. They finally cracked him at around the same time we left. He thought they would be too late. We had already changed back to Stormcloak gear. A few miles away from the city, a small troop of Imperials brought us back, and tortured us, trying to find out if there were more of us. When we got to the torture chamber, the Stormcloak acting as a mage was dead. My companion was killed shortly before the dragon attack."

"You said you were about to leave, and that you were watching to report things." Ulfric says. "If you were leaving, you must have had something to report. What was it?"

"Actually, we planned to leave because we feared the Imperials were catching on to our little stunt. They didn't seem to be planning to launch an attack yet." Valund answers.

"So,Tymvir, why did you join the Stormcloaks?" Valund asks.

"Before the White-Gold Concordat was issued, my father was a Priest of Talos back in Helgen. After Talos worship was outlawed, he still practiced it secretly. Of course, he had raised me to know who Talos is, how great he is. I joined because the elves have no right to dictate who we can and can't worship." I explain.

After the others share their reasons for joining (except for Ulfric, of course), we go to sleep. We have an uneventful night, and the next day is mostly uneventful. We had a brief run-in with two Imperials, but they were quickly taken care of. We camp out near a small cluster of trees.

The last day truly put our combat skills to the test. We were nearing Whiterun, almost close enough to see the group of farms outside the walls. We saw a giant camp nearby, and tried to sneak by it. However, the giant saw us, and started walking towards us.

"On my count, we run." I say. "One… Two… Three!"

We all sprint away, Ulfric and I outrunning the others. The giant is faster though, and tries to bring its club down on our heads. I dive out of the way, and get up. I plunge my sword into the lower part of its calf, but the giant doesn't seem to feel it. "Everyone, keep stabbing it! Maybe we can bleed it to death!" I say. Ralof, Valund, and Ulfric follow my advice. In between dodging its club, we continually plunge our sword into different parts of its leg, Valund bashing it with his warhammer.

Despite our continuous attacks, the giant still looks unaffected. After it swings its club again, I get an idea. A risky idea, but an idea none the less. "Everyone, keep away! I have a plan!" The others start to look doubtful, but they back away. They still stay close to me just in case.

The giant swings his club down again. I dodge, then I leap onto the club. I run up it, then I start climbing its arm. It raises its arm to bring its club down, and I drop down onto its shoulder. I plunge my sword in between its shoulder and neck. It growls, then lifts its unoccupied arm to knock me off. No matter where I run, the hand will hit me. I stick me sword out in the direction of the hand.

The sword goes into its palm, but it pulls back. I'm now dangling in the air, only held up by using my sword as a handhold. But it starts to fall out of the hand. Slowly… slowly… then it falls out, the tip of the blade still in the beast's palm.

As I hit the ground, I see the others charge the giant, Ralof headed towards me. He gets me away from the giant, as my vision turns red… then white… then black.

When I wake, I find myself staring up at a ceiling. I'm indoors, I realize. I slowly get up. The first thing I realize is that I'm severely disoriented. Everything seems to spin. After the dizziness stops, I slowly walk fumble to a door, and open it. My mind is foggy. I walk towards a counter, behind which a woman was standing.

"You're awake." She says bluntly.

"Yesh, I'm awake." I say.

"You took quite a fall. Not everyone survives a fall that high, especially when you don't land on your feet." The woman notes.

"Sho… How long wash I ashreep?" I ask drearily.

"Three days." She replies.

"Who are you, and where am I?"

"I'm Angelina. This is Angelina's Aromatics, the best, as well as only, apothecary shop in Whiterun." Angelina answers.

My mind starts to clear, but I still talk like a drunk man.

"Did shomeone named Ralof pash through here?" I inquire.

"Yes. He said he was headed to Dragonsreach, and that you should go to Windhelm." The apothecary tells me.

"Anything elsh?" I question.

"Yes, actually. He bought you a horse- the palomino one- down at the stables."

I thank her and leave the shop. Eventually, I start to talk normally again. I remember the gold I earned from Hod. My satchel of gold is still at my side. Then I remember my sword broke. I turn to the left, where Belethor's General Goods stands. I walk in, and ask if he sells weapons. "No, but Adrianne sells some, down at Warmaiden's. It's by the entrance. However, do feel free to browse my goods."

"Sorry. I don't have much gold to spare." I say, and leave his store.

After entering Warmaiden's, I see not the Adrianne Belethor mentioned, but a big brute of a man, with dark-brown hair that reaches his shoulders, and a large beard. I ask him who he is, and he says "I'm Ulfberth War-Bear, Adrianne's wife. She works the forge and owns the shop, and I sell her wares."

"Perfect. I'm here to browse." I say.

"Feel free to experiment with any of the weapons you see. Also, I'd appreciate it if you didn't chop up anything- or anyone, for that matter- while you are testing them out." Ulfberth replies.

The first weapon to catch my eye is a steel sword, much like the one I used. I see another sword, this one a katana. It had a black blade, pommel, and handle. I wasn't much for weapons that take up both of my hands, however, and then I see a blade that I think I could use. It's made of glass- not the kind used I windows, but a much more sturdy model. Its pommel has a soul gem embedded in it, that displays a fiery aura.

I slice the air a few times with it, and it feels natural. I turn to Ulfberth. "How much for this one?" I ask, holding the weapon.

"900 septims." He replies.

I count my septims. I have nearly enough- 850 septims.

"What's the lowest you'll take for it?" I ask.

"900 septims." He says again.

"I have 850- is there any way for me to work the rest off?"

"Go talk to Adrianne- she might have something for you to do. In the mean time, leave the sword here. I'll make sure no one else buys it."

Luckily, the forge Adrianne works at is right next to the shop. I go talk to her.

"I need to work off 50 septims. Is there anything I can help with?" I ask.

"Hmmm… Do you know how to smith with steel?" She questions.

"Yes, actually."

"Smith me a steel sword- Here's everything you need to make one." She hands me a couple steel ingots, an iron ingot, and a strip of leather.

A couple hours later, I give her the word. She thanks me, and brings me back into the sword. I acquire the glass sword, and leave both Warmaiden's and Whiterun.

I go to the stables, and talk to the stablemaster, Skulvar Sable-Hilt. I tell him about the palomino horse Ralof purchased. "I can't let you take the horse without first knowing your name. I need to know you really are Ralof's friend." He says.

"My name is Tymvir." I say.

"Very well. The horse is yours, on the far right." He tells me.

I mount the horse, and start riding it, wondering what I should name it. After a few minutes, a name comes to me- Shadowsnow. I simply like the name- it has no meaning whatsoever.

Apparently, Ralof also left me enough food for the week-and-a-half long journey on horseback. I start the journey east.

The first day passes uneventfully. I camp by the road, and the next day I wake restfully. The Throat of the World, the largest mountain in Tamriel, looms over me, as I ride towards it. It will be quite the journey, traversing around it, but one I am prepared for.

The rest of the day is occupied by me riding Shadowsnow, and I camp by the huge mount.

The third day, I trek to Ivarstead, and stop there.

When I stop, I head to Vilemyr Inn, owned by Wilhelm. I'm going there for a bottle of mead. I enter the inn, and see an old friend- Ralof!

I walk towards him. "Why are you here?" I ask.

"I figured you would stop by here. After all, what Nord passes through a town with a splash of mead to brighten his day?" He says cheerily. "Started to get nervous this morning, figured I'd stay here one more day."

"So, do you own a horse?" I wonder aloud.

"Yes, actually. Fine steed. Haven't thought up a name for her yet."

"So, do we resume our journey tomorrow?"

"Sounds good to me."

Sorry about the long chapter. Review it, and I might just spare you when I am surpreme dictator of the world. MWAHAHA.