Blood of the Reach

A/N: This is chapter six, I said the action would kick back up at this point and I shall deliver. Enjoy.

Chapter 6: An oath of Blood

Xaxa Faolan Red

I had gathered the warriors that were to be initiates into the Sundered Hills tribe. We were going to attack Old Hroldan, it was now rebuilt into a nordic town, and what better way to begin the real war then sending a message out to the nords at the very sight that we lost to Tiber Septim. The warriors were ready, I had two Forsworn Warlords with me, they were the equivalent to generals for us. The rest were made up of twenty warriors, male and female. I had told Madanach and my new family we were going hunting for the initiation. I technically didn't lie, only Raven knew what I was really doing, because she had done it herself, as well as I.

"Remember, no mercy, no discretion. Those of you who distinguish yourselves here shall be full members of the Sundered Hills tribe. Make the tribe proud, and bring back some loot as well." I said as we neared Old Hroldan. I heard a few laughs and chuckles from the raiding party. It was fifteen men and ten women.

"Let the nords know our fury." Said one of the warriors, from what it was Aryn. I grew up with him, he was one of my oldest friends. "Yes brother, let them know the wrath of the forsworn on this night." I said, and that earned a lot of whoops and shouts from the rest of the group.

We snuck up to Old Hroldan, and I sent three people to scout ahead. Once they returned they informed us that the town was lightly defended, and I cracked a smile at this. "Then let us begin. Half of you attack the front, and the rest split into three groups and attack from the sides and rear. Move on my go, when you hear us charge, then you follow as well." I ordered, and we split up.

Aryn was leading the rear assault. I had every intention of making him my blood brother after this. He deserved it after all we had been through together. We waited at least five minutes and when I decided everyone should be in place I looked to the men behind me. "Let's go!" I barked and we charged.

The guards that were at the entrance to the town were taken completely by surprise. I sunk Red Eagle's fury into one of the guards chest in a mere instant. He struggled, this one clearly had more fight in him then a lot of foes I had faced. I brought my forsworn sword to his neck and slashed a deep cut in his throat. Blood flowed from the wounds I had inflicted on him, and he weakened and went to the ground gurgling blood in his mouth.

I let out a battle cry, the other guard had been taken out with an arrow to the throat. "The reach belongs to the forsworn!" I bellowed and the war cries went up from all the warriors. I cast mage armor on myself as did the rest of the raiding party, and then we charged into the town. Nords were being slaughtered indiscriminately. They didn't stand a chance, I charged another guard, and before he could use his Warhammer he had no head upon his shoulders. I didn't relish in his death I kept moving. I cast flames upon one of the buildings and the fires began.

I saw Aryn in the fray with three nord warriors, one of them was a Stormcloak. I hurled a spike of ice at him, and it impaled him from behind, and then Aryn slashed at another, and took out his legs, then ran him through. I threw an arc of lightning at the other and fried him as the bolt slammed into him. The warriors were killing civilians, and warriors alike.

I turned my sights to the inn, and I motioned for five warriors to come with me. When we got to the doors we saw they were barricaded shut. I placed a fire rune on the door, then I lobbed a fireball at it and the door exploded, and the inn caught fire. I ran stepped into the burning building with my fellow warriors. Our visages made even more menacing in the flames. I saw several nords huddled under tables, and I knew there was more hiding in rooms.

"Kill them all." I ordered and my warriors went at it. There were screams, and cries for mercy. But those cries fell on deaf ears. No one would hear them. "Quiver at the wrath of the Forsworn!" I roared, and I hacked a bard to pieces. Then I pierced another tavern worker through the heart with Red Eagle's Fury. After the inn was cleared, and what things of value were being taken out of it, I set the rest of it on fire, and it burned.

All of Old Hroldan was now up in flames. And we were leaving celebrating our victorious raid. They were chanting my name and now once we returned to the hills they would have their ceremony with Esmeralda and I over seeing it and then we would rejoice and celebrate. We had acquired liquor that was not just jenever and it would be a good night, and we had acquired many fine foods.

"They didn't stand a chance." Aryn said cheerfully, his sword covered in blood, all of ours were. We were whooping and cheering all the way back to the Sundered Hills. Once we returned the festival was ready. Decorations were hung, food was being cooked, and drinks were being prepared. We heard instruments, and I smiled back at the initiates. Be ready in an hour for the ceremony. When the moon is at its highest point in the sky, They all nodded, "Keep your weapons bloody." I told them before I left them and went to find Esmeralda. By now Madanach, Eithne, and Kaie would have figured out what was going on.

I didn't find Esmeralda, instead I stumbled upon Aeihe who was curled up on the ground crying. My instincts got the best of me, I couldn't just leave her like this, despite how mad I was at her. "Aeihe… are you okay?" I asked her, but she didn't respond. "Aeihe…" I began but she cut me off. "I'm fine Xaxa, I just…" she began but trailed off. I knelt down at her side, and embraced her.

"I'm sorry Aeihe. Sorry for being an asshole earlier, it's just I've had a lot on my plate, and I've been stressed. I shouldn't have yelled at you, I know you care, and I'm sorry." I told her, and she turned to me, her eyes red and puffy from crying, and her cheeks were flushed. She didn't say anything, she just embraced just kissed me.

"I'm sorry too." She finally said once she broke the kiss. And I smiled at her. "You have nothing to be sorry for." I told her, then I rose and offered my hand to her. "Come, there is a festival about to begin, and I have to prepare for the ceremony, will you help me?" I asked her, and she nodded.

"Let's not waste any time." She said, and I led her up to Esmeralda's tower. Once we got there we saw that she was standing at her gods awful alchemy table doing god's only knows what. "Esmeralda. They all passed, the raid was successful. The ceremony will begin soon, are you ready?" I asked her but she didn't even look up. She just sighed.

"Yes Faolan, I am ready. Do you know how many times I've done this. I did it for you when you came of age. I did it for countless others. You should know this by now." She said waving me away, and I just nodded. Then me and Aeihe turned and left, and I led her to my tent.

I had ceremonial paint readied once I got there, probably by Raven. I hadn't seen her or Madanach or my other sisters since I arrived. Never the less I had no time to dwell on that, they were here somewhere, and I had to prepare.

Aeihe dressed me in the ceremonial paint, polished my torc, and did my hair, which was long and untamed. She put intricate braids in it, with beads, and other items. I had five large ceremonial gold necklaces hung from my neck. She had brought me my armor. And when she was finally done she nodded, and grabbed a mirror, and showed me her work. It was beautiful, very well done, it looked fearsome, but regal at the same time. I heard the drums begin to beat at an even pace and I deemed it time to show up.

"Come cariad, let us go to our people." I told her and I rose, and led her after me. Once Aeihe and I had arrived at the base of the stairway, the entire Sundered Hills tribe was in attendance and all of Karthspire as well. Also the people from Druadach redoubt were there, and Hag's end. The old Hagraven I noticed as Keirine was there from Hag's end. Also the remaining hags of the south, and then Melka from Blind cliff Redoubt was there as well.

I had a feeling this would be more than a ceremony, this would be a diplomatic meeting as well. I guess there was no time to unify the Forsworn then now, when we were all here. Alaric was standing at Esmeralda's side. All of her briarhearts were, which numbered up to thirty. She had been busy, very busy. They formed our honor guard, as well as the chosen swordsmen. Even Sabine was there, she really was able to save him somehow, I wasn't too thrilled about that.

Raven was standing by Aonai, apparently she was healed now, thanks to a lot of potions and restoration magick. Kaie, Eithne and Madanach were with her, all they were waiting for was me. I finally stepped forward, and I walked to where they were on a raised platform overlooking the horde of forsworn. I raised my hand and the Sundered Hills cheered my name.

"It's about time." Esmeralda snapped at me and I bowed my head apologetically. "My apologies matron, I merely was preparing in earnest." I told her a sly grin crossing my features. Esmeralda glared at me, I knew I would pay for that one later on.

I looked out to the gathered forsworn, and began to speak. "Brothers, forsworn, kin, my fellow reachmen. We are here to recognize the strength and prowess of the chosen few who have proven themselves ready to make the journey to adulthood. I would ask them to step forward." As I said that all twenty of the raiders stepped forward. "Raise your right hands into the air for this oath to take, then once it is finished, step up to the bowl and spill your blood upon the water of the Karth, and the leaves of juniper, and the soil of the reach herself." I continued "One at a time."

They all stepped forward, and they all were prepared for the oath one by one. "Repeat after me." I began "I a child of the reach, do swear to protect her, I do swear to protect this land and it's people with my life." I began and one by one they repeated my words. "I shall protect her from any enemy, and I shall spill blood for this land, and I shall shed my own blood in her defense, I do swear this, by my honor, and my life. To protect her, or die trying." They repeated my words after I said them without fault. "I now proclaim you, Warriors, hunters, Leaders, children of the Sundered Hills, now and forever even after death." And then the rest of the crowd cheered, as each initiate cut there right palm and spilled their lifeblood into the ceremonial bowl.

After the ceremony the festivities began. I was drinking jenever and enjoying myself with Aeihe at my side, doing the same. I stopped when I heard a soft melodic voice resonating from nearby. It was Raven singing, and it was beautiful.

"We drink to our youth, to the days come and gone, for the age of occupation is just about done. We'll drive out the invaders, from this land that we own, with our blood, and our zeal we shall take back our home. All hail to Faolan, first lord of the reach, in your great honor we drink and we sing, we're the children of the reach and we fight all our lives, and when the old gods beckon everyone of us dies." Raven sung and all fell silent, it was a beautiful song. Once she had finished many people were clapping. I saw tears in the eyes of some, the song moved me in a way I hadn't thought possible. My eyes blurred, for I to was crying. The song brought on the feeling of hope, a feeling of resolve, and I vowed right then and there, that I would never give up the fight.

To be continued…

A/N: Short post, just wanted to fill in some plot lines, next we are going to forsworn internal politics, which is always more than often a chore in itself.