Chapter 39
Dovahkiin watched from his balcony as the Jarl's filled his courtyard. He was surprised this many had come at his request. He smirked as people they brought formed groups by their Jarl. He had a small army here if he did things right.
The Thalmor would be chased from Skyrim, and the Vampires wiped out. So far his plan was going the way it should. Everyone was here, he just needed to wait until they got to their rooms and settled. He would serve them food, making sure it was a feast fit for a king. He already had the cook preparing.
Then either tonight or tomorrow he would bring up his plans.
"I am surprised this many Jarl's showed up. But you do realise that Solitude and Falkreath won't be happy not being invited," Balgruuf said from behind him.
"Falkreath better not complain. I've offered many contracts with them and the Jarl either doesn't reply and sends a message calling me heathen. So as far as I am concerned when he needs help it won't be me he's turning to, because I will turn him away. When I start this war, he will be begging, and I will shun him," Dovahkiin stated.
"But what of his people, the ones that come to you for help?" Balgruuf asked.
"Them I will help. They can't help that their Jarl is an ass. But for the Jarl himself I would go there personally and take his lands from him, but that's not done now. Pity." Dovahkiin murmured with a chuckle.
"I agree with that, it is a pity that we can't dethrone him," Jarl Igmund stated as he joined the conversation.
"I have a question if you don't mind. How many dragons do you have rule over?" he asked cautiously.
"I'd say around fifty, maybe more. Those who don't follow me hide now. Its rare we come across a rogue. I usually have them out searching for rogues. The last one we found was a couple of weeks ago now," Dovahkiin answered.
"How powerful are these dragons?" Balgruuf asked.
"Most are a minor power, they were risen with no names. Some in burial spots that weren't marked on that map I got for Farengar. Some were not even from this region, but far off lands," Dovahkiin explained. "Then there are other that have been around since the beginning, they saw the dragon wars, they had ruled over mortals."
"What are your plans for them?" Jarl Skald asked.
"At the moment, nothing. If they cross me I will take their souls, and they know this. I've done it many times with dragons that cross me," Dovahkiin growled low.
"Rumor has it there is another Dragonborn that resides here," Lailia commented.
Dovahkiin turned to the closest guard. If this meeting was going to work he would have to lay most of his cards down on the table. Miraak was basically common knowledge, the bond they shared wasn't. "Bring Miraak here!" Dovahkiin ordered.
"Yes my Jarl," the guard said hastily. Dovahkiin's eyes narrowed deadly as he watched the man scurry out.
"Does the king know of your title?" Igmund asked.
"Title? I didn't give it to myself. Never wanted a title, I already have one. I didn't want to be ruling these lands and yet I am. All I wanted to do was rule the dragons. I built this place so they and I would have a safe place that wasn't within any ones walls. In doing this, I now have a town turning into a city, I have walls to protect and lands to supervise. The people are who gave me that title. Not sure which is worse, Thane or Jarl," DOvahkiin muttered, shaking his head in annoyance.
"My Thane there is a problem," Lydia panted as she rushed up to him.
"What is it?" Dovahkiin asked tiredly.
"Ulfric's men have been drinking, now they are starting fights in the barracks. Argis tried to stop it but four of the ganged up on him. He's knocked out." She rushed, she was about to tell the rest but Dovahkiin was already storming out of the room with the other Jarl's right behind him. "My Thane there is more. They raped two of the elven women," she whispered.
Dovahkiin stormed from the room, magic rushing over him. He didn't care what Ulfric thought he was about to do. These were his lands, people he was supposed to protect. And that was exactly what he was about to do. He didn't tolerate rape. As for what happened to Argis, that would be answered very shortly.
He stormed across the courtyard, and saw his men already outside standing back. He could see on their faces that they knew what was about to happen. "My lord, they took another lass in there. She just stopped screaming. Daniel tried to stop them, but he didn't make it. You told us not to take arms against any who was visiting…" The man said hurriedly
"FUS RO DAH!" He shouted at the door placing all his anger, and rage into that shout. He growled low when the dust cleared. The door laid in splitters, blood covered the floor and not far away a young elven girl lay dead. Argis lay near the far wall, out cold.
"Jarl Ulfric, you have five minutes to discipline your people. If it's not to my liking I will do it myself," Dovahkiin growled.
"They are yours to do with as you wish," Ulfric choked. He couldn't believe his men had done this. Yes he hated the elves, but this was too much. Even for him.
"Odahviing, il dovah nust lost kipraan waan nust hind nii. Daar muz los wah mindok faaz us nust dir. Nust arx joriin neben dii mu'ul. dovah vis lost niist gejahr voth daar sahlo joor. Genun niin fos nii los wah faas mii. Genun niin bah do dovah. Hin thur uth nii. { Odahviing, let the dragons know they have meal if they wish it. These men are to know pain before they die. They harmed people under my rule. The dragons can have their fill with these weak mortals. Show them what it is to fear us. Show them the wrath of the dragons. Your over lord commands it.}
People stood terrified as dragons started flying around, roaring loudly. They could hear words, but understood none. They shivered when they saw the cold smile on Dovahkiin's face.
"Lydia, have the men escorted out of the building and brought to the center of the courtyard," Dovahkiin ordered.
The Jarls watched as the men were quickly escorted out of the building. They thought there would be a large fight, but the dragonborn's man made it look easy, disarming them simply. It was noticeable to all that these men were trained by the best. None of them looked worried about dragons roaring in the sky. None shook in fear, or hesitated. They didn't bat an eyelash as the ground trembled while the dragonborn spoke.
They watched as five men were escorted out and held in place for what they didn't know. They watched avidly even though they wanted to look the other way. They knew they didn't want to see what was going to happen, but a morbid fascination kept them in place.
A few dragons landed and roared loudly. One grabbed a body and tossed it in the air. Another dragon in the air caught it. They were playing with their food. Their screams could be heard, along with crunching of bones.
A very old dragon said words softly and that man was healed.
Dovahkiin watched as the Jarls hurried back into the castle when all five men were being toyed with. He smirked as he watched, he knew the dragons would be at this for a while. He walked back into his home with a small smile. He didn't need the dragons to tell them they were happy, he heard it in their shouts. It wasn't a feast for them, that wasn't the point right now. It was power, their thur was giving them free reign with those men. They knew that their thur was still a dragon, not turning into these mortals.
He turned his attention to Ulfric. "I invited you here on good faith and your men do this? I should have the dragons play with all of your men." Dovahkiin growled.
"You can't blame me for what my men do," Ulfric stated heatedly.
"Oh yes I can. You rule them, they wouldn't have done that if they knew they wouldn't get away with it. How many men and women have been raped or beaten by your men? How many elves have died and you ignored it?" Dovahkiin asked heatedly. "You have no control over your men."
"And you have control of your men?" Ulfric asked just as heatedly.
"Yes. They know if they ever did something like that, I would feed them to the dragons, or take care of it myself. It happened once here, never again and all know it. The man was screaming for mercy for a week before I let him die," Dovahkiin spat.
"You mean before you let your dragons kill him?" Ulfric asked snidely.
"No, I had the pleasure of torturing him," Dovahkiin answered with a shrug.
"Get your men under control Ulfric or you will be no use to me," Dovahkiin warned.
"I will not have people who hate the other races so much that they can't see straight fighting this war. If I do that, then this war is already lost. You want the Thalmor out of Skyrim, and I have the army to do it. Without the dragon I have over five hundred strong fighting people at my call of all races. Then I have over fifty dragons. If you don't put your men in place, I will have this war without you," Dovahkiin spat in annoyance.
"Dovahkiin how do you know none of your people are spies for the Thalmor?" Balgruuf asked. Dovahkiin glanced at the others as they murmured in agreement.
Dovahkiin glanced over Balgruuf shoulder when he noticed movement. He smirked when he saw Miraak there, "Miraak, how about you bring our guest here?" he requested with amusement in his eyes. "Igmund you might remember this man since he was stationed in your city."
He watched the man's eyes widened as the thalmor agent was brought up from the dungeons. The once proud altamer stood before them cowering, a whimper left him when he heard his laughter. It amused him when this elf shook in fear from him. His smile widened when he saw the astonished looks.
"What did you do?" Igmund asked.
"I need information, he had it and I got it. Didn't I Oldimar?" Dovahkiin asked smoothly. He chuckled as the elf bowed with a fearful cry. It was music to his ears.
"Ye…yes I gave you all information I know," the thalmor answered quivering.
"Then answer me now, are there any Thalmor agents here?" Dovahkiin asked harshly.
"I…I d…do not know. I…I w….would need to see the people," the elf studdered.
"Gregor, show him around, kill any that are working for the Thalmor," Dovahkiin ordered, he watched as his housecarl bowed deeply and rushed off with the elf in tow.
"I would believe him, he is too afraid of you to lie," Balgruuf murmured thoughtfully.
"Now about this other dragonborn…" Igmund repeated.
"Miraak, the other dragonborn name is Miraak. He was here during the dragon wars, he was also a dragon priest," Dovahkiin stated and smirked as a few of the Jarl's went pale.
"And you allow him to roam freely in your keep?" Jarl Skald asked incredulously.
"He may roam freely but that does not mean he is not watched," Dovahkiin murmured with an icy smile. He turned to the guard closest to him. "Go relieve one of Miraak's guard, have him sent here."
"Dovahkiin what are you doing?" Balgruuf asked nervously.
"Proving to the Jarl that I have control over everything that happens here. I can see that he doesn't believe it," Dovahkiin answered nodding towards Ulfric.
"Its not that I don't believe, what has me puzzled is why you wanted us all here," Ulfric murmured thoughtfully.
"Why? I thought that obvious. I want the Thalmor out of Skyrim and I want to wipe out the vampire threat. With the vampires the dragons will help, with the Thalmor they may or may not, depending what he receive in return," Dovahkiin answered thoughtfully.
"We will not have dragons rule over us once again," Ulfric stated heatedly.
"Nor will I. But I think the mountain tops where they usually roost should be their domain," Dovahkiin stated.
"That's it?" Balgruuf asked uncertainly.
"No. Everywhere they fly they are hunted. I would think since they have been protecting the cities I deem worthy that they be allowed to fly the sky without worry," Dovahkiin hissed contemptuously.
"The cities you deem worthy, and I take it my city is not?" Ulfric asked heatedly.
"No its not. Your men are the main ones that shoot at them. Even the Imperials don't attack dragons on site. I requested your presence here because you want the Thalmor out of Skyrim as much as I do. You have an army, I can make that army bigger, but there are those who support the Imperials for a good cause. They bring money into Skyrim, goods, and people, which this place will need to survive once the Thalmor are gone," Dovahkiin explained.
"So what you want us to leave the Imperials alone?" Ulfric spat indignantly.
"That is exactly what I am saying. I will be giving the Imperials a choice if they refuse then they leave Skyrim as well. A few of these Jarls support the Imperials, and those Jarls are to keep their throne once this war is over. This is no longer Imperials against Stormcloaks," Dovahkiin spat.
"And what would you call it?" Ulfric sneered.
"Skyrim against the Thalmor," Dovahkiin answered with a shake of his head. "Are you really that narrow minded that you would stop all trading with the Imperials? Or even the other provinces that side with the Thalmor? How will Skyrim fund itself? How will it get the goods it is so used to? Where will you get the foreign merchants that bring in money? And once you've kicked out every race that isn't nord who will you get to do your dirty work?" Dovahkiin asked with a smirk.
"Then what are you suggesting?" Ulfric asked leery.
"If you want my army and dragons you have to agree to the terms I already laid out for the dragons and to fight with the Imperials if they will fight with us. You leave the other races alone, and clean up your city," Dovahkiin snapped coldly.
"And you want my men for the vampire attack too?" Ulfric asked. "What do I get out of this?"
"You get to keep your throne. Your city stays standing, and you get my support unless you cross me," Dovahkiin retorted.
"You expect me to agree to that threat?" Ulfric roared, his fist slamming into a nearby table with vicious anger.
"Threat, there was no threat. That was my plan in the beginning. Kill you, raze your city, and take your supporters," Dovahkiin chuckled at the anger the jarl was showing.
"Do you know how many would have turned against you?" Ulfric asked with a sly smile.
"None. I already talked with most of the Jarl about this. You are not too popular with killing the king. They followed you because of the Thalmor and they wanted them gone. All agreed to my plan Ulfric, and those that didn't agree was because they believed Skyrim has seen enough bloodshed," Dovahkiin spat triumphantly. "So as you can see you really are not in a position to negotiate, either follow what I lined out or step aside."
The room fell silent, all the Jarl's held their breath. They could see Dovahkiin's death in Ulfric's eyes. "If you try and use your thu'um on me. I will use my own and you will lose. If you wish this to be a challenge then say the word," Dovahkiin warned.
"We go to war. You speak with General Tullius and I will gather my men here," Ulfric stated with a nod before he walked out of the room.
"Our men are already gathered, they are at the boarders awaiting orders," Balgruuf stated with a smirk at the other Jarls.
"Have them regroup here," Dovahkiin ordered.
"Lydia have that messenger that's been waiting sent here immediately!" Dovahkiin yelled out the order.
~oooooooooooooooooooooooooo~
Dovahkiin grinned as he read the message. The negotiation with Tulius had been going well and it was proven in this note. He was glad he listened to Balgruuf or he would have never done this. He would have slaughtered every Imperial soldier and been done with it. Now that he stated his plans the general was more than willing to go along and help eradicate the Thalmor. His proof was the plans for the Embassy, and a few other places in Skyrim where the Thalmor was fortified.
Dovahkiin looked into the bag once more. It was the head of a Thalmor agent that had resided in Solitude. Another proof that General Tulius was willing to help out. What surprised him the most the general was willing to play nice with Ulfric but there was a condition, that Ulfric be tried for the murder of the young king. Dovahkiin didn't see anything wrong with the request. He never said how he would be tried, so that gave him room to play.
Once the men regrouped into his lands the war would start. He wasn't even sure how big his army was. He left most of men where he had stationed them, it would help them greatly. Now he didn't have to worry about his dragons, or the dragons fighting for him. They would willingly now that they were free to roam Skyrim skies.