Hello everyone, here is the next chapter, not much going on IRL currently, just been bust with finding an internship, which I got, so I am heading into summer vacation relaxed and ready to do as I feel like, expect some more chapters, but not much of an increase in the coming months.

Anyway, Enjoy!

…

"How would you fight a battle here?" Jon looked at Hella after her question with a touch of confusion, before smiling, maybe this could prove fun. They were riding towards the cliffside paths down to the lake, passing through the deforested hills and farmland of northern Falkreath, following the winding dirt road through the fields of near head hight crops.

"Hmm, depends on the conditions, how about a little game, a strategy battle between us?" Jon asked, Hella seemed to consider for a moment, before nodding in return. "Then you can determine the conditions, try to keep it fair please."

"Alright, how about..." Thinking for a moment, pulling her hair out of her face Hella continued. "A Bruman invasion of Skyrim, 7000 men from Bruma and surrounding lands against the united forces of South Western Skyrim."

"Fair enough, that's some 6500 combined between Markarth, Falkreath and Whiterun, who do you command?"

"The Brumans, so you command the Skyrim forces right?"

"Yeah, so, as the attacker, you determine the battle ground." Jon said, watching as a small smile lit on her face, she pointed at a nearby hill, topped with a farmhouse and barn.

"I would setup command there, in the way of the Skyrim army to stop them from retaking Falkreath, which I would have captured earlier. The Skyrim army would be trying to fight me before laying siege to the city to retake it." She took a moment, deep in thought before continuing. "I would keep front line of legionaries, with auxiliaries at my flanks and cavalry at my rear as reserve."

"Alright, then my army will have been hugging the side of the lake while on the march towards you, my left mainly made up of cavalry and my right of lighter infantry, with a centre of veterans." He informed her, keeping to standard Nord warfare styles, not making it easy for her but giving her more than a fair chance if she knew even a little about commanding a battle. Legionary infantry would have an advantage over most Nord infantry while in formation, being trained in formations above one on one fighting, so as long as Hella was smart about it she should win this fight. "As attacker, the initiative is yours, when will you attack."

"At the crack of dawn, having my army rise for an early breakfast before getting into battle formation."

"Smart, the Nords would be unprepared and would have not eaten by then. The Nords will counter however, by pressuring your line with archers." Jon smiled as he watched her consider her options, the way her nose crinkled when she was deep in thought was endearing.

"The Brumans don't have any dedicated archers in their army to counter, my legionaries will enter turtle formation and hold out until they run out of ammo, while my cavalry gets ready to flank if possible."

"Alright, the Nordic line stretches out further while your legionaries turtle up, attempting to envelope your army, their cavalry remains ready to combat yours if needed, with Whiterun plains lancers at the front."

"Are the archers still firing?"

"Yes, but your men report their quivers appear to be running low."

"Then my legions will break turtle formation and reform a battle line, keeping a deep formation, my cavalry will try to pick a fight with the Nord cavalry, but not a fight to the death."

"Skirmish with the Nord Cavalry, keep them busy yes, the Nords continue to push forward steadily, their right flank already beginning to wrap around your left flank."

"Good, my centre legions push forward, and break through their thinner line, splitting them in half, and will kill both groups separately."

"Excellent, the battle is yours." Jon smirked when she jumped excitedly in her saddle, laughter clear like church bells. "An excellent implementation of the basics of strategy."

"Thank you! This was fun, we are doing this again."

"Alright, don't expect it to be as easy as this time tough."

"Hoping it won't be, I love a challenge."

…

The lake shores were a pleasant sight, rocky beaches surrounded by trees and rock formations that left the area they had set up camp in almost secluded from the world at large. On the lake itself dozens of little fishing boats floated, peacefully bobbing thanks to the light breeze of the Skyrim summer, Hella found it oddly relaxing, even if sweat dripped down her from the spar she had a moment ago.

She had insisted on sparring with Jon, having seen his skill in combat and magic she wanted to know how she would measure up, all in all it did not go too badly, over thirty years of practise clashing against a ridiculous level of talent. Jon was a controlled whirlwind, sword cutting and stabbing almost faster then she could keep up, still his strength was her lesser despite his speed, and the strikes she did manage to land hurt him far more then the few cuts he got on her.

She was beaten eventually, mainly because Jon was able to fight on much longer then she was, but she felt she put on a good showing. Returning her attention to the rabbits roasting on the fire she turned them and sprinkled some more of her herb mix over them, watching as Jon tried to wash his massive cat. Mira shook to rid herself of the lake water, soaking Jon once again as he did his best to scold the Sabercat while holding in his laughter.

"Come on then girl, let's go ask Hella if dinner is ready yet." She just barely picked his voice up as they returned to the fire, she handed Jon one of the rabbits and took out a deer leg for the Cat, which began happily feasting on it. Jon nodded at her in thanks as he took a bite from the steaming hot meat, unbothered by the heat until his long hair flopped down into his face. "Blarg, I need a haircut..."

"Not necessarily, come here." His look of confusion was endearing, but he did lean in closer to her, she pulled his hair back, relying on old practice she began to braid the long locks into something more manageable. "A few braids and it will be far easier to keep it in shape."

"Thank you."

…..

"Have you ever met another mage?" Ragnar's question threw Jon for a few moments, because he both had an hadn't, the people followed in the memories met mages often, yet Jon had met none in real life.

"Not yet I am afraid."

"Hmm, strange, I remember that most Jarls keep a court Mage."

"That's true, I never got to meet Solitude's court mage, she was a remarkably busy person apparently, and Markarth has not had a court Mage in centuries, magic was often seen as a forsworn thing and ignored."

"Until you came along?"

"Honestly, most people did not even know I was a mage until I was already a big player around the hold, I never heard complaints however."

"You became too useful."

"Either that or they did not care."

….

"So what does Rob decide to do? You would think that running was a good idea right? No this idiot brother of mine hides under the bed, for over two hours he hides there until the two of them are done!"

"Hah! That is something I would have done!" Ragnars loud laughter drowned out that of the others, the Nord was always up for a laugh and a drink, an altogether jolly man Jon found he could enjoy the company off. "Hey, Hella, remember the alchemy incident?"

"Of course I do Ragnar! My hair was pink for months!"

"I never did ask, why did you two leave the Exclave?" He had heard little of the rare and secretive exclaves of the Altmer most of the residents did not leave.

"That's a long story," Hella answered, getting a bit more sombre, but drawing the attention of Thrain and Ari as well. "You know that our dad is a Nord right?"

"Of course."

"Well he was not our mother's first husband, Mother being the only daughter of a council member, able to trace her line back to the lords of the Summer Ilse, before they sank, a massive status symbol as such she was married of to the son of another council member." She paused for a moment, taking a sip from one of the wine skins they had brought. "Eventually, when they did not have any children, people began to think her infertile, so they divorced and she was married of to a Nord scribe who had been aiding the exclave as his reward."

"Imagen their surprise when Hella was born a year later." Ragnar picked up, "Turns out Mother was not infertile, her ex-husband was."

"Interesting, but what does this have to do with you leaving?" Thrain asked, the man blunt as always, despite Ari's disapproving gaze upon him.

"Well, it is important for understanding why we left." Hella said, "Remember when I said that Mother could trace her line back to the Summer Isles? Yeah, when Dad died Grand-mother tried to get her and us married off, Mother was fine with it, always a pushover with Grand-Mother but we were not at all."

"And we wanted to experience the world ourselves, so when Mother was confident we would not die due to lack of training she allowed us to leave." Ragnar spoke up, leaning back against the log he was sitting against. "Not happily mind you, but she did let us leave, we are not allowed to return but we do keep contact with some of our old friends, and mother of course."

…..

Tonight was the night, full Moon by the lake shore, Jon watched in comfort as the last rays of the sunset disappeared, Hella sat beside him, book on her lap and quill in her hand ready to copy over the contents of the book while he focused on meditating to the moon. Both the siblings were literate, but according to Hella her handwriting was much better than her brothers, and after seeing the Old Nords notes on the Dwemer he had to agree, of course after convincing the man to help him with a project he was considering.

No, focus Jon, the Moon was about to peak out behind the few clouds of Skyrim's summer night and he had to understand it completely, the mysterious, deceptive orb of the nights sky, it had confused him for a long time now. In the memories he viewed with Alessia, of a time so long ago where he learned so much, one thing was strange, for when the memories turned to the night, there was not one, but two moons in the sky, and when he brought it up with Alessia she could not even tell.

Something was wrong, that much was clear, and maybe he was focusing on that too much, the Moon was the sphere of illusion and deception after all, the Sphere able to influence emotions and memories, if he focused too much on it the understanding of the Moon may him once again illude him.

So he watched as the full moon shone its light upon them, the Lake below shining back a glorious blue and green as its water was hit by the lunar light, the light show was incredible to watch, entrancing almost. Flexing his magic he let it flow free, illusionary images of blue Magicka floating through the sky taking shapes as varied as could be imagined, shifting and changing every second like a dream never ending.

Still, as he sat their watching unable to tear away his eyes, something felt wrong, missing almost, as if part of it was wrong, whenever his thoughts turned to it he felt a spike of pain driving into his mind.

"Jon, the sun I about to rise, have you been up all night?"

"Already..."

"Yeah, did it work?"

"No, I don't think so, something is missing..." Shaking his head Jon rose from his seated position, what was he missing?

"Maybe you need to connect it to the Sun somehow, its what you are most connected too after all."

"That could work I suppose, but how?"

"Well, while copying the texts I came across this." She held out a piece of paper, which he took, noting it was a map of Tamriel, with a single spot marked, one he recognized, cloud ruler temple. "The book seems to be about three hundred years old, but this was added later, much later. hidden on the blank pages at the back, with the words, where the Moon meets the Sun, a reunion long awaited."

"An Eclipse." The only conclusion, yes, he could see that working. "When?"

"There is no date, but the library at Falkreath or Bruma should have some information on it right?"

"They should yes. Hella, you have my most sincere thanks."

"Its alright Jon, we are friends are we not, now, you should get some sleep, we can leave tomorrow morning."

"Again, Hella, thank you."

….

"Well that's not good..." Ragnars words drew Jon's attention to the horizon, they were at the tail end of their ride back to Falkreath after spending a few days at the shores of the lake, ready to get back into the city for a few days of relaxing at inns and taverns. However, now that he and Gale had crested the hill, it seemed that that plan was not going to work out, for surrounding the small city was an army, banners held aloft showing the symbol of Thane Angband.

"At least three thousand, possibly more." Jon spoke, voice cold. "Looks like Thane Angband got support from Whiterun, those are Plains Lancers."

The most solid cavalry of Skyrim, the Plains Lancers were armed and armoured in traditional Whiterun style, a gambeson under chainmail under a thick yellow tabard with a simple Nordic helm, wielding both a 5 meter long lance of plains wood and a shorter 2 meter long spear that made them a terror on any open battlefield. If they were here it was likely that either Thane Valerius of Riverwood or Jarl Lothri of Whiterun have thrown in their support for the Thane of Helgen.

"That's bad, I can't imagen the Thane being all too happy with us slaughtering his bandits." Thrain said, dismounting and pulling his helmet from his saddle in preparation of a possible battle.

"We have to get into the city." Ari nodded, bow in hand.

"How exactly, that's a lot of people surrounding the city, and opening the gates for us is never going to happen either." Rangar asked, pulling his shield up from its place attached to the saddle.

"Well there is another way into the city." Jon said. "But you are not going to like it."

"The sewers?" Hella asked, displeasure clear in her tone, axe already ready.

"Yes, the sewers, we leave the horses at a nearby farm and sneaking in under the cover of night, we can use an illusion to be near invisible."

"Well, why leave the horses behind then? Falkreath dumps its waste directly into the steam, guarded by a single gate big enough for them, it acts as the postern gate too." Rangar spoke up, causing everyone to look at him. "What, I like architecture and tend to have a look around everywhere I visit."

….

"Three camps, on at the east gate, one at the west gate, both mostly infantry, at least 1200 each and one in between, on the other side of the postern gate, almost entirely cavalry, ready to respond to any attack on one of the camps." Jon nodded at his assessment, a fine strategy when trying to starve out a city the size of Falkreath, no need to stretch your men thin when you could not surround the city in its entirety, achieving almost the same effect. Sure it allowed the defenders some wiggle room when it came to manning the walls, but it would win the siege eventually.

"How would you break it?" Hella asked, they all sat motionlessly at the edge of the forest, waiting for the sun to set fully.

"That's the great thing, you can't, normally at least, either the Jarl gets outside reinforcements or she needs some, ah, special help."

"Special help..." Thrain chuckled before catching Ari's glare and shutting up. "Assassins and sabotage right Jonny."

"The kind we did in Markarth yes, only on a larger scale, with a tie limit, because eventually they will simply stay on alert."

"You never told us about those..."

"Stealth now, story time later Ragnar."

…..

Magicka surged from Jon as he pulled the spell around them, invisibility was not an easy spell by any means, casting it on a single person was already difficult, let alone a group their size, but an illusion could be just as effective at a fraction of the Magicka required, especially at night. Weaving an illusion of fog around them, spreading it as far and wide as he was able they began their slow trot to the sewers entrance.

Fog was common around Falkreath, still Jon did not want to test the skill of the enemies scouts and spotters, so they hurried along as fast as they could be silent, the soft hoof beats through tall grass and wheat all that could be heard. Jon dipped himself fully into weaving the illusion, allowing the others to guide him as he spun a cloud of fog far and wide, the Moon overhead lending its strength.

"Who goes there?" The words were just above a whisper, spoken from the postern gate by a rather familiar voice.

"Egbert, if you do not let us in within three seconds you will be running double laps for a month!"

"Commander! Sorry sir!"

…..

Yeah, mostly just setup and a bit of mystery this time, next one should be more interesting.

Reviews:

RuebyRose: Glad to know that you liked it!

Tonester: honestly, I have no romance pre planned, like with most of my writing I just immerse myself in the characters and write what they would most likely do in a the situation, if a romance happens then so be it, but its not something I am actively working towards.

Shinki: Yeah, still mostly undecided about the timing, as that seems to chance with my mood, but it's likely going to be before cannon, no later than the execution for sure.

Sid99: though situation to be in, keep in mind Jon did develop some feelings for Morghannah even if she did not do the same, Alessia has not had the best romantic relationships in her brief life, being that she was murdered for getting engaged to a man.

Azai Jin (x2): Glad to hear your liking it so far, yeah Alessia is a Dwemer smith from long before the battle of the red mountain, as to the pairing, I don't really write with one in mind, but if it happens it happens.

As always. Follow, favourite and review,

Later,