Chapter Seven: Battle for Whiterun, and the truth
Talis, Tymvir, and Ralof all stood among the soldiers as they listened to Galmar's speech." This is it men! They say that our cause is false and that we are nothing more than thieves, thugs and murderers! But no! We are farmers! We are craftsmen! We are sons and daughters of shopkeepers, maid servants and soldiers! We are the sons and daughters of Skyrim! And we have come this far because our cause is true. Because we fight as one. And because our hearts are bursting with anger! What we do here today, we do for our country! For all the true Nords of Skyrim! Whiterun's walls are tall, but they are old and crumbling, like the Empire whose Legion lines them. They've barricades to block us, but we'll tear through them and the Imperials behind them! Our objective is the drawbridge. If we can find a way to drop it, the city will be ours! Everyone on me. Let's show these Imperial milk drinkers what true Nords look like!"
The soldiers lifted their weapons in the air and screamed, Talis among them. True, she still had reservations about attacking her hometown, but Balgruuf made his choice, as did she. She took the point, along with Tymvir, Ralof, and a few others. As they approached the gate, Talis stood. "Yol!" she shouted. As they were set ablaze, Talis decapitated one as the others charged in for the attack. She looked at Tymvir, slashing the throat of an Imperial. Talis heard a wisp.
Tymvir heard it as well, and lifted his shield, stopping the arrow. "Archers!" Tymvir called.
Talis took a few steps back and drew her Nordic Bow. She saw the archer in the guard tower. Talis knocked an arrow and let it lose. As he tried to get away, the arrow pierced him in the groin. Talis could hear him withering in pain as he died. "You shouldn't have moved." Talis said. She redrew her Nordic Greatsword and joined the fray.
She heard the clanking of heavy Imperial Armor. There, standing before her, was Legate Quentin Cipius, their leader. He drew his Imperial Sword. He charged forward, Talis stepped back. He swung his blade, Talis blocked it. When Talis took the offensive, he went on the defensive, skillfully blocking her swings. Talis was able to get past them by stabbing forward. The blade pierced his armor clear through, and Cipius fell."For...for the...Emperor." He let out one final breath before passing on.
"Retreat! Retreat to the city!" Talis heard a soldier call. A few Imperials remained, making sure the other got inside and tried to block the path leading to the bridge.
"Tymvir, to me!" Talis called out. Tymvir rushed to her side and the two ran up the pathway, killing the soldier who dared to get in the way. After clearing the Imperials that remained, they let down the bridge. Galmar and the others were already there, waiting.
"Let's go! To Dragonsreach!" Galmar yelled with his usual loud voice. They charged through the gates of Whiterun, and were met with the yellow clad guards, now wielding Imperial equipment. The Stormcloaks began to attack, while the guardsman prepared. Talis drew her blade and joined the charge.
As they cut through the barricades, Talis noticed Heimskr's house was damaged in the attack. She saw him in front of the statue of Talos, not showing any fear of the warriors. "Go, go on Stormcloaks! Today, mighty Talos is by your side!"
Talis cut down the barrier set up to guard Dragonsreach. She opened the door for her fellow Stormcloaks. "So Galmar, what's the plan?" Talis asked.
"We beat Balgruuf into submission, but I don't want him killed. Understand?" Galmar made sure everyone knew that Balgruuf had to be taken alive.
Talis looked up as Balgruuf came into sight. Instead of his usual attire, he was dressed in Steel Plate Armor, and his personal War Axe was in his hand. Irileth was by his side, as was three guardsmen, they charged first. Talis cut down two of them, and Tymvir stabbed the last one.
Irileth went on the offensive, going for Talis. Tymvir's shield blocked Talis, Tymvir sliding in between them. "I'll handle the housecarl, you defeat Balgruuf."
Talis ran behind the two of them, hearing the clashing of Tymvir and Irileth's blades. She stood before Balgruuf, her Greatsword raised. "I told you, the next time we met, we're enemies." A bit of a growl was in her voice.
"Then as enemies, we have to fight." Balgruuf swung his ax and tried to bring down on Talis. She blocked with her blade, and counterattacked. Balgruuf charged again. "I still can't believe you joined them! Why? Why, after I made you thane of our city, and saved the people from a dragon?" Balgruuf yelled.
"Because the Empire serves those who took my father from me and you joined them!" She broke Balgruuf's defense and knocked his ax out of Balgruuf's hand. "FUS RO DAH!" Talis shouted. Balgruuf was flown back, hitting the throne of Whiterun. Talis charged up and pointed her Greatsword at his neck. "I refuse to bend my knee to an empire who serves the Thalmor."
Balgruuf closed his eyes, accepting defeat. "I yield! Everyone, stand down!" Balgruuf yelled. Both the Stormcloaks and the Whiterun soldiers stopped. They sheathed their weapons.
A few hours later…
Vignar Grey-Mane entered the keep, now the Jarl of Whiterun. Talis stood by the throne, as did Tymvir. "So, Tymvir, your father has put you in charge of the reconstruction until we need you on the battlefield again." The new Jarl said. He turned to Talis. "And Talis, I know that today you've made your father proud. I re-name you Thane of Whiterun." He took a Skyforge Steel Greatsword. "This will serve as your badge of office."
Talis took it and bowed. As she left Dragonsreach, she saw the Stormcloaks and men of Whiterun clearing away the rubble of the battle. Talis turned to the Dragonserach dungeon. She entered. Balgruuf was in a personal cell, awaiting transport to Solitude, his circlet gone. "What do you want now?" Balgruuf said. "You've made it quite clear that you chose to oppose the Empire, no matter what the cost."
"You never told my why my father was killed." Talis said. She took a chair, placed it in front of the cell, and sat down. "So now you're going to tell me."
Balgruuf was silent for a moment. "I guess you do deserve that." He turned to Talis. "As you know, Status was the truest believer of Talos, almost as much as Heimskr is. Of course, the Thalmor outlawed the worship of Talos, but Status wouldn't listen. Then, the Thalmor arrested him for openly worshiping him at the shrine at White River Valley. In truth, they took him in for questioning about something. Do you remember that time?"
"Those few days before my father vanished before he was killed?" Talis said. Balgruuf nodded. "I remember that."
"He was taken to the Thalmor Embassy by Elenwen. He resisted the torture for days. After you asked for my help, they called me in, to get me to convince him to talk. Refusal meant death. I tried to get him to talk, but he refused." Balgruuf said.
"What did they want to know?" Talis asked.
"If he told me, we wouldn't be talking right now." Balgruuf said. "But, he gave me a letter to give to Kodlak Whitemane."
"The Harbinger of the Companions?" Talis said.
"Yes. I was to give it to him, and not look at what it said. He made me promise I wouldn't take it to the Thalmor. Said the future of Skyrim, possibly all of Tamriel, depended on it." Balgruuf was quiet for a moment. "We were then taken back to Whiterun…and that was when."
"Father was killed." Talis finished. "Did Kodlak ever tell you anything about it?"
"No." Balgruuf said. "If you want to learn more, talk to him." Talis stood up to leave. "Talis." She turned back to him. "When I sided with the Imperials, I did it for Whiterun, one of the reasons you joined the Stormcloaks. There is one thing you, myself, and even Ulfric all know: who the true enemy is."
"I know. And I'll never forget." Talis said. She exited the prison. "Kodlak Whitemane." She glanced over to Jorrvaskr, home of the Companions. "First, I have to report to Ulfric."
At the Palace of the Kings…
"That's what Balgruuf told you?" Ulfric said.
"It was." Talis said, now dubbed Ice-veins. "When is our next move?"
"Still some time away." Galmar said. "We're re-gathering our strength for the next attack, as well as reconstructing the parts of Whiterun that were damaged."
"So, until we need you, you're free to act on your own, Ice-Veins. Go, find out about why Status was murdered." Ulfric said.
"Thank you, my Jarl." Talis said, bowed, and turned around to leave.
"Talis." Ulfric called out. Talis turned back, thinking it was as strange habit she was getting into. "Stratus kept this secret from me, his closest friend. Unless you feel like you need to tell someone, I suggest you keep this secret to yourself."
