EDDARD'S FORCE NUMBERED A RESPECTABLE FIFTEEN THOUSAND – A COMBINED WILDLING, TARGARYEN YOUTH AND ORCS. Three hundred Blades took positions in the canyon, bows at the ready while the remainder was with Brianna holding the bridge. She had given orders for the archers to target the Wildlings and kill as many of them as possible. They were the least threatening troops in the force that Eddard had marshaled against the Dragonborn. She hoped that the smell of human blood would drive the orcs wild and cause them to attack their 'allies.' It was well known that orcs, uruks and Uruk-hai had an incredible sense of smell. History also recorded, the creation of Morgoth consumed the flesh of man and many feared becoming a meal of the Enemy. As Brianna watched the Enemy approach, she saw no sign Eddard and that concerned her. Her father believed the battle was a diversion and the Master of the Blades was inclined to agree. Still, the ancient Akaviri headquarters could not be allowed to fall into Enemy hands. Brianna looked at Loreth who stood next to Talion. She had changed from her dress into Blades armor, Hadhafang at her side. Her face tranquil, but her eyes betrayed the fear she was experiencing.
"Steady now. It's the deep breath before the plunge as Mithrandir once said before your home came under siege. A pity he cannot be with us now" Brianna tried to reassure Loreth.
Loreth didn't answer, just nodded in agreement and took a drink of water. The Enemy charged the bridge and Brianna watched as the arrows from her archers found their targets. Wildling's dropped; the majority killed by the storm of deadly bolts reaching their marks. Very few Wildings fell wounded and those that did cried out in agony, their screams reaching the Akaviri holding the bridge. Volley after volley were fired into them and the Targaryen youth were targeted next. The Blades occupying the heights fired their remaining arrows into the charging mass. As the orcs caught the scent of human blood, their attention focused from the waiting Akaviri knights. Instead, the orcs tore into what remained of the Wildings and Targaryen Youth and the result was a massacre.
Loreth could barely believe her eyes. Her father rarely spoke of his battles against Sauron and she now understood why. She wanted to cover her ears and silent prayed to the Valar that the men who aligned themselves with Eddard met a quick end. Her prayer went unanswered as their screams intensified and Loreth could see rivers of blood flowing. Brianna then sent a fireball over the scene of carnage and the Akaviri charged downhill from positions, their katana's glistening in the sunlight. But within seconds, those same katanas were stained red and black with the blood of the Enemy. Yet no sign of Eddard was seen and Brianna was becoming seriously concerned. Loreth looked at Brianna who seemed distracted, the Akaviri Master's ear to the wind.
"By Oblivion, he's not even here" Brianna snapped, enraged that her nephew had deceived her. She could hear Eddard's voice on the wind. He was at the most sacred place in all of Skyrim. And she and Talion had to get there first. Loreth watched as Brianna open a portal and call to her brother to follow and the Istari and Talion walked through. Loreth was confused for the battle had not yet ended and the conclusion very much in question. Brianna's husband, Jon Snow assumed command. As the Blades fighting the orcs were pushed to the edge of the bridge, Jon ordered the Akaviri holding the crossing to enter the melee. The retreating Blades, now reinforced resumed the offensive and the Enemy were caught unprepared for the onslaught. Daenerys watched as her husband and Jon slew the orcs and the Enemy began to panic, realizing they were outmatched and outfought. The power of the Dragonborn clear as he used the Thu'um to dispatch his foes. The Dragonborn observed Loreth decapitate several orcs and cut the sword arm off one of the few surviving Wildlings. She moved with the swiftness of the Noldorian Elves and was as deadly as her Dunedain brethren. The Dovahkiin was impressed when he saw Loreth block the attack from one orc, and watched as she cut the enemy in half in her next move. She wielded Hadhafang as her ancestors had with deadly precision and skill.
Daenerys could see Loreth striking down the Enemy, the princesses standing out among in her Noldorian armor. She looked at her future mother-in-law and smiled at her, but Daenerys did not return the smile. Something had caught the former queen's eye and she was looking in the direction of her husband. A strange portal had opened behind the Dragonborn and he was slowly being dragged to the opening. Daenerys ran to her husband, desperate to save him from the danger. But the Enemy blocked her path and each time she killed an orc, it took precious seconds away. Loreth and Jon also made an attempt to reach the Dragonborn, but their movements were impeded as well. Daenerys screamed in horror as she watched her husband be pulled through. Her scream echoing through the canyon and filled the orcs with terror who turned and fled, leaving the few surviving Wildlings and Targaryen Youth who dropped their weapons and surrendered. Daenerys, full of anger looked at a Targaryen Youth who cringed. She walked over to the young man whose head lowered, not wanting to look her in the eye.
"Where is he" Daenerys screamed, the tip of her sword in the neck of the youth. "Where is my husband? Your life depends on your answer!"
"I do not know my Lady" he stuttered as her sword began drawing blood.
"No Daenerys" Jon shouted. "He cannot tell us anything if he is dead."
"My husband is missing Jon, pulled through an unknown gateway before our eyes. Someone knows something" Daenerys snarled her fear rising.
"Yes. And Brianna and your son went to confront him wherever Eddard is hiding. Think! Would the Dark Lord of Tamriel risk telling his plan to a pawn" Jon countered.
"Wherever they went, I hope that give Eddard the justice he has earned" Daenerys replied sheathing her sword.
BRIANNA AND TALION ENTERED HIGH HROTHGAR AND FOUND THE SANCTURARY LITTERED WITH BODIES. All of the followers of the Way of the Voice had been slain. The floor was slick with the blood of Eddard's victims. Talion and Brianna drew their weapons and readied for combat and split up. As Brianna searched outside, Talion found Eddard in the council room an Elder Scroll in his hand. He looked at Talion, his eyes yellow full of satisfaction. A sinister smile crossed his lips as he recognized his cousin.
"Hello cousin. It's been a while" Eddard said.
"What did you do" Talion snapped ignoring the salutation. "Why do you have an Elder Scroll?"
"As your father conspired with Brelyna to murder my father, I used the Dark Elder Scroll to banish the Dragonborn to the fifth realm. A violent and chaotic land that has not known peace for over a century. A fitting punishment that he perishes alone in an unknown world" Eddard answered, his voice betraying the glee he felt.
"What are you talking about? The fifth realm is a myth! There are only four lands you fool" Talion yelled. "Middle-earth, Westeros, the Northern Kingdoms and Valinor."
"Nay, there is a fifth and I along with my Lord Melkor and his captain Sauron walked its shores. There are certain privileges that come with being a Dark Lord, a title you will never have. Westeros has already fallen, next Tamriel followed by the Northern Kingdoms then Valinor will burn" Eddard replied sneering.
""What did they promise you" Talion snarled. "What was your price" he demanded.
"My price was the end of the filthy Septim bloodline! The time of the Dovahkiin is over" Talion's foe answered his eyes flaring yellow in pure hate.
"Is that how you justify killing everyone you once claimed to love" Talion roared.
"My actions were made easy when the Dragonborn murdered my father" his enemy snapped in reply. "How could the Dragonborn kill his own son?"
"Eddard you have been made a fool. My father didn't kill Kellian. Sauron deceived you for he has the ability to shapeshift. My brother was slain by the Lord of the Black Land" Talion snapped.
"Liar" Eddard screamed unleashing a torrent of magical assaults against Talion and the Dragonborn's youngest son threw up defensive wards stopping the attacks. Their swords crossed bringing their faces near to each other.
"You have been blinded by Morgoth and Sauron. I can see their promises of power have corrupted you. We were once closer than brothers. Cousin it's not too late to repent" Talion begged.
"You are my last obstacle and final test Talion and for that I must kill you to ascend" Eddard said.
"Ascend to what" Talion asked confused.
"Melkor promised when you die, I become the Dragonborn Dark Lord. By devouring your soul, I will become more powerful than Miraak and your father. Tamriel and the Northern Kingdoms will be given to me in exchange for my fealty to Melkor and Sauron."
"I cannot allow that" a feminine voice said as Brianna entered the room, her sword at the ready and lightning on her fingertips. "What would your parents think of you Eddard? You have associated the title of Dovahkiin with death when you pledged yourself to darkness. I arrived shortly after your actions at Kings Landing. You slew everyone including your own uncle. The Enemy has poisoned your mind against your kin and you have become their slave" Brianna told her cousin sharply.
"This coming from the Istari who murdered Ulfric Stormcloak. You could have been so much more Brianna. Unfortunate you did not accept Melkor's offer" Eddard replied angrily as he took several steps backward a portal opening behind him. "The next time we meet Talion you will fall to my blade" he finished disappearing from High Hrothgar.
"What did he do with the Elder Scroll Talion" Brianna asked sheathing her weapon.
"He claimed to have used it to banish father to the fifth realm, but the fifth realm is a myth" Talion cried "right sister?"
"The world is a large place Talion. Two hundred years ago, we believed that Tamriel was the only realm when Eru Illuvatar opened us to Middle-earth, Westeros and the Northern Kingdoms" Brianna answered gently putting her hand on her brother's shoulder. "Have no fear Talion, we'll find papa."
