Interlude: Ulfric Stormcloak

Music tracks:...

The group went back to the Palace of Kings, Paarthurnax lumbering behind them. The dragon settled at the palace's gates while the three Stormcloaks and the teenage Dragonborn entered. Jorleif looked at them.

"My jarl! You're back!"

"Indeed, Jorleif. Did anything happen while you were away?"

"Nothing."

"Good."

The four then sat around the table. The way Harry was glaring at him, Ulfric knew the boy knew about his next topic of conversation.

"Whiterun." The boy said coldly.

"Indeed."

Ulfric sighed. Harry may be a boy, a teen with no hair on his face, but he had fought two dragons and won, and that was without accounting for his innate power as a Dragonborn. A power Ulfric, Galmar and Ralof had seen firsthand. The jarl hesitated a moment before talking.

"Harry, what do you know about the Civil War?"

Harry frowned.

"I know this is a war between the Cyrodiilic Empire and the Stormcloak Rebellion over the independence of Skyrim. For now, Skyrim is a province of the Empire, but the Stormcloaks, whom you are the leader, want it to become independent. I also know…" The boy looked at Ulfric. "That Skyrim is usually ruled by a high king and every jarl answer to him. But you murdered the previous one, Toryyg. So, now, Skyrim is kingless and sundered."

The boy's eyes began to wander. In his breath, he uttered.

When misrule takes its place at the eight corners of the world,
When the Brass Tower walks and Time is reshaped,
When the thrice-blessed fail and the Red Mountain trembles,
When the Dragonborn Ruler loses his throne and the White Tower falls,
When the Snow Tower lies sundered, kingless, bleeding,
The World Eater wakes, and the Wheel turns upon the Last Dragonborn.

Galmar raised a brow.

"What is that?"

"The Prophecy of the Last Dragonborn." Harry explained. "Paarthurnax told me about it. It's a series of events that would happen before Alduin's return. They are, in order: the Imperial Simulacrum, the Warm in the West – also known as the Miracle of Peace – the fall of the Tribunal and the eruption of the Vvardenfell, the Oblivion Crisis and the White-Gold Concordat, and finally…" The boy looked down. "The Skyrim Civil War."

The reveal made Ulfric, Galmar and Ralof silent. A realization hit them.

"Most of the events mentioned in that prophecy are disasters." Ralof noted. "If people had known about it beforehand, things like Morrowind's destruction would have been, if not completely avoided, at least the damage caused would have been lessened. Morrowind could have been evacuated ahead of time, measures could have been taken to save the Septim bloodline and the Imperial Simulacrum could have been resolved faster…"

"And the Civil War would have taken a different path." Ulfric nodded. "Indeed, knowledge of that prophecy would have saved many lives, and we would have had time to prepare for Alduin's return. But what is done is done. The past cannot be changed. All we can do is work to lessen the damages caused by our previous mistakes."

He balled his fist. Harry looked at him.

"All Balgruuf wants is to protect his people. He doesn't care about the war, only that the inhabitants of Whiterun make it through unscathed. He isn't with you, but he isn't with the Imperials either." His voice was soft, almost pleading. "Please, if you promise to leave him alone, I'll make sure the Imperials don't get their hands on him either. I swear it on Akatosh."

Ralof hummed.

"I know I'm not in a position of command, but I do admit Harry's offer sounds tempting. I come from Whiterun, after all. I have family in Riverwood. I pray Talos every day that the war doesn't reach them."

Galmar shook his head.

"No. We have to take Whiterun, sooner or later."

"He is right." Ulfric sighed. "Whiterun is located in the middle of Skyrim and is one of the most prosperous holds. Strategically-speaking, it is a must-have for whoever wants to win the war. Whoever takes it, us or the Empire, will have a major advantage over the other." He looked at the boy. "I'm sorry, Harry, but the war is at a stalemate and the only way to break it is by capturing Whiterun. Balgruuf has to go, even though I wish it was peacefully."

Harry's eyes suddenly hardened.

"There are dragons roaming around." The boy stated as a matter of fact. "Can't you put your little war aside for a moment to focus on them? You've fought a dragon. You know how deadly they are. And remember what happened at Helgen. Sure, it was Alduin, but I'm willing to bet some dragons out there can be equally destructive."

The three Stormcloaks thought for a moment. The boy had a point.

"It would be easier if we knew the Empire was going to do the same." Ulfric frowned. "I'll be honest: the threat of the dragons worries me as much as it does you. But, as long as the Empire remains active, I have no choice but to focus on them. However, if you need our help once in awhile, trust that I will be happy to lend you help."

Harry shook his head.

"But you still plan on attacking Whiterun."

"Yes."

"Don't."

"Do you honestly think you can order us around, whelp?" Galmar crossed his arms, a smug smirk on his face.

Harry turned to him and the warrior shivered. Gone was the softness from the boy's face. Harry's emerald eyes shone fiercely and his face reminded him not of a child or a teenager, but that of a predator.

"I don't think, Galmar. And it isn't an order. It is a warning. You and Ulfric keep your men as far from Whiterun as possible and I'll make sure the Empire does the same. I asked you kindly, but you still refused and insist in keeping your plans." The teen's voice was low, almost a whispering snarl. "You plan on attacking my hometown and dethroning my surrogate father. You know what I think about it? Fuck you. You didn't answer to my plea. Now, I am threatening you: you leave Whiterun alone."

Ulfric and Galmar both took their weapon. Ralof decided to retreat. He wasn't as skilled as the Stormcloak leader and his second in command and, besides, he didn't want to hurt the boy. Harry stood. As he did, it was no more a hairless teenager the jarl of Windhelm had before him. It was a boy who had the soul of a dragon in him, and said soul was now roaring inside him, raging as he and Galmar threatened what the boy held dear.

"I am the Dragonborn." Harry said with a surprisingly thunderous voice. "I was granted the soul of a dragon by Akatosh himself. In his name, I am the defender of Skyrim, and I am telling you: you will not touch my home. Whiterun will remain neutral, that you want it or not. You send a single man, and I do say a single one, and I will unleash my rage upon Windhelm and the Eastmarch. Galmar, you asked me if I thought I could order you around. This isn't an order." The boy snarled. "This is a statement. You. Leave. Whiterun. Alone. You won't want to know what will happen if you don't."

Ulfric and Galmar lowered their weapon. Right here and now, Harry was willing and ready to fight if the pair decided to stay their mind and keep threatening Whiterun. They were skilled, but the boy was furious, and Ulfric had the feeling he wasn't exactly himself at the moment. Whatever the issue, the fight would be ferocious, and the consequences nasty. The palace's door opened and Paarthurnax's head peeked inside.

"If I were you, I would listen to him. Joor or not, Harry remains a dovah. Fighting an angry dovah is never a good idea."

Ulfric and Galmar looked at each other. Ulfric finally sighed.

"Alright. If you put it like that…"

He went to take some paper, ink and a feather, then began to write.

"Here. This is my written testimony that I will not attack Whiterun and accept Balgruuf's decision to remain neutral, on the condition that the Imperial Legion does the same and writes a testimony stating they will leave Whiterun out of the conflict. Either you or Balgruuf give me that, and I swear on Talos no Stormcloak shall thread the land of Whiterun with the desire to harm its inhabitants."

Harry slowly nodded and took the paper. His voice was icy.

"Thank you, jarl Ulfric. This is all I was asking for."

On this, the boy left. Ulfric went to his throne and fell on it. Ralof smiled.

"Thank you, my jarl. My sister and her family will be relieved to know Riverwood has nothing to fear anymore."

Ulfric nodded and looked at the man.

"Ralof, you will be my emissary in Balgruuf's court. Whenever I have a message to deliver or anything else, you will be in charge. Understood."

The warrior smiled.

"This will be an honor."

Galmar frowned.

"Are we really gonna give in to the whelp's demands?"

"We don't have much choice." Ulfric sighed. "Harry was willing to fight us here and now if we kept threatening Whiterun. Maybe we would have won… but the boy is Dragonborn, and you did witness his skills against that dragon. And there's the fact he stood defiant against the World Eater himself, despite being obviously scared. He doesn't have a dragon's soul only. He has the soul of a warrior, a protector. His only weakness is his current lack of skill, something that should be solved rather quickly."

Galmar remained silent.

"Give him time." Ulfric said with a soft smile. "And I bet you a drink of Hydrhonning mead that he will become a hero on par with Talos himself."

"…You're on."

§ § §

Harry massaged his head. He had a killer headache, something he really didn't need at the moment. He closed his eyes and breathed, then shivered. Paarthurnax curled around him.

"Harry, are you alright?"

"I don't think I've ever been so angry before."

The dragon shrugged.

"I told you: we dovah always watch over what we treasure. Ulfric and Galmar threatened your home. Your dovahsil, your dragon soul, reacted and took over your julsil, your human soul, causing you to react more violently than you usually do."

"You make it sound like I have two souls in me."

Paarthurnax was silent a moment.

"Actually, this is the case."

Harry made an about-turn and starred at the dragon. Paarthurnax explained.

"Usually, Dragonborns have a mortal body and a dragon soul. Unlike them, you have a mortal body, but you have not only your original human soul, you also have the soul shard bormah gave you. Your soul is half-dovah, half-jul. It is something totally unseen before but, aside from making you feel intensely the learning and understanding of new Words, I see no other side-effect."

Harry frowned. Paarthurnax's explanation made a lot of sense. The dragon was thoughtful.

"Harry." He finally said. "Do you know why bormah chose you?"

"…No."

"There are three reasons. The first is that you were young, so imbuing his soul into you bore the most chances of success. Two, you already had some fighting experience. The dark mage, the giant snake…" Harry nodded. "And three: there was already another soul in you. It was dark and rotten. Bormah took it away and gave it to Hermaeus Mora for study, then filled the hole within you with his own soul shard."

Harry's eyes widened.

"Another soul!? There was another soul within me already?"

"Yes. And though bormah didn't tell me who it belonged to, it definitely belonged to that of an evil man. A man whose heart was rotten and withered."

The boy shivered violently. The reveal had apparently upset him. Then, a warm feeling rushed through his veins. It was a feeling he had felt before, usually when he understood a new word. It was a comforting feeling.

"Bormah is watching over you." Paarthurnax smiled. "His powers may be limited as a member of the Divines, but he still watches, ready to help you in your moment of need." A thought crossed the old dragon's mind. "The soul of each dovah is a splinter of bormah's soul. You have a shard of his soul as well. In a way, you are our brother… and his son."

Harry's face reddened. He held the dragon's neck.

"Thank you."

Paarthurnax purred and put a claw in the boy's back, as if to hug him. Harry breathed.

"Say, aren't you worried Delphine might do something dangerous or stupid?"

The dragon looked away.

"…The Blades used to be the protectors of the Empire, and the Septim Dynasty. With the Septims gone and the Empire in tatters, the Blades lost their goal. Their role as dragonslayers is ancient, and lost its meaning when the last dovah fell. Now they are looking for a new goal, something to hold on to in their darkest hour as the Empire has forsaken them and the Thalmor, the rulers of the Aldmeri Dominion, are hunting them down to extinction as they did with us." Paarthurnax sighed. "I don't know what Delphine will do. This is a woman who lost everything, up to and including her role as dragonslayer and guard of the Dragonborn, since you personally refused to take that role."

Harry nodded.

"I feel sorry for her."

Interlude: Ulfric. Aka, the Reveal chapter. First reveal: Harry's decision between Legion and Stormcloak is to straight out threatens Ulfric and Galmar that they leave Whterun out of the war. They agree. Second reveal: Harry's soul is dual and made of two pieces, one dragon soul and his original human soul. It explains a lot. Third reveal: he learns about the other soul that had been within him all this time. Cue him wondering who the hell it belonged to. And, finally, for those who found Delphine's reaction weird/extreme, now you know why. If she hadn't hit rock-bottom before, now she definitely did. Ouch.

Translation... every word is already translated in the chapter.

Alright, moving to the reviews:

- hellz swordsman: yes, Harry's gonna get a dragonscale armor. A very special, custom-made armor courtesy of Eorlund.

- Notasavior: no pairing. Harry's too young.

- Lady Salazar: as you can see, several of your wonders/questions have been answered in-chapter. And yeah, I tend to favor the Legion whenever I have to choose a side.

- Krulk: not revived Empire. How about a Confederation of the Tamrielic States? Gank the elves!

- Dragon-vine33: indeed, Ralof's happy his family will stay away from the war.

- Indecisive Bob: not odd. She just snapped pretty badly.

- Prince Larkin: depends the time.

- Jose19: Harry isn't supporting Ulfric. As the chapter demonstrated, he and the jarl may be on good terms, but if Ulfric pisses Harry off, Harry will retaliate. And no, Paarthurnax won't die. That choice was made last chapter.

- deadal: Harry will realize who the true enemy is at the end of the Companion arc. And, when he will, well, let's say the Thalmor better stay clear from Whiterun and Eastmarch...

- Guest: his sword will be custom-made. For the armor, I'll primarily use in-game armors such as the Nightingales etc, but I think I'll give him a completely original armor sooner or later.

- Vangran: I totally agree with you.

And that's all for now. Next chapter, a new arc begins.