Just this chapter and then it's the battle for Solitude!

Okay, on to the thanks. To DraGG, thanks for the great review! I'm glad you like the new POV in Ysold, and the fight. It's a big moment in the HBO series so I'm happy you thought it was cool! To JakMar, thank you for the review! I'm glad you thought it was awesome, and you'll find out where Jon is next chapter. To BrunnetteAuthorette99, cheers for the review. Happy to have removed the tenterhooks from you, but this one might reinstate them. To HereLies, glad you picked up on the irony, and that you liked Ysold's voice. Great comments as always! To RaptorZeroOne, thank you for the review. Ysold knows what it is, and she'll figure it out into a full circle VERY soon. To Aero, thank you for the review! I'm glad I could surprise you. In answer to your question- here.

Thanks for all the great reviews. I got this one out quickly- I hope its worth it.

Imperial General Tullius

The Tribune's breathe punctured cool air of Castle Dour.

'Sir,… it's… Stormcloak.'

'Louder, take your time,' Imperial General Tullius commanded.

The messenger straightened. 'Ulfric Stormcloak is bringing a fleet here. Scout's report, sir,' he explained.

Tullius looked back down at the map again. 'How long?' He asked, fully expecting a few weeks preparation at least.

'Sir… No more than twenty four hours.'

'You're sure?' Tullius was shocked. Twenty four hours?

'Yes, sir.'

He looked down again. There was no time to panic; he had twenty four hours at best to make the city ready for a siege and naval attack. He breathed deeply, collecting his thoughts and ejecting any personal fears.

'Run to the Admiral, tell him to prepare. Here,' he threw his sigil ring. 'Get the fleet ready. Take a horse, take mine.'

The Tribune caught the ring and sprinted out. Tullius turned back to his commanders. They looked shocked, and scared, like himself, but he had to set an example.

'Legate Rikke, how many soldiers left in the city?'

His second-in-command, she was a tough Nord woman, capable and loyal, clad in full Imperial steel. 'Of the Legion, sir? There are four hundred left.'

The number tugged at Tullius' heart. I arrived with five thousand men. He couldn't believe it, but he had to. More importantly he had to move past it and use what he had.

'How many of the Jarl's own men are in the city?'

'Some two thousand.'

'I want precise figures, Rikke. You,' he pointed at a Tribune. 'Go and tell the Jarl of the attack and request her assistance.'

'As you wish, sir.' He marched out quickly.

'Rikke, this Jarl's bannermen, her, her er, troops! They can be here today?' Tullius asked, desperately.

'Yes, sir; the ones close by in the countryside. As for her Thane's own men, I… I think not.'

'Tell the Jarl to raise her banners. Get her "Thane's" to raise their men in case we should need to take the city back. That would raise how many men?'

Rikke thought a moment. 'Solitude commands about 20,000 men.'

'Get them.'

'As you wish.' She strode out and he saw her start to run as she reached the outer gate of the castle.

'Shit!' Tullius paced in a circle before coming back to his senses. 'Squire! I need my armour!'

The boy who shadowed him ran out and returned with the heavy armour in a few minutes. Together they strapped on the breastplate with the steel and leather skirt typical of Imperial armour, greaves and bracers. He wore tough boots and a half cape. All his armour was gilded, unnecessarily, Tullius thought, but he couldn't complain with the Emperor. It wasn't his place.

As the armour was fitted, Tullius had time to ponder, time to taste the fear of defeat, and the possible taste of victory with Ulfric's death. They were bittersweet together, hardly comforting, but he was stuck with them, so as he did as always did, he soldiered on grimly.

'Get on your own armour, lad. Meet me in the Blue Palace.'

The boy looked terrified, but Tullius had never been one of those General's that men loved; he couldn't comfort the boy. He realised that now. Perhaps if he had been more charismatic, if he had walked the line more often, it would be him in Ulfric's position, leading an army of Skyrim itself against the walls of Windhelm. But no matter how many times he could imagine it, it was a foolish dream. It was never going to happen. The mistakes we make, Tullius thought grimly. They always catch us up eventually.

He strode from the war room, followed by his bodyguards, making for the Blue Palace. The Jarl probably already knew about the threat, and was expecting him, so he speeded up his steps as he moved through the city. The Jarl's palace finally came into view and when he approached, the guards who stood by the doorway waved him through quickly, pointing him in the direction of the war room.

When General Tullius finally strode through the entrance, he saw a welcome sight. Grizzled Nords surrounded a map of Solitude. They all wore armour, even Elisif, although she couldn't have looked more out of place among these tough men. On his entrance her eyes lit up.

'General! Never has it been so good to see you.'

Tullius nodded. 'Right, good. What are you deciding?'

'We're looking at ways to defend the city,' said a Nord with one eye.

'That much I could guess, Nord. How do you plan to do it?'

An angry look returned his words, so it fell to Elisif to explain. 'We are looking at how we could use our catapults to sink Ulfric's ships, isn't that so gentlemen?'

The 'gentlemen' around the Jarl were clearly not pleased to have even her among them, but Tullius was satisfied. At least he had one ally in this council.

He decided it was time to put his opinion forward, before the Nords tried to take over the defence again. 'We need men to line the walls facing the mountains,' he said, pointing at the map's east end.

'Why?' A Nord stepped forward, clad in mail. It was Thane Erikur. Tullius' anger started to rise, and he couldn't keep his irritation from entering his voice.

'Because, Thane Erikur, Ulfric will likely grapple his way into the city. He can't have carried siege equipment of any great size on his ships; therefore, he has probably brought ropes and ladders already prepared, which he could carry on his ships, so that he can attack as soon as he arrives. After all, Ulfric is not a patient man.' The Thane looked subdued, if only slightly, and Tullius stepped forward to the table, satisfied. 'My Jarl, you have catapults?'

Elisif jumped on the question with the look of someone who wished to show off their small knowledge to important people. 'Yes, General, we do.'

'We'll have to use them. Set them up on the east and west sides of the walls,' he told the assembled Nords, who looked none too happy for his domination of their planning of Solitude's defence. 'That way, we can try and destroy the ships as they approach, but when they get too near, we can still use the catapults on the west wall.' Tullius glanced up at the men, who all looked somewhat abashed by his confident and impressive knowledge of siege tactics.

'My Jarl, do you have any oil available?' He continued, seizing the opportunity presented in their shock.

She looked unsure, but another Nord leapt into the fray. 'We do… General.'

'Good,' Tullius said, his mind already working with the possibilities; 'load it into barrels, and prepare the catapults to throw them. Then administer flaming arrows along the east wall, not the west; that would be a waste of supplies. Understand?'

The General pointed at a Nord. 'You, see to the catapults.' He indicated another two Nords. 'And you, see to the oil. And you can make sure the arrows are ready. Go!'

They ran off and the General turned back to the remaining Nord commanders. 'How's the mood?' They looked puzzled, and Tullius' became irritated again. 'The mood of the city. Are they ready to rebel?'

'We can't be sure.'

'Right,' Tullius said, slightly annoyed. 'Then spread the story that Ulfric is here to burn Solitude, and rape their Jarl.' Tullius looked at Elisif, apologetically. 'My apologies, Jarl Elisif.'

She looked a little pale, and gave him a nod.

'Why would we do that?' Erikur asked, his eyes boring into Tullius.

'Why? Because, we need men who want to fight for their homes, and liege-lord, and not idiot Thanes like yourself,' he shot back.

Erikur looked furious. 'You insult my honour!'

'Calm down, Nord. You'll have plenty of time to regain it in battle, never fear.'

The Thane stormed from the room, leaving Tullius and the Jarl alone with another Nord, who quickly left as well.

'You should not provoke him so,' Elisif warned the General, but she was smiling a little.

'He'll get over it. Nordic pride can be easily mended.'

'I'm not sure, General. He is a powerful enemy.'

'Indeed. But the noble Thane is all talk, I fear. We have no need of him in the coming battle. Mark my words, my Jarl, he is the man who takes more men with him than he gives. And he will flee, hopefully sooner than later.'

'But he is a Thane!' Elisif said, outraged.

'A hereditary title. The Counts of Cyrodiil are no better, I'll tell you. I've met many in my time.'

'Yes.' She looked awkward before making to leave. 'I should go and inspire the troops, General,' she said, obviously disturbed by the turn in conversation. Tullius could see that his words didn't appeal to her, but he wasn't surprised; the young Jarl was far too naïve and idealistic to see the bigger picture.

She left, and Tullius waited a bit before following her out, his mind wrapped in siege tactics and ways to repel any enemy on a wall. He wondered how determined Ulfric would be, before he remembered the peace treaty. The Skyrim Lord had been furious, apparently because of what had happened in Falkreath… The cold claws of fear clutched his heart as he realised that Stormcloak wouldn't stop until he had spent everything he had. And if he manages inspire his men in the same way…

But angry men are stupid men, Tullius thought. If I keep calm and play it carefully, with the utmost precision, it should be an easy end to the Stormcloak army. He took solace in this idea, which was apt considering he was in city called Solitude, and continued down a corridor. With a start Tullius realised that he was lost, and he looked around with a panic before deciding to just find a place he was familiar with. But as he was about to do just that, he heard voices; one was faint, the other loud. The General's sense of curiosity and justice took hold, and he followed it down the twisting corridors of the Blue Palace.

The voices were coming from a room to his left. Tullius quickly reviewed whether it would be smart to enter before his mind caught onto the voices themselves. Jarl Elisif, and… Thane Erikur! He listened closer, and managed to make out the conversation; Erikur was blackmailing Elisif. Anger covered his mind like a black cloud, and Tullius forgot his earlier orders and cautions completely.

Imperial General Tullius smashed against the door, but it was locked. Frustration took the place of anger, and without thinking, he drew his sword and smashed off the door handle. He rammed it again, and it broke to reveal Erikur standing in front of Elisif, his blade drawn.

The Thane charged the General but Tullius was expecting it. He stepped back and twisted, throwing Erikur to the ground, then levelling his own sword at the Thane's throat.

'Leave, now,' Tullius growled.

The Thane scrambled to his feet and left, with one last taunt. 'You'll regret this, Imperial.' The words stuck in Tullius' mind. He already had enough enemies, why not one more?

Elisif stepped forward, looking shaken. 'Thank you, General. I own you a debt.'

Tullius dismissed it. 'If we survive, I'll come looking for it.' He stared out the window behind her, his face tight. 'But until then, I don't think I'm going to need it anytime soon.'

Please review. Tell me who you think will win the coming battle! How can you do that- REVIEW! Oh, and I shut off my account so you can't just private message me. Please review!