Rikke POV:

I stare at the men before me, knowing that half of them won't return. And, the other half will be bloody, bruised, and beaten. But, they all still expect a speech. I clear my throat, wait for the men to be silent, and yell, "This is it men! This is an important day for the Empire and for the Legion. And for all of Skyrim. This is the day we send a message to Ulfric Stormcloak and the rebel Jarls who support him. But make no mistake. What we do here today, we do for Skyrim and her people. By cutting out the disease of this rebellion, we will make this country whole again! Ready now! Everyone, with me! For the Empire! For the Legion! Rrrrrraaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!".

The second I'm done, I leap off the stone archway I'm standing on. I land in front of the men and flip around, wooden spikes protecting me from rebels. A few years ago I would've stayed behind the barrier and shot arrows at the advancing forces, but now I have no reason to hide behind spikes. I run a few steps and vault over the sharpened points, now at the back of the melee unit instead of at the front of the archers. I shove my way through the lines, but most of the men recognize me and stand aside. I only stop when I'm at the head of the group. I turn around and take in the men Tullius gave me. Four lines of archers, each line made up of three men. And, three lines of warriors, each line made up of three men. It's a small force, but it should be enough to protect the gates.

As if on cue I hear the thunder of hooves behind me, the Stormcloak cavalry charging. I slowly turn around as my men draw their weapons, in no rush to begin fighting. There are only five men on horseback, and the rest of their force is far behind them. "Archers, fire!". I yell as I draw my sword, a rain of arrows falling on the rebels. The men raise their shields above their heads, but they were foolish enough to leave their warhorses unarmored. Three fall to the ground, more arrows than horseflesh. A fourth falls down, bleeding like mad and screaming. The last horse is unhurt, but bucks his rider and runs away at the smell of blood and sight of his brethren dead. Four rebels rise and keep charging, but the fifth is crushed to death by his injured horse.

I once again signal for the archers to fire, and seconds later three rebels fall dead. The one soldier that managed to raise his shield in time begins running, but a lone arrow takes his life. By now the injured horse has manage to rise, I tell one of my men to retrieve him and lock him in the stables with the other horses. The soldier is quick and by the time the other soldiers appear over the hills we have a new horse. He'll have to be treated for his arrow wounds, but a horse is a horse. I signal yet again for the archers to fire, but only one rebel falls. I signal once again, but this time it's for the warriors to advance. I don't want to waste arrows when only a few rebels will fall. I lead the charge, the men need to see their command meeting the enemy head-on.

When we're a hundred feet away I signal for the men to break apart. The effect is almost instant, the men run full force at the rebels. The Stormcloaks slow down when they see our true strength, I had my force stand close together so they appeared as a smaller group. The rebels only have a few men, but I run ahead so I'm the first person to attack. Their general does the same, probably imagining invigorating his troops by killing me. I almost laugh as he pulls his hammer from his back, he'll be as slow as a drunk horker. He runs at me while preparing his attack, but I easily sidestep and bring my sword down on his shoulder. I hear a crunch and he begins screaming in agony. I put him out of his misery with a quick slash, beheading him.

By now my men are fighting the rebels, and from the looks of it winning. I scream and charge at the nearest group of rebels, most of them seem taken aback at my yelling. Before any of them can move, I slash at the first one. The woman screams as my sword cuts through armor, flesh, and bone. I rip my weapon from her corpse as the next rebel leaps at me. I raise my shield, push his attack to the side, and stab him through the chest. The other two run in fear, but an arrow kills one and my sword the other. By now most of the rebels are dead and the others are dying, but I don't see any more enemies around. I command a few of my men to stay put and keep watch, but take the rest of them back to Whiterun. If everything went well we shouldn't have to fight another battle.


My men cheer as the standard of the legion is raised, but I can't join them. We've won the battle, but not the war. Besides, I wouldn't have anyone to share my excitement with. I feel someone pull on my shoulder and I flip around, but calm down when I see an exhausted rider standing before me. "Yes?". I ask him as I examine him, his armor has the standard of Riften sewn on the breast. "News.". He gasp out. I almost groan and tell him, "Really? Now spit it out.". He grasp his heaving chest and tells me, "From Mjoll the Lioness. Your squire was found face down in the canal, but Mjoll managed to revive her before she passed.". My heart skips a beat, but he continues. "Mjoll plans on tending to your squire's wounds, then sending her to Whiterun with a guard of ten men.".

I grasp him, yank him forward, and ask, "What wounds?". The courier nervously looks around and tells me, "Mjoll didn't tell me, but she gave me this.". He hands me a sealed letter, a lion's paw stamped in the wax. I drop him and begin jogging to Dragonsreach, anxious to read the note in private. When I get to my room I shut the door, sit down at my desk, and rip open the letter.

Dear Legate Rikke,

It pains me to write this, but your squire was gravely injured when I pulled her from the water. I've had Wylandriah, Ingun, and Elgrim examine her. They've done their best, but some of your squire's wounds will need treating in Whiterun. Her back has been brutally whipped, it's certain to scar. Her ring finger on her left hand and long toe on her right foot are gone, but the stumps have already been treated. Her wrist are stripped of skin, Wylandriah tells me it looks like she's been chained. Five of her ribs are broken, her right wrist is snapped, and her left hand is partially flayed. Her right ankle is heavily bruised, there's an arrow wound in her left thigh, and her throat is bruised from strangling. There's also another matter I wish to write to you about.

She refused to speak to anyone besides me, she claimed she'd only talk to you or the person who saved her life. It was a rather...disturbing...story. When you two split up on the day she was captured, she went down to the lower walkway to take a swim in the canal. She was attacked and dazed, then drug into one of the many abandoned underground tunnels. She refused to take me to the tunnel, or tell who captured her. All she told me was during her time in captivity she was beaten, raped, and tortured. I'll spare you the details, but tell you I don't think you want to know. Also, there's a major wound that might affect your squire's ability to fight. Her left eye is gone, but the flesh hasn't fused yet. I gave her a glass eye, but she hardly wears it. More information will be coming with your squire.

- Mjoll the Lioness

My knuckles are turning white from the grip I have on the table. Beaten, raped, and tortured. It's a good thing my squire didn't tell Mjoll the name, or else I would be riding to Riften right now. I carried out the queen's justice when a criminal tried to rape my squire, but this time I wouldn't be carrying out justice. I'd be taking revenge on the sick bastard who imprisoned, raped, and beat my squire. I calm myself and realize something. I could ride out and meet my squire halfway to Riften. I'll have to ask Tullius tomorrow. When I climb into bed I smile, happy for once since my squire disappeared.


Dovahkiin POV:

I dress in the clothes Mjoll gave me, but they were meant for someone taller and thicker than me. I consider leaving my glass eye behind, but I may want it one day. I'm about to put it in my pocket when I realize it might break, so I slip it in and make my way to the gates. Mjoll waits for me, ten men on horseback behind her. She hands me the reins to a small courser. "They'll take you all the way to Whiterun, and only stop when you tell them to. Speak the word and they'll bring you food or drink. Rikke will be waiting for you". Mjoll tells me once I'm mounted. I feel a small smile tug at my lips at the thought of Rikke. I nod at Mjoll in farewell, but leave the second she nods back. The men surround me, protecting me. As we ride my mind drifts, mostly to Rikke. Another smile tugs at my lips.


Nameless POV:

The second the news is brought to me of Ygfa's death and my wife's escape, I rush back to Riften. We've only gotten a couple of deer, but this is more important than a few pounds of elk. By the time I arrive she's been found by one of the Jarl's lapdogs. I was planning on stealing her back in the middle of the night, but one of my brothers brought me news of Mjoll's plan to return her to Rikke. It's too perfect. I can bring thirty men and ambush their ten. Bandits attack travelers all the time, it wouldn't be the first time a group of soldiers were killed and a woman stolen. The best part is Rikke knows my wife is suppose to return to her. She'll be waiting patiently for her to return, then in a few days she'll get the news. I only wish I was there to see her face.

My siblings and I watch from the woods as the group departs. I give them a few minutes before I motion for my siblings to begin following them, but stay well hidden. We follow them for about three hours, they're riding at a slow pace. I wait until we're in the middle of nowhere to signal my siblings, and smile when I hear twenty bows load. I drop my hand and watch as the arrows fly, seven of the men fall dead. The horses with the dead riders spook and run, but the rest of the guard draw their weapons to fight. Before they know who's upon them, my siblings are tearing them and their horses limb from limb. Of course, not a single blow hits my wife or her horse. I don't want her injured so soon.

My siblings don't bother surrounding her, where would she go? Instead, they form a rough circle behind me. My wife's turned her horse around to see what's going on. It takes all of my self control not to laugh at her expression. "Hello, love. Funny running into you here. Care to tell me what you're doing out here? I could have sworn I left you in Ygfa's care.". I tell her as I slowly ride my horse closer to her, halting ten feet away. My wife pulls her sword from her belt, but I can see the fear in her eyes. This time I do throw my head back and laugh, but when I get a hold of myself I ask her, "Really? You're going to take on me? I have thirty of my siblings behind me, and twenty of them are archers. And, you're going to try to kill me?".

My wife doesn't put her weapon down, but yanks on her reins so her horse is slowly walking backwards. I slightly walk my horse forward and ask, "Do you really think you can get away? I could kill your horse from underneath you right now if I wanted to. Now, be a good girl and get off of your horse. If you come quietly I might reconsider breaking your legs.". I can see my wife's chest heaving as she attempts to suck in air, her panic leaking through the air. "No.". She whispers as she backs her horse up further. "NO!". She yells before she yanks her horse around and speeds off. My sister loads her bow, but halts when I put my hand up. "No, let her run. Effile! Ride ahead of her and report to me if you see any travelers, but stay hidden! The rest of you follow me, but keep your distance. I want to be the one to catch my wife.". And with that I kick my horse and speed off, following my wife's trail.