Skyrim is the property of Bethesda Softworks. Thank you dudecoft for pointing out a mistake in the previous chapter. This chapter is for everyone who was underwhelmed by the Companions' conduct during the Battle of Whiterun.

Jarl Balgruuf shook with rage as I relayed Ulfric's words, "You are dismissed Thane, but do not leave the city without my leave until after the battle," he turned to his steward, "Proventus, get my brother and Commander Caius up here. Now."

We bowed to our Jarl as one and left.

"I am bound by oath and honor to defend Whiterun in the coming battle," I announced. "I would have the Companions do the same."

I had gathered the Circle and Vignar Gray-Mane at the Skyforge to see if the Companions would follow me into battle.

"The Companions haven't been part of the politics of Skyrim since the First Era. Taking sides in this war would threaten our position as arbiters of honor and warriors for hire. Kodlak thought it was best to keep out of it," Vilkas objected.

"But what of your opinion Vilkas? I called us here to speak our minds."

Vilkas frowned deeply, "There are good reasons to fight. I just wish this war had them. Who cares who worships what dead god? Give me something to make me draw my sword."

"I am with my brother on this," Farkas said. I was disappointed by the apathy in my two best men.

"What of you Vignar?" I asked.

"The Empire has no place in Skyrim... not anymore," The old soldier said.

"Strange to hear that from a former legionnaire," I said, "You fought for the Empire in the Great War."

He snorted at me, "If this was my Empire, I'd be able to worship whoever I damned well pleased! You wish to see an Empire without Talos? Without its soul? We should be fighting those witch-elves, not bending knee to them. The Emperor is nothing more than a puppet of the Thalmor. Skyrim needs a High King who will fight for her, and Whiterun needs a Jarl who will do the same."

I was stunned at their excuses. I wanted to scream at the top of my lungs. But above anything else, I felt let down.

"Are you fucking serious? None of you are going to fight?" I asked. I struggled for more words before pointing at the city. "Farkas, Vilkas, all those houses down there? They're full of the people who've tolerated our violence and protected our secrets for millennia. Armed brigands charged through their streets on our account! We've not received a single complaint. Remember what we did at Driftshade? Some of these people won't have faces left when the battle's over." I took another breath, not aware of how close I'd been to crying with disappointment. "Here we stand, the foremost warriors in Skyrim, and we can't be bothered to raise our swords in defense of our neighbors? That's a shame I could never live down."

I turned on Vignar next. I had far more anger for him than my younger shield-brothers. "Vignar, what do you mean your Empire? This. Is. Our. Empire!" I snapped the last two words at him, I was growing so furious, "Did Olfrid's shield not touch yours during the Battle of the Red Ring?" Vignar's sweeping moustaches twitched in his fury and Aela tried to pull me away, "Do you think my father didn't send young men and women to their deaths during the Great War? Do you really think that I spent the whole of my life in the south not living in the consequences of that war? You dare to cry and bleat at me about oppression? Every day a priest in this city shouts the Gospel of Talos at the top of his lungs, unmolested. In Colovia, I would be cutting him down from a crucifix and giving him a wad of cotton to soak up the blood where his tongue used to be. How do you think that feels? How many Cyrodiils do you imagine say 'The Divines' because they can't bring themselves to utter 'The Eight' because of a treaty?" I paused for a moment, but the shaking wouldn't stop.

"I refuse to do nothing. The Companions founded Whiterun!" I said in a raw voice, "Do what you think is right, I'll be gods-damned if I'm going to let some upstart on a mission burn our city to the ground."

I stepped back from my advisers so I could see them all, "Let it be known to all the Companions down to the rawest new blood: Their Harbinger goes to war. Any who would stand with him should be here tomorrow noon," And then I said something truly hurtful, "I expected better from you all."

My tantrum over, I walked off to Breezehome. I dismissed Lydia for the night with enough gold for a room and a nice meal and locked the door behind her. I sat in one of the kitchen chairs, rolling the fire poker in my hands and staring at the flames in the hearth.

"I hope I bring him men," I prayed into the flames, "He's a good ruler."