[Author's Note: The end of the last chapter is where departures from canon will become more noticeable. The primary reason is that in the game, the DB is barely noticed as anything other than a normal member of his or her race, where in anything like a realistic world, someone known to be of historic importance isn't going to be essentially ignored. Yes, I understand why Bethesda did it that way, and in-game it doesn't bother me, but turning it into a story requires a lot of different actions, choices, and reactions.]

Chapter 10 - Joining the Legion

Yssha's return to Whiterun was fine, as long as she stayed in Breezehome, but as soon as she left to go to the alchemist, she was greeted and welcomed by seemingly everyone she met ... and not just as Dragonborn, but as Ysmir, and by a few as Talos. Those she protested, saying it was sacrilegious. Most looked dubious, but agreed not to use it to her, and ask others to refrain as well. Ysmir didn't bother her much more than Dragonborn did, but she worshiped Talos herself, so that name applied to her was just wrong.

The alchemist was next to Belethor's store; she'd noticed it on her first trip, but not gone in. The woman smiled when she and Marcurio entered. "Welcome, Dragonborn! How can I help you? Healing potions, perhaps?"

Yssha couldn't help an amused purr. "Definitely. I will certainly be needing those. And might you have any for waterwalking?"

"Waterwalking?" The woman - Yssha guessed her to be the proprietor, Arcadia - shook her head. "Those come from Cyrodiil, cost a fortune, and are almost impossible to get, here. We simply don't have the ingredients. For waterwalking, you'll need an enchanter."

"So my limited alchemy skills are even more limited here." Yssha sighed. "All right. I will take any healing potions you have available. Dare I hope for potions that cure poison effects?"

The proprietor chuckled. "Those, we have. And if you want to improve your alchemy skills, I can teach you the basics. Enough for restoration-type potions, at least, and I usually have a decent stock of ingredients."

"I would appreciate that." Some time at the alchemy station in Arcadia's shop taught her three useful potions, and she bought a few ingredients as well. When that was done, she asked, "How much do I owe you?"

Arcadia grinned. "Nothing, this time. Oh, I'll charge you full price next time, most likely, but chaos - having a Dragonborn around, now that the World-Eater's back, is payment enough for now."

Yssha bowed, formally, fisted hands crossed over her chest. "This one thanks you, and will accept your generosity. But she expects to be treated as a normal customer from now on."

Arcadia laughed. "As you wish, Dragonborn. Just remember I'll buy any ingredients and potions you find and don't want, as well."

"I shall remember." Yssha bowed again, less formally, and left the shop. "I like her," she told Marcurio.

"So do I, but be careful - she tries to sell curative potions, even if the customer doesn't really need them at the moment, by hinting they may have a disease. If you're in doubt, go to a shrine instead."

Yssha shrugged. "She is a merchant in a poor land. That does not surprise me. Between healing potions, Healing, and shrines, plus what she taught me about curing diseases with the ingredients here, we should be fine."

"All right, love." Marcurio smiled down at her. "On to Solitude?"

"Yes." Yssha laid her ears back as they headed downhill to the city gates. "Feelings are notoriously unreliable, but something tells me I will not be able to confront Alduin until ... something ... about Whiterun is decided." She shook her head, grimacing. "What, I do not know. And why, I know even less. But the feeling is very strong."

At Ustengrav, they went in the back way to return the Horn to its proper place, then they set out for Solitude. Except for a couple of wolves and a single bandit, the three-hour trip was uneventful.

Solitude was impressive, the biggest city Yssha had seen in Skyrim, though still far smaller than the Imperial City. There was an execution taking place when they went through the main gates, but Yssha pointedly ignored it, not really wanting to see another beheading. Instead, they went to the nearby Winking Skeever Inn for a quick drink and directions to the Legion headquarters.

Those turned out to be in Castle Dour, up a ramp that led to a large arch. Inside were several soldiers training, and a pair guarding a door to her left. She approached those. "I wish to join the Legion," she told one. "Can you tell me where I may do so?"

He grinned at her, pointing at the door. "In there. You'll need to talk to Legate Rikke; she's probably in the map room with General Tullius. Through the door and straight ahead."

"Thank you." She and Marcurio followed those directions, and found General Tullius arguing with a woman Yssha presumed was Legate Rikke, from her armor.

"I'm telling you, Ulfric's planning an attack on Whiterun," she was saying.

"He'd be insane to try," Tullius retorted. "He doesn't have the men."

"That's not what my scouts report, sir. Every day more join his cause. Riften, Dawnstar, and Winterhold support him."

"It's not a cause," Tullius insisted. "It's a rebellion."

"Call it whatever you like, General," Rikke said with a sigh. "The man's going to try to take Whiterun."

"Jarl Balgruuf -" Tullius started to say.

"Balgruuf refuses the Legion's right to garrison troops in his city," Rikke pointed out. "On the other hand, he also refuses to acknowledge Ulfric's claim."

"Well, if he wants to stand outside the protection of the Empire, fine," Tullius snorted. "Let Ulfric pillage his city."

"General." Rikke's tone was stiff.

Tullius looked and sounded less than happy. "You people and your damn Jarls."

"Sir? You can't force a Nord to accept help he hasn't asked for."

"If Ulfric's making a move for Whiterun, then we need to be there to stop him. Draft another letter with the usual platitudes, but this time share some of your intelligence regarding Ulfric's plans. Embellish if you have to. We'll let it seem like it's his idea."

"Yes, sir."

"You Nords and your bloody sense of honor."

The General didn't seem to think much of the Nords, Yssha thought. If he had such a low opinion of them, why had he been assigned here? Was it a punishment tour, or was he simply the most competent at handling a rebellion, sent here in spite of his opinion? She very much hoped it was the latter.

"Sir," Rikke said stiffly.

That was when Tullius noticed the two, and approached. "Are my men now giving free rein to anyone who wanders into the castle? Do you have some reason to be here, citizen?"

"I was at Helgen, General," Yssha said. "I am Yssha, of Family and Clan Ysshaya. I escaped with Hadvar. He said I should join the Legion when I got to Solitude."

Tullius smiled briefly. "Yes, he got in day before yesterday, and has been singing your praises. You might want to know the captain who sent you to the block when it was obvious to anyone you couldn't be a Stormcloak has been disciplined."

That surprised Yssha. "Obvious? How?"

"The Stormcloaks are all Nords. They would never accept a Khajiit - chaos, they won't even let your folk or Argonians into Windhelm! Even mer are barely tolerated. Now, why don't you have a chat with Legate Rikke? I suspect we might have use for someone resourceful like you. Not many survived Helgen. Besides, I'm sure your being imprisoned in the first place was all a terrible misunderstanding."

Yssha inclined her head slightly in acknowledgement, then walked over to Rikke, who looked at her consideringly. "So you're the Yssha of Ysshaya Hadvar's so impressed with. You did a good job getting out of Helgen, but I still need to test you."

"What kind of test?" Yssha asked.

"The kind that evaluates your usefulness during ... duress. I'm sending you to clear a nest of bandits out of Fort Hraagstad so we can garrison it. If you survive, you'll pass. If you die, then I'll have no further use for your corpse."

Yssha purred briefly. "We shall be back as soon as we have finished." Then she and Marcurio left, hearing Tullius chuckle as they walked out of the map room.

Rikke looked curiously at General Tullius. "What's so funny, sir?"

"I'm from Cyrodiil, you know." Tullius chuckled again. "So I know about Clan and Family Ysshaya, which you just proved you don't. Being from that clan and family, she's undoubtedly highly trained in at least combat, and possibly magic. A nest of bandits will be a walk in the park for her, not really a test, especially with that mage friend of hers along."

Rikke looked rueful. "No, I didn't know. On the other hand, I can't very well test her much harder than I would any other potential soldier, can I?"

"I suppose not," Tullius conceded. "But it's something we need to keep in mind when selecting assignments for her. Or them, if they stay together a lot."

Yssha hadn't heard the General's comments about her family, but he was right; Fort Hraagstad and its bandits were less of a challenge than an easy opportunity to gather some loot. Not that it was particularly valuable loot, but at this point, she was more than willing to take and sell anything they could find.