Chapter 3: The Stormcloak view
Kod awoke to the sound of a fire pit's crackle. He groaned trying to sit up, moving his arms above him to get them under him so he could lift himself up.
"You shouldn't be moving"
He heard that screechy voice again. He blinked a few times to get the dark elf in view. She was now wearing Black robes, Her hood was hung behind her. The Dark elf's hair was snow white, not a flaw of black or gray, pure white.
He groaned and remained laying back. She was sitting in a chair next to him.
"Guys, He's awake" She called someone over to her.
The Khajiit and Argonian walked over to where he had been laying. He realized he was in a bed, stone walls and the bed post the Khajiit had decided to lean on.
The Argonian was wearing green and cream colored robes, mages robes by the looks of it.
The Khajiit was wearing some ripped up armor, Fur by the look of it.
"Are you okay?" the Argonian asked quickly, "You past out at Helgan and we dragged you all the way here...although it took us two days to get here" The Argonian quickly explained. His voice was fast, sounding child like almost.
"I'm...alright ..." Kod answered softly, sighing at the end. "I don't know what happened..."
"It was either shock or something inside of you isn't working right" the Dark elf told him. "George, Help me sit him up"
The Khajiit grumbled quietly as he went to Kod's right, the dark elf on Kod's left. They both placed a hand on Kod's back and helped him sit up. Kod sat up, not noticing that his chest was bare and he wasn't wearing anything under the blanket that laid over his lower body.
After getting Kod up, The dark elf handed him a vile of a red liquid, "Drink up, it'll help you a lot" She told him happily.
He took the potion and drank it down, feeling the effects almost instantly. He felt a cleansing in his chest, the small amount of pain left, vanished from his form and he breathed a little easier now.
"Thank you miss" Kod told her, bowing his head to her.
"you don't have to call me that" The dark elf sat back down, "I'm Silverus Alberta Stormcloak. Jarl Ulfric Stormcloak's daughter"
The dark elf seemed proud of her back ground, lifting her fist up towards him, showing strength.
Kod remained quiet as the Argonian spoke, "I'm Nolan, and that's George" The Argonian pointed to himself and then to the Khajiit leaning on the bed post again.
The Khajiit half waved, not saying a word.
"I'm Kod" Kod answered softly, staring towards the Argonian.
A knock came at the door as the four of them remained quiet. The wooden door at the other end of the room opened and there stood the Jarl himself, unbound and still really clean for Kod's liking.
"Ah...our friend is awake" The Jarl's accent was thick, Kod began to think that the Jarl should be constantly talking about Sovngarde or Nordic History.
Kod ignored the thoughts as the Jarl walked closer, "I'm glad to see that you survived son" Ulfric told him, walking to the other side of George. "Silverus, what was wrong with him?" he asked, turning to the Dark elf.
Kod stared at the Jarl for a moment, Ulfric was indeed a Nord. But He guessed not everything could make sense. He was reminded with the tilt of his Khajiit ears.
"I'm not sure Father, I am only a mage after all, I'm no Physician" Silverus folded her arms and sighed, "What ever it was, its gone now"
Ulfric nodded and turned to Kod again, "I had someone retrieve your things from the Imperials." he told Kod, getting the others attention to leave the young man to get dressed.
"Thank you my Jarl, you're too kind" Kod bowed his head to Ulfric.
"You can thank me when you come down for dinner, I have something to discuss with you" Ulfric told him as the other three left the room to allow Kod to dress in peace, "Just follow the stairs down, you can't miss the giant dinner table" Ulfric told Kod as he shut the door behind him.
Kod began to get up, not having to much difficulty, except maybe stiff muscles.
He noticed his scaled armor on top of a dresser next to the door. He got up slowly, trying to gain control of his stiff muscles.
Kod walked over to his armor and noticed His father's gift to him, his long sword. He silently thanked the Gods that it was undamaged. He got he armor on, fastening it over his chest and shoulders. As he began putting the Gauntlets on, he began to think about where he was. Ulfric was the Jarl of Windhelm...the head operations of the Stormcloak army. After getting his boots on, he noticed a small window to the outside. He went over to it and looked out at the City of Windhelm.
He could see the Windhelm guards below his window, a few nords and dark elves wandering the city. Kod grumbled, not actually sure if he would want to be a Stormcloak. He never actually paid any attention to the war anyway. He lived in Whiterun after all, the place that hasn't made a choice between The Stormcloaks or the Imperials.
He grumbled, It was rude to simply run away and leave Windhelm without the Jarl noticing.
He grumbled walking away from the window and grabbed his blade, strapping it to his back again.
He inhaled and nodded, It was the right thing to do. This group of Stormcloaks saved his life. It was only right that he would give them his strength to their cause.
Kod opened the door and walked down the stone stairs to the main hall of The Hall of kings. The stone room was the throne room, Kod was sure of it.
A large wooden table sat in the center of the giant hall, it was rectangular and long, a large feast lay on the table.
Kod's eyes widened at the feast, looking around, noting the large percentage of cooked meat on the table.
The Jarl and a few of his kin sat around the table, eating and talking.
Kod noticed the three from before, Silverus, George and Nolan.
A new man that Kod never seen before was also sitting with them, he was another Nord, brawly and large. He wore what looked to be bear fur on his head and shoulders.
Kod cringed slightly, wondering if the man had ever wrestled a bear before, and if so...was that the bear on his shoulders?
Kod shook his head, he thought to much.
Silverus was the first to see Kod and waved him down, making him sit next to her, on her right. At the edge of the table, next to Jarl Ulfric, who was at the head of the table.
"Its about time boy" the man across from Kod spoke up, Hardy nord voice and a bit older than most nords. "Ulfric told me you past out at Helgen...What happened?" he asked.
Kod shook his head and looked to the older man, "I'm not sure..." He answered honestly and saddly.
Ulfric coughed and shook his head, "Now Galmar, that's not way to treat our guest" He glared at his associate and then turned to Kod.
"Now to the real reason for this 'dinner gathering'..." Ulfric became monotone as Silverus spoke up to Kod first.
"Become a Stormcloak with us" She pipped up eagerly.
Kod, after a moment of startled fear, stared at Silverus, "The Stormcloaks."
Kod then looked to Ulfric, "I don't understand why you would want someone like me to be a Stormcloak"
Silverus frowned slightly and looked to Ulfric.
"You said you wanted to Thank us for saving you, I'm certain that Silverus could find something meaningless for you to do...but where's the adventure in that?"
Ulfric leaned forward and rested his elbows on the table, his face was still nonchalant about the conversation.
Kod nodded, being raised by companions, he was used to finding adventure, used to fighting often.
He just had to remember to stay calm.
"That's why I want to invite you to be a Stormcloak-"
"If you pass my test that is" Galmar chuckled in, cutting Ulfric off, making the Jarl glare at his friend.
Kod raised a brow at Galmar, "A test?"
"A test of Strength if you will. There's a stone formation outside of Windhelm, the place is called Serpent stone isle, Go kill an ice Wrath out there and come back with its teeth." Galmar explained as Kod stood up.
"Fine, I'll bring it..." Kod nodded, "I'll become a Stormcloak"
Silverus Squeeled happily as Ulfric sighed.
Nolan then jumped over to Kod, "Come with me, I'll show you to our place" Nolan then began to walk away, towards the front doors of the palace.
After walking into the cold streets of Windhelm, Kod spoke to Nolan. "So, whats the deal? Why is this the first thing they think of?" Kod asked Nolan, who turned to him, now walking backwards.
Nolan shrugged, "I dunno, it was the first thing Silverus thought of for saving your life" He explained and then chuckled, "I was really scared you would say no"
Kod shrugged and looked around, There were nords and Dark elves everywhere. No Khajiit or Argonian.
Kod then looked to Nolan, "Why is an Argonian a stormcloak?" he asked the Argonian.
Nolan pondered for a moment before turning back around, "I dunno, Following Silverus really, She found us outside of one of those Dwemer ruins...We didn't do so well inside it" Nolan saddened, talking about it.
Kod nodded as they arrived at a two story house. It was wooden and very nordic in style. Nolan walked threw first and left the door open for Kod. Kod sighed and followed the Argonian into the house, shutting it behind him.
The house was rather furnished and full of stuff.
"Our rooms are on the second floor, C'mon" Nolan grabbed Kod's wrist and dragged him up the stairs to the second floor.
Kod noticed the armory on the second floor.
As they quickly passed by, Nolan stopped in front of the first room, "This one is George's room, I'm down stairs in my own room" He then walked past this room to a third room on the right wall, "And this one is yours, I know its small but I hope you like it" Nolan nodded. "Do you need anything else?" he asked.
Kod looked inside, inspecting the room. Clean enough, small but fine. "It's fine...but I would like a parchment and something to write with...if that's alright?"
Nolan nodded and ran into George's room, coming back with an ink bottle, a quill and a few rolls of paper.
"Are you writing a letter?" he asked Kod as Kod took the things out of Nolan's hands.
"I have to send a letter to my family, telling them about everything that's happened. And if there's a Dragon out there, I need to warn them" Kod said in one breath, hoping that sated his curiosity.
"oh...okay" Nolan nodded and left Kod alone.
Kod set the things down on the desk in the small room and lit the candle sitting there on the corner of the table.
He then began to write his letter to his family. Trying to figure out where to start.
To the Family of The Harbinger,
19 of last Seed, 4E.
Dear Father, Mother, Anita and Jergen,
Hello everyone, It's Kodlak.
It's been six days now since I left, I'm currently residing in Windhelm.
I've met friends who own a place here and they are letting me stay with them.
I'm also working on Joining the Stormcloak rebellion, I know the companions say to not join sides, but I owe my friends my life.
You see, I was trying to cross the boarder when Imperials caught me. That was the 15th when they captured us, They were on a pursue of Ulfric Stormcloak and got us all.
On the 17th, we stopped in Helgen getting ready for the headsman's block...when a large black dragon swooped down and destroyed Helgen.
I'm warning you all, stay clear of the Dragon, if you see it, don't try to fight it. You will not win.
Also, warn the Jarl if you can. I don't know how to get rid of the dragon, and I don't know if there are more.
I apologize, I was going to simply tell you about how my life is now.
But it seems it became a warning letter.
To mother: I know you are probably upset with me for not staying, but I need my path to be clear. And Slowly, its starting to be.
To Anita and Jergen, Mind your parents, They taught me everything I know. Don't ever think they don't understand...because they do.
To Father: Again, thank you for letting me out that night.
I hope I receive a letter from you all soon.
Love, Kodlak
End of chapter 3