So it was that Qorda and Oka spent a week in Windhelm slowly working out a peace treaty. The citizens of the city were finally all being treated equally. The Grey Quarter was transformed over that short week, however it would take a lot more time than that to repair relations and the district. It was looking much cleaner already and plans were made to renovate the district. Jobs were distributed more on skill and experience than race, and soon many Argonians were in better places throughout the city as were Dark elves.
Qorda and Oka prepared for the journey to Solitude, Galmar Stone-Fist would accompany them along with Ulfric Stormcloak to the Capital city. A treaty was finally worked out appropriately. The Nords would surrender and give up their worship of Talos in return for amnesty for the supposed crimes of treason. As long as the Empire accepted the terms then Ulfric and his Stormcloaks would see no severe punishment. With the leeway that Qorda had as the Savior of Solitude as well as everything else he had been through helping aid the Champion of Cyrodiil and that Oka had as the Dragonborn then they hoped that combined would be enough to convince the Jarl Elisif the Fair and General Tullius to sign it. Messengers were sent out to all Stormcloak camps and forces to hold off on any battles and await further orders.
After two weeks of slow travel for the sake of making sure all the hold for orders messages reached the Stormcloak forces they finally made their way to Solitude.
"HALT! Jarl Ulfric Stormcloak, you are hereby under Arrest for the murder of High King Torygg and Treason to the Empire!" A guard drew his blade and Galmar tensed next to Ulfric. Qorda stepped in front of the Jarl brandishing his Shield of Solitude.
"Hold, Soldier. I am escorting him to the Blue Palace. We are here to negotiate peace." The guard paused unsure but seeing the Savior of Solitude and the Dragonborn escorting the Jarl of Windhelm was just so very strange that he sheathed his blade. However he would follow them up to the Palace to ensure the safety of Solitude.
Apparently so did every other guard in the City. Many of them had to have it explained to them by the other guards as the four simply continued onwards. Many citizens saw their heroes with two of the worst enemies and simply had to follow. Word of what had happened in Windhelm had not reached anywhere else quite yet, as they had wanted to make sure that it was kept secret so the Thalmor wouldn't have time to catch on. They finally reached the Blue Palace where the majority of the crowd was forced to wait outside. The Court recognized their Thanes immediately but became shocked at the sight of Ulfric and Galmar.
"Guards, execute those two!" The Jarl Elisif's Housecarl reacted in an instant ordering for their deaths.
"Hold! Hold I say! We have come to negotiate for peace for Skyrim!" The Guards paused and looked to their Jarl who looked glaringly at Ulfric.
The man obviously noticed and eased forwards, kneeling to Jarl Elisif.
"Jarl Elisif, I come to plea for peace. I come to beg forgiveness even when none is owed. I come to give up any claim I have to High King of Skyrim, swear fealty to you, and offer myself upon whatever mercy you can spare. I challenged your husband to a battle for the title of High King by right of combat, yet I unfairly used magicks with my Thu'um, my Voice. Your Thane marched into my city and tore my ideals and plans appart, making me see his reasoning." She couldn't yet speak. She could only look to Qorda who stepped forwards.
"Oka and I had killed a dragon at Kynesgrove and made our way to Windhelm. We got to the steps to the bridge before I went off on the guard there about his behavior and treatment of someone for having been born a certain race, for clumping a race together simply because a number of them make mistakes. I then arrived in the City to see a Dunmer woman being insulted and disrespected by a drunk and a beggar, and went off again on more guards. I made my way to the Palace of Kings and again went on a long speech on Ulfric, where we worked out a lot of issues. After some discussion I said that if he threw himself at your mercy and begged forgiveness then I would stand by his side in his defense. I wish to see this Province reunited in peace, to see it grow strong once again. To see the Empire that it was two hundred years ago. I wish to see my people restored in their honor and culture." Oka stepped forwards now, beside Qorda.
"My Jarl, I have stood by and seen battlefields where dozens of Nords were killed, some looked so similar that I was certain that brothers and sisters had been killing one another. Argonians aren't like the other races of Tamriel. But we are still that, a race of Tamriel. Our people are not liked simply because we are different. For a very long time and throughout history our people are enslaved and used. The Nords of Skyrim and the Empire at large seem to be in a situation akin to that. I wish to see my people free to live as they want. I wish to see the other races recognize our differences and accept them. I stand by Ulfric as the Dragonborn and as a mortal who only wishes for there to be less bloodshed in this world." The two warriors stood on a united front in their support. The Court held its breath as Elisif decided.
"Jarl Ulfric of Windhelm.. If your offer of peace and surrender of your claim to my title of High Queen are genuine, if you will again join the Empire and follow their laws and customs then on those conditions I will accept your forgiveness, on the extra condition that you never use your voice on another living person again. Have the mages here carve a rune of sorts into your skin that will kill you the moment a life is taken using your Voice." The court looked somewhat surprised but Ulfric had grim determination on his face.
"As Jarl Ulfric of Windhelm, I accept this condition placed upon me by thee, Jarl Elisif the Fair, High Queen of Skyrim." With that the three mages, Melaran, Sabile, and Qorda pulled out a piece of parchment and quickly worked out a rune set that would suffice, and Ulfric was stripped of the Torso and the rune put onto his chest, one on his palm was also put to show how willingly he accepted this burden.
General Tullius ran in soon enough and the peace treaty was presented. A day of goings over and checking and a few minor changes were made. Finally the General, two Jarls, and Qorda and Oka signed the treaty. It was another day later that the Thalmor showed up to the City in force. The First Emissary Elenwen as well as The Third Emissary Rulindil. Qorda recognized both of them as they entered the Throne Room and nodded in feigned respect to the Jarl. A dozen Thalmor soldiers soon made their way up both sets of stairs.
"General, we must congratulate you on your capture of the traitor Ulfric along with his general. We will take them into our custody for questioning at this time." The entire room was suddenly tense. Ulfric and Galmar looked ready to draw their weapons. Elisif looked truly imposing surprising the First Emissary.
"Hahahaha… Oh, Elenwen when will you learn to ask before taking what isn't yours." All eyes snapped to Qorda as he strolled to the Thalmor entourage.
" Qordaenhesis Laraethfaere...Former Thalmor Justiciar and deserter. We will take you in for questioning as well." Oka drew his blade, like Oblivion he would allow his brother in arms to be taken. The Elf/Daedra simply extended a palm causing the guards in the room and Oka to pause.
"First Emissary Elenwen, I simply must challenge your authority here. The traitors have already been punished and peace has been wrought, all within the terms of the White-Gold Concordat. We double checked that one, my dear. Next, I am not only Thane of Solitude but the Protector of Solitude. Jarl Ulfric has sworn fealty to Elisif the Fair, thus is under her protection just as he has pledged to protect her. As her Thane I am honor bound to protect what is hers. She is the soon to be High Queen of Skyrim, and with that outranks any power you wield in the decision making here." The Thalmor guards looked uneasy. This was another High Elf, why protect humans?
"Qorda-" The woman started. "Qordaenhesis to you my dear~" Qorda interrupted. " I find your argument lacking. As the First Emissary I simply wish to welcome you to the Embassy, perhaps we can discuss some things while there. You could bring the Dragonborn! It would be oh so wonderful." She seemed to have pretended to have not heard him and was putting on a full bull shitting mode.
"I'm sorry to say but I must decline. Places to do, things to be. You know how it is. I am so surprised you didn't bring dear Ondolemar though! I miss his sense of humor. You know it well, butchering anything that even mentions Talos?" The Thalmor shifted and one began pulling a dagger from its sheathe.
"Ooh.. Touch a nerve? I must admit before the year 433 of the 3rd era I had no reason to believe in Talos. But I have learned much since a mere mortal man, one I knew very well rose to become a Daedric Prince. Amazing the kind of things you see in Oblivion Realms." Qorda smirked and put both hands behind his back and before Elenwen could respond walked to the stairs. The Thalmor on the set of stairs he decided to go down scrambled out of the way.
"Where do you think you're going, Nchow?" Qorda paused and turned looking up the steps to Rulindil, the Third Emissary.
"Out for a stroll. But I haven't had a good stretch in some time, maybe you will be a good warm up. Care for a duel, anything goes once it has begun at the signal of.. Melaran. In the Courtyard of Castle Dour in twenty minutes." The man puffed out his chest and scowled.
"If you think you can handle it old fool. I accept." So it was that fifteen minutes later Qorda stood in a full set of Mithril armor a Golden Saint's longsword on his hip and a staff on his back. Rulindil was on the opposite end of the Courtyard. The Thalmor and Court mage graciously set up wards powerful enough to handle any magicks thrown around and a crowd quickly formed.
"Hiding behind a suit of armor, too afraid to face a true superior Altmer Mage without it?" Qorda chuckled not quite replying and looked to Melaran who gave the signal.
Rulindil summoned a Storm Atronach right away and began unleashing bolts of lightning and fire upon his foe. The Atronach blasted Thunderous masses of electricity and moved around. Qorda drew his blade and stabbed it in between the stones of the courtyard and into tightly packed dirt. The electricity struck him but since he was grounded it had very little effect, and the fire was not even making his armor heat up in Skyrim's decently cool climate. Rulindil took a moment to resummon his Atronach when Qorda broke into a sprint. A few could hardly believe it when he took off and reached Rulindil. A pinkish spell was slapped onto the Thalmor's chest and suddenly the Atronach fell apart and faded, the mage armor and wards Rulindil had made shattered. The Third Emissary looked in total fear, no wizard he had ever encountered knew such a spell. (Which was simply the old art of Dispel, simple but absolutely useful. ) Qorda's hand shot forwards and grabbed Rulindil's robes by the front and lifted him off of his feet.
"The difference between us is you were trained to fight in a war as well as against Nords. Let us simply say they are lacking in mages, and you were not trained to face a foe with a superior and more expansive and intense repertoire of Spells." Qorda with a great heave threw Rulindil away from himself, the Elven man slammed into the Wards which flared up in response to the impact, and fell onto the ground, barely still on his knees.
"I-I won't submit to the likes of you! A filthy half Elf, coward who couldn't face his own race, a disgusting traitor and heretic!" Qorda sheathed his blade and using a powerful Telekinesis spell lifted Rulindil up with his power, grasping around his neck. The man writhed in the air unable to respond any longer. Qorda pulled the staff off of his back with his free hand.
"Heh, you could use some time to relax. Maybe an age spent as a Grummite will teach you some manners.." Using magicks taught to him by Giattius as Sheogorath Qorda was able to invoke the proper spell from the Wabbajack and when the dark lavender ball of energy struck and covered Rulindil, a strange throaty noise that sounded almost amphibian cried out. Qorda released his Telekinesis and began walking over to the mostly cheering crowd.
Behind him a hideous creature, shorter and hairless in heavily torn barely fitting Thalmor robes fell to the ground making all sorts of unpleasant sounds. The Thalmor looked disgusted and horrified and so did some of the townspeople but they also looked in awe of their protector.
"Now, First Emissary I suggest you collect your friend over there and return to the Embassy. There are after all more important matters than something that has already been solved." Humiliated and hate burning in her eyes she ordered two guards to go pick up the flailing Rulindil who was not adjusted to the strange new body. They dragged him out of Castle Dour towards the town gate.
"Know that this isn't over Qordaenhesis." Qorda pulled off his helmet and smirked.
"Wouldn't have it any other way, my dear." With that Qorda headed off to take an alternate route to the Winking Skeever, avoiding the crowd with Invisibility spells. He reached his room where he stripped of his armor and put all of it in his bags.