Force.Balance.Push.
Oaths
"I do swear my blood and
honour to the service of Ulfric Stormcloak
Jarl of Windhelm and true High King of Skyrim.
As Talos is my witness, may this oath bind me
to death and beyond...
...even to my lord as to my fellow brothers
and sisters in arms.
All hail the Stormcloaks, the true sons
and daughters of Skyrim!"
She set off before Esbern or Delphine awoke. She had buttered Sverrir up with all the apples she could find in the kitchen of Sky Haven Temple. Her bribery (at least for the time begin) had worked. She had mounted the horse with little fuss and now they were making good pace through the winding twisting paths that cut through the mountains. She had decided on setting north to journey out of the peaks and hills of the Reach and then journey east when the land flattened.
Turning with the dirt path they suddenly found themselves on a straight length of path that then dipped into the valley a little further ahead. Sverrir snorted and pulled forward slightly, knowing what he wanted Lianna squeezed his flanks. Sverrir didn't hesitate in the command. He flew down the path dust and dirt kicked up behind him, long reaching strides pulled the beast along with easy. They flew through the cold wind, hair flying, breath steaming out before them in little clouds. Lianna gave a whoop of exhilaration as the dipped into the valley; she paid no attention to the stinging of her eyes and cheeks from the wind. In this moment she was free, she was not the Dragonborn, not an Imperial spy, not a nobleman's daughter. Here in this moment she could forget everything she was, had been and what the world expected of her.
In the distance a figure appeared on the road. Lianna slowed Sverrir as they drew near -much to the horse's displeasure. The figure was hooded and tall.
''Enjoy yourself?'' The figure asked in a mocking tone. The voice was that of a woman, Lianna's eyes widened. She recognised that voice; she had not heard it since she was last in Windhelm.
''Gaila?''
''Quick as a whip, aren't you.'' The woman replied
Lianna scowled. ''What do you want?''
''Oh Lianna. Are you are never happy to see me?'' The woman exclaimed dramatically, feigning hurt.
''No,'' Lianna replied her voice tight ''What is it that you want?'' Lianna repeated.
''Personally I want nothing.'' At those words Lianna squeezed Sverrir's flanks into a walk; Gaila grabbed the reins stopping them. ''I may not want something, but Tullius does.''
''Tullius? What business do I have with him?''
''You are involved in his cause, and you are not under oath.''
''So? I thought only soldiers took an oath.''
Gaila shook her hooded head slowly. ''No, everyone in the Legion takes an oath. From the couriers to the generals.''
''Even the spies?''
''Especially the spies.''
Lianna sighed staring at the distant horizon. ''I suppose I have no choice in the matter, do I?''
...
Two filthy and exhausted figures trudged through the Palace of the Kings. They turned into the war room, the man first followed closely by the woman, Galmar looked up as they entered.
''I'm impressed, I didn't think you would come back.''
''You sent me on a suicide mission, then.'' Adair muttered.
''No, I had no doubt in your skill. Simply in the strength of your loyalty. What of the wraith?''
''Dead.'' Adair replied as he presented the beast's fangs to the general.
Galmar's eyes turned to Svedi ''Can you vouch for him?''
Svedi nodded, her eyes earnest. ''I can. His is a skilled swordsman and showed courage in battle. I would be glad to call him a shield-brother.''
Galmar nodded ''Good.'' The man turned to the table for a moment and reached for a dagger impaled on the surface, he turned back to face the two. ''Now that you have passed the test are you ready to take the oath.''
''Oath?''
''You pledge your services to the Stormcloaks and the future High King. Both in word and in blood.''
''Blood?''
''If you are not willing to give blood for the cause now, how can we trust that you will on the battlefield?''
Adair nodded, it made sense. They needed people fully devoted to their cause. ''I'm ready to take the oath.''
Galmar raised the dagger over the man's open palm and drew it across, so a few beads of blood dripped from the red line. Adair recited the words of the oath that would forever bind him to the Stormcloaks, both in life and in death. He wondered what his father would say if he knew if he knew he was joining the rebellion. That reminded him, he had not sent word to his father that he had found his sister. Between the dragon attack and joining the Stormcloaks he hadn't had the time. The oath recited Galmar presented the man with his new Stormcloak cuirasses boots and gloves.
''Now you are both Stormcloaks, you will be deployed where you are needed. Dawnstar needs guards, you will be deployed there in a few days time.'' Adair and Svedi nodded and withdrew from the room. Svedi led the Breton to the Barracks and showed his bunk, Adair also took the time to change into his new cuirasses. Once changed he sat on his cot and began the long task of cleaning and polishing his sword, Svedi joined him sitting at the end of the bed.
''What's Dawnstar like?''
''Never been?'' Adair shook his head. ''It's a city to the north-west, a fishing port, it's the capital of the Pale. You'd like it.''
''As long as we don't have to swim through a half frozen sea to get there.'' Adair replied, a small mischievous grin on his lips, Svedi laughed. He liked her laugh, it was...a wonderful sound. ''I can't believe we've been stuck with guard duty.'' Adair said, Svedi shrugged.
''We're unblooded, all the unbloodeds get guard duty.''
''And to think my sister's out hunting dragons.''
...
''Don't.'' Gaila said quickly raising her arm in front of the Dragonborn, stopping her from going any further.
''I have to do something.'' Lianna hissed.
''You can't.'' Gaila breathed.
The crowd around them suddenly erupted, jeering and mocking, as Roggvir stepped forward to address the crowd. The Nord stood with pride and confidence in his rags. He did not fear death.
''Ulfric didn't murder Torygg, Ulfric defeated him in the old Nord way, in the way of tradition!''
The crowd erupted again at his words, something was thrown from the crowd and it struck the Nord across his wide chest. It was a perished tomato, the juice from the fruit dripped from his hair down to his face, but still the man looked on proud and unafraid. The man was lead to the block, as he lowered himself down upon it he said. ''On this day I go to Sovngarde.'' The headsman raised his axe. He doesn't deserve death, not for opening a fucking gate. Lianna twisted away from Gaila and quickly began to push through the crowd as if she could stop the execution. The axe sailed through the air and cut through the Nords neck, his rolled forward into a basket. Lianna's cry of outrage was drowned out by the cheering of the crowd.
The crowd slowly dissipated, Lianna turned back to Gaila.
''You need to remember what side you're on, Dragonborn.'' Gaila whispered angrily as they walked away.
''Who's that?'' Lianna asked, Gaila turned to see where the Breton had indicated.
''That, is the Jarl. Elisif the Fair.''
Lianna watched the woman with interest. She was flanked by two guards and obviously been present during the execution. Elisif the Fair was aptly named, she was indeed very beautiful what surprised Lianna the most was how young the woman looked. They were probably about the same age in fact. To be widowed at such a young age. Lianna thought sadly.
''Lianna come one!'' Gaila shouted interrupting the woman's thoughts. Lianna begrudgingly followed.
...
''So you're the Dragonborn I've heard so much about.'' Rikke said as Gaila introduced the Breton. Tullius was sat at a far table writing and so far had not lifted his head from his work.
''Yes.'' Lianna replied simply. Rikke gave a nod a small satisfied smile sprouting on her lips.
''And you're here to take the oath?''
''Yes.''
''Very well. Repeat after me.''
As Lianna repeated the oath back to the Imperial Nord she wondered for how long would be able to up-hold it. Now that she was under oath, if she tried to back out of this, not only would the Thalmor get hold of the Blades, but she would be charged with desertion, punishable by death.
''Welcome to the Legion.'' Rikke smiled patting the woman on the shoulder, Lianna responded with a mute nod. ''From what we understand you have already infiltrated Windhelm, and passed on important information.''
Lianna gave a small nod of confirmation. ''I'm impressed, many have tried to get close to Ulfric and many have failed. He obviously trusts you.''
Lianna felt her neck become hotter. Tullius gave a snort from his table, turning all eyes to him. ''She only succeeded because she is the Dragonborn. Ulfric is vain and power hungry, so of course he would want the Dragonborn at his side, if nothing to increase his ego.''
''Whatever the reason,'' Rikke continued ''you'll need that advantage. The man's stubborn and...reclusive, very few manage to get to know what the man is like.''
''Understood.''
''Good, now let's get down to business. We need you to go to Windhelm and find any information involving Falkreath and possible assaults there.''
''Why is he planning an attack?''
''It's quite possible, Ulfric has Whiterun Hold it would be very easy to take Falkreath. Not that we're going to let him of course.'' Rikke finished with a Slaughterfish grin. ''Any important information should be passed on to Gaila, here. Is your objective clear?''
''Crystal.'' Lianna replied
''Good, dismissed the both of you.''
When both woman had left Tullius put down his quill and turned to the Legate.
''Sir?''
''I think we should keep a close of them.''
''Which one?''
''Both of them.''
"Upon my honor I do swear undying loyalty to the Emperor,
Titus Mede II, and unwavering obedience to the officers of his great Empire.
May those above judge me, and those below take me, if I fail in my duty.
Long live the Emperor!
Long live the Empire!"