Chapter 13: Ruigus's Gambit Part Two


Ruigus's eyes narrowed as he stared down the Stormcloaks that lay to the opposite of he and his army. He heard the hooves of Cario's horse approach him, a particular sound in comparison to the jingling of armor all around him.

"Need a spyglass Commander?" Cario asked, holding two of them in his arms.

"I'll take one, thank you Lieutenant for bringing it to me in my haste." The man replied as he took it gracefully from his hand. The two men stared their spyglasses to scan the enemy in order to judge the strength of their foe.

Ruigus saw that the enemy as well was getting into position. His view quickly changed from one blue armored unit to the next. There were some curiosities in their formations he picked up on.

"Do you notice how the Stormcloaks seem to mix units inside other units? I am seeing men in heavy nordic steel armor side by side with men in fur and padded armor as well as crossbows with bows. The Stormcloaks always use these odd mixes." Mused Ruigus to his retainers.

"Your eyes are good as well Commander. I have taken notice to this as well, is it that the Stormcloaks lack discipline or is it because they are trying a new tactic?" Questioned Cario as he continued his observation.

"Captain Kober, this detachment seems small, how big was the force that destroyed Legate Cassius?" Asked Ruigus, he quickly thought of his meeting with the Legate that one time, it was surprising how a man you could know one day like that could die in the next few.

"Uncertain, but it is enough to take Whiterun which is their intention." Kober stated, his voice still unnerving to Ruigus and the other men with him.
Ruigus seemed to ponder this.

"They want to siege it again so soon? It can't be that they used that last army as a simple sacrifice to see our strength." Said Ruigus as he stopped peering through his spyglass. His expression was a bit irritated.

"Damn them, I and Alavia and all those others protect Whiterun only to see an enemy army of perhaps a near immense size in comparison to what we can muster attack it." Spat the young Champion angrily.

"You should not worry about it too much friend, Jarl Balgruuf and his family have evacuated since then, they'll be fine. If the Stormcloaks are to take Whiterun then we reclaim it then." Stated Hadvar, soothing Ruigus's irritation.

"Yes, we may have to after Dunstad is ours. I fear that there may not be as much success as last time. For certain the Stormcloaks sure won't let what we did to them last time happen again." Mused Ruigus, bringing out his canteen to drink some water. The group could barely hear the chirps and songs of birds under the footsteps of men in clinking armor.

"Aside from that what are we to do now? The enemy does not seem to be making any move either as we chat about things." Said Ruigus, his eyes staring down his enemies from miles away.

"We should beat them to the plan Ruigus." Said Marcus.

"We definitely shall. Hammer and Anvil; I and the Infantry charge the front once our archers have loosened enough of their arrows. Calvary just go around them and crush them from behind. Easy to do considering our numbers. It's just that simple." Said Ruigus. Marcus frowned.

"That sounds like something Alavia would say." He said. Ruigus stared at the man for a few moments. It was the one thing that Alduin in her long life had grown accustomed to and as a goddess it was hard not to sometimes see the world as something only filled with numbers in the end, she could speak in such a manner but...She is slowly realizing that there is more to everything than just seeing people as nothing but numbers as a ruler or commander. Yet, since the Great War didn't everything become a matter of numbers in the eyes of those men at the top of each social structure? Didn't the many deaths of soldiers change how war was to be waged from now on much less all the devastation that occurred? What else was left to any sane man but the idea of seeing other people as just a number to be used? Ruigus pondered this before he spoke.

"I apologize Marcus, all of you let me know if I speak in a manner that would make it seem I care not for the lives of those around me by referring to them as numbers and the struggle that they face as trivial….However I believe this to be an easy battle, yet I wonder of the enemy commander, this force is far more professional in appearance than the rest." Ruigus wondered wistfully after he apologized in full earnest to Marcus. Ruigus sighed and ran his hand through his hair.

"There is nothing wrong with accepting war as a matter of numbers. To do so is to recognize the reality of what era we live in." Said Kober in response. Ruigus noted that the man always spoke in a matter of fact tone, it annoyed him to some degree but the man was undeniably right.

"Can my ambition change this era and redefine it or perhaps create a new one?" Ruigus questioned himself. He then pet Trun, newly kitted in Imperial horse armor.

"Perhaps." Ruigus replied. The two armies still stared at each other, both refusing to move. Cario continued to stare down his spyglass as he noticed something peculiar.

"I think I just saw the enemy Commander, he's riding towards us!" Cario announced. Ruigus shot up.

"He's alone!?" The Dragonborn was surprised.

"It's a messenger." Said Kober. A Stormcloak commander would not be foolish enough to charge on his own.

"Oh, yeah. It is one." Cario corrected.

"We should see what he has to say." Hadvar suggested to Ruigus.

Ruigus nodded. "Let him come through." He agreed, it would have been very wrong to kill or stop the man and send him back after riding the way to his lines. Tradition and Imperial honor demanded that messengers would be unharmed.

The messenger approached Ruigus and his staff, he was a tall nord with long blonde hair and green eyes, the man wore the blue colored armor of the Stormcloaks but wore no helmet. Ruigus thought the man was a bit ugly by his face.

"Imperials! I bring a message from my commander Rorster Orc-Hilt. A captain in service of great king Ulfric Stormcloak, he wishes to duel the enemy commander on the field of honor. Please bring me to him." The man said. Ruigus looked down at the man from his horse, Hadvar leaned to whisper to Ruigus.

"I can say that I am the commander so that I can fight this battle for you if you need me to." Hadvar whispered, Ruigus turned to look at him. He gave an appreciative smile and before Hadvar could open his mouth he began to speak.

"I am Ruigus Kessel, I shall be Rorster Orc-Hilt's opponent for the day on conditions of honorable duel. I accept and will modify due to my status as dragonborn not to use my tongue to my advantage as part of this fight." The messenger seemed rather mortified at the revelation to the shared amusement of some of those alongside Ruigus.

"If your Captain accepts or wishes to discuss more you may return to inform me of his decision, if not then our armies shall meet in the battlefield." Said Ruigus, his hands on the reigns of his horse, having sheathed his weapons since the man arrived.

The man bowed his head and rode back to Rorster. The thundering steps of his brown horse echoed in the mind of Ruigus, thinking about this duel he had accepted. It had not been the battle he sought to prove himself in, but it was still a great opportunity. A fight that he wanted between another man to show his strength. Life-threatening as it was the concept excited him.

"No need for a rearguard or anything else now, no battle shall be had but a duel." Muttered the Champion to his companions.

"We should still form a strategy in case there is any form of trickery before, during, or after the duel." Warned Lieutenant Schmacker, speaking for one of his brief times with Ruigus.

"Of course, I want everyone to work together and encircle the enemy if that is the case, they are smaller than we are and we've got more width to fight them on because of that." Ruigus stated in response. He took out his canteen again and took a large sip.

"Need more water Ruigus?" He heard Malborn ask behind him.

"I could use some more, thank you." Ruigus continued to stare out in the direction of his enemy, still pondering over this duel.

"Only one man shall survive this, you must win." Confirmed Kober, seeming to detect Ruigus's thoughts.

"I have not come this far to be killed by any man, even if they are one who fought in the Great War." Said Ruigus, he was semi familiar with Rorster's name from his actions during the Great War in the battle of the Red Ring. If he was right the man formerly was a Tribune. Looks it was now that he had finally been promoted.

There were many men who's names that had been known throughout the Empire because of their feats in the battle of the Red Ring, his own father and Rorster for instance were two of the many men who's names who had spread after that battle.

Ruigus recalled that Rorster himself was one of the men who initially breached the gates of the Dominion held Imperial city. It was surprising to him that his most threatening fight by his own self would be with a veteran of that war.

Some nervousness swept over him as his expression turned grim. Seeing this, Hadvar gave him a pat on the shoulder to reassure him.

"It shall be my first of many duels." Ruigus said simply, his armored hand running through his hair.

"Do you need me to get a helmet for you?" Asked Hadvar, Ruigus shook his head.

"If I allow him to hit my head I will be dead, a steel helmet is wonderful but I would prefer to fight without it for now." He replied. A small smile crossed his face due to Hadvar's concern.

"You're asking to have someone scar your face, I wonder how Alavia will react when your handsomeness is ruined." Came the teasing of Marcus.

"If anyone shall try to scar me they shall leave with their hands separated from their arms." Ruigus laughed after speaking this. He was thankful to have these two as his dear companions.

"Just stay strong and you shall survive as usual." Said Hadvar.

"Oh and one more thing Ruigus." Added Hadvar.

"What is it?" Ruigus asked in response.

"Don't forget to parry, dodging and blocking won't do against a man like him." He advised, Ruigus then had memories of the times he trained with Tullius back when he was a child. He had neglected parrying simply because few fights really demanded it. The enemies he fought here were mostly too simple in the act of war or too untrained to know better. A man such as Rorster who survived the near endless battles against the Thalmor of the Great War was an entirely different foe in comparison.

Yet Ruigus's nervousness soon faded as let his confidence swirl inwards. He then saw the messenger from before riding back towards his army.

"Good timing." Ruigus thought to himself.

"Well this is going to be an interesting first duel commander, though I can't say that I don't regret not being able to duel myself or fight a battle." Said the voice of Cario as he too watched the man from before returning.

The man rode quickly upon his horse as he made his way back to the Imperials.

"Rorster agrees to your terms dragonborn, you shall duel him on the field of honor. Prepare for it in five minutes, any later and you will be seen as having broken the honor of this fight." The messenger said in all respect.

"Then I shall meet him now." Said Ruigus as he regarded the man in front of him.

With that said Ruigus immediately rode forth with his horse, the other men behind him attempting to keep pace with his own divine given steed.

"Are you sure we aren't riding into a trap Ruigus?" Yelled Marcus as he rode next to Ruigus.

"No! This a duel of honor! They will not cheat us." Ruigus yelled back at him.

He had considered it as a possibility that a Stormcloak officer would do that, it was smart. Yet to use trickery in that way was unlike the Nords, they were honorable. Like the Empire they also had an eccentric sense of honor but it was far more grounded than the others around them both. Needless to say that he trusted the honor of Rorster as a former soldier of the Empire and as a Nord. He would just have to fight for his life this one time.

The thought strangely excited him.

"Officers return to your units, I do not want them to break discipline!" He then added.

The officers turned around and headed back to their men marching quickly as they could from behind the speeding Ruigus.

Ruigus felt as though he were one with the wind itself. His heart was beating quite fast out of his rising excitement.

"I should remain calm, this is no duel with toy swords like back how it was as a child." Ruigus thought.

Marcus and Hadvar remained at Ruigus's side. The pair dismounted with him as they now waited for the Stormcloaks in a small clearing.

There was little terrain or obstacles in the way of the duel, in that sense this spot between the two armies was perfect if not for the many trees and foliage that surrounded them.

There was silence among Ruigus and his two friends as they waited for Rorster and his men to approach.

Ruigus stared intensely at the form of Rorster as he and his heavily armored men of Skyrim approached him with their swords drawn but not pointed towards them. Marcus and Hadvar now did the same to protect him.

"You are the Dragonborn aren't you?" The man said as he stared back at Ruigus. Rorster remained on his horse.

Rorster took off his helm and revealed more of his countenance. A rugged long blonde haired nord that he was, his most notable feature laid that in his very blue eyes that were troubled with all the sights war offered to the man after the years of war he had lived through. Intimidating to most men, but the men opposite of him had steeled themselves.

"That I am, you are Captain Rorster." Stated Ruigus. Rorster then dismounted.

"Correct dragonborn, I thank you for accepting the duel I will not get the opportunity for something so special after this!" The man said with full confidence.

Ruigus was still somewhat tired from the fight with Vulthuryol and his slaves. Still despite that, he still felt a certain cockiness towards this fight that Rorster wanted so badly.

"Captain, why do you fight for the Stormcloaks after having served the Empire for so long?" Ruigus then asked. He still wanted to dissuade the old veteran.

"Perish your line of thought. I know what it is that you ask and I shall tell you this, I dedicate my life to protecting Skyrim and the life of High King Ulfric Stormcloak. Something as fleeting as the Empire holds no place in comparison to either of them dragonborn no matter how much you try to save it. That's what any man learned in the war, and you shall learn it in this one." Stated Rorster, full of pride as his hand remained on the hilt of his sword.

"You mean to say that you think the Empire is dying? I shall save it despite your words, I made it my duty in my oath which you may have forgotten existed traitor." Retorted Ruigus, pacing back and forth.

"Tch, one walk through the lands of Cyrodil and you shall see that it's a dying dream. Skyrim shall be rid of the leech that it has now become and surpass it, that is the nature of this new world that has been created, oaths be damned." Said the Stormcloak. Ruigus halted in place.

"As a Colovian and son of Stendarr I refuse that belief." Rorster then laughed at Ruigus's words.

"I would think you Colovians would have been the first to rebel." He remarked. Ruigus shook his head.

"Mede is a Colovian, we've no intention of ever betraying him or the Empire." Said Ruigus. The two men then took a pause, both could feel the cold wind blowing through, the moment to begin this fight was at any moment.

Ruigus then pulled out his sword and shield, he pointed the former at Rorster.

"Talk is pointless now. Let us fight to prove the strength of our oaths great soldier!" He announced. Rorster smirked.

"Finally. Prepare yourself dragonborn." As he unsheathed his sword and shield in a similar manner.

Both sets of bodyguards backed off as the two men began their duel. The two armies formed a circle around Ruigus and Rorster. Imperials to the west and the Stormcloaks still facing the other off similarly to their commanders.

Ruigus and Rorster did not make any movement as a minute went by. They were studying the other's stance to try and read how they fought.

"It is said that he charged out madly in the battle of Whiterun and aimed for our siege crews, destroying them with his shouts. He's brave and reckless I know that, but what is he capable of with a sword? Tullius's star man trained under him as a child, I can see a stance of his." The Stormcloak veteran realized.

"He's well guarded." Noted Ruigus.

Then all of a sudden insults and taunts began ranging out from the Stormcloak side.

"You going to fight or what you Imperial milkdrinker!? Your mother is not here for you!" Were the words of the man who uttered the first one. Similar insults were said by more of them, laughing at and taunting the dragonborn

Ruigus's focus broke for a moment as he had heard it, startled.

Suddenly Rorster closed the distance and swung his blade from Ruigus's right, he barely managed to block it with his shield as it nicked him in the side of his armor. Ruigus gritted in pain.

The Stormcloak soldiers cheered, then at that moment the disciplined Imperial troops decided to do the same.

"You treacherous swine have forgotten how to kill! My grandfather can land a better blow than that!" Came a voice belonging none other to Marcus, only slightly muffled under the cries of the other men.

With that Rorster attacked again, but Ruigus anticipated and parried the blow of Rorster as he countered from the top, swinging a light blow onto on Rorster's helmet. The man cursed and in a split second struck with intention for Ruigus's shield arm.

Ruigus saw this intention and bashed with it, attempting to knock out Rorster's own sword. Rorster swung his shield for Ruigus's face, both men landed their blows.

"Worthless traitor!" Yelled a man.

"Southern dog!" Yelled another.

The two recoiled away from each other bruised, wounded, and fatigue was setting in.

"The days of my youth elude me dragonborn." Said Rorster.

"You keep calling me by my title and not by my name." Responded Ruigus.

"What you don't like it?" Questioned Rorster, he brought out a jug that previously hung around his belt and drank it's contents.

"I simply prefer my name. I am a son of Kvatch and Stendarr, as well as a soldier of the Empire." Stated Ruigus, Rorster chuckled.

"There's a funny irony in that." He replied with a pained smile.

"How so?" Asked his enemy. The taunting had noticeably died down for the most part as this strange exchange happened between the two men.

"Ruigus, you wear your heritage and honor on you proudly." Was all the man said as he readied himself once more. Both of the men's armor were damaged by their previous engagement. To continue would have meant the death of either of them in another clash.

A cheer arose among the Imperials as the both men charged the other.

The observance between both sides was akin to them as watching a match in the Imperial Arena, a location long shut down since the war, only practice fights ran there now.

Nevertheless these two soldiers traded blows between each other. It was the fight of their life, Ruigus felt a strange sense of newfound contentment fighting an old soldier like this. His fights with the dragons were pathetic in comparison to the sheer investment he had in this one.

Ruigus zoned off about this as his sword glanced off of Rorster's armor. He began to think that this was because this was a fight between two men about the fate of Skyrim and the Empire, not a supposed dragon crisis from some random prophecy. He thought back to that strange wall in the Blade's temple. Ruigus dodged a swipe from Rorster as he went for his head. His counterattack to that ended in a miss as well. The fighting and yelling tugged at his own attention to his thoughts.

He faintly recalled that wall seemed to have foretold that he would have been at the side of Alduin, only when she asserted and revealed herself that he realized it's meaning. But when he went there the other times he swore he saw something different than that, far different.

"Get that eastern cur!" A yell from an Imperial took him out of his thoughts as he stared into the distant eyes of Rorster Orc-Hilt. He wondered if his eyes were distant merely because of all those horrors he had seen or perhaps that of thoughts such as this.

Ruigus subconsciously realized that it was his muscle memory that now carried on his fighting, was this how it was to be such an experienced soldier? Out of body moments where you let yourself sink into the fighting? Could he truly get used to this?

Rorster let out a warcry as he unleashed a flurry of strikes, a couple managed to land blows on his armor while the rest were deflected by his shield.

He then turned his thoughts back to the Civil War. What was it that the Stormcloaks truly fought for? What was it that the Empire truly fought for? Was it that the Stormcloaks wanted to separate from the Empire? Did they want to create their own? Did they feel as though their people were suffering under Imperial rule? Or was Imperial rule replacing their cherished ways of life with it's own, the so called 'Cyrodilization' concept of all of the Empire's territories.

The Empire cared for these lands, the people did. Colovians, Heartlanders, and Nibeeans, but it was those who ruled it that he suspected that lacked this caringness and love for Skyrim that led to this. He did not in any case blame Titus Mede, even with him being a fellow Colovian.

Ruigus bashed into Rorster using all of his might with his shield to knock him over, the man quickly got back up before Ruigus could strike him once more, he heard the man panting.

Yet was there anyone to blame? The numerous restrictions the Aldmeri Dominion placed upon the Empire were severe, only 20 years after the war was reconstruction now nearly finished, they had drained away the wealth that the Empire possessed which led to further abuse of power by those of the council and other positions. They had small reign over who became what as a civil servant or military man. The military had been forced to reduce itself to just half of what it was before only 22 legions existed now, the bags under Tullius's eyes told him that there were few men who could protect Cyrodil, they were reduced to having to recruit locals in the kingdom. What little they afford to take away from the borders and outposts was here in Skyrim.

The Elder Council Ruigus convinced himself, were scum. For what reason it was laid that they merely existed. There were more reasons for anyone could, but his ambition and Colovian-Dragonborn heart saw them as an enemy. And the Dominion?
"Die already you cowardly Imperial bastard!" Yelled a Stormcloak.

They were Elves trying to carve out their own Empire, he did not hate them for that. He merely wished a righteous vengeance on the ones who killed his father. He knew at least the one man responsible for it, an Elf in particular named Orndacil Venril. It was natural that the Dominion and the Mede Empire to fight each other to prove their superiority. One day, whether it be under the rule of Mede, or that of Alduin he imagined the one day he would enact his own personal war against them. It was a dream, having been the dragonborn too was a dream and because of that it had proved to him that any dream was possible. It would be all that much easier to achieve if a man like Rorster was fighting with him.

The panting of the old warrior was becoming more unnerving for Ruigus, the man had run out of his stamina but not his will to fight. He wanted to but could no longer fight the young and capable man. Ruigus quickly took the opportunity and delivered a crushing blow to Rorster's thighs, the man screamed in pain as he fell to the snow beneath the two of them. The scream shook Ruigus as he looked on in what he did in horror.

Rorster, he fought for what he believed in against such amazing odds. Such valiance for the will of Ulfric, and the people of Skyrim. A courageous man that stuck by his own nature as a soldier and as a nord, only to be felled by a man blessed by different beliefs in the gods contrary to his own. A man who had challenged the dragonborn to a duel and fought with all of his heart. Ruigus pondered as he looked at the now paralyzed Rorster, terrified at what he had managed to do to such a warrior.

"He is a better man than I." He thought.

"Ruigus, you have won. Take my life but please allow my men to flee." Said a pained voice that belonged to Rorster. Ruigus looked away from Rorster, and upon a now demoralized and scared Stormcloak army. A far cry from a mere few moments ago.

"Captain?" Asked one.

"Go, my life shall go to Shor instead of yours." The man said grimly, his speech was still slow from the pain.

"Run." Said Ruigus, turning his head down as he spoke. His eyes were starting to become wetter by the moment. There were murmurs as the Stormcloaks began to run, they took glances to where Ruigus and Rorster stood as they made an organized withdrawal.

Ruigus stood over the dying Stormcloak, the man's blood pouring so slowly and staining the snow as well as his own armor. Ruigus felt a tear drop down his face as he stared into the man's eyes.

His men were reforming. Hadvar, Kober, and Marcus stood some distance away from the pair.

"Please let them escape." The veteran pleaded.

"I am a different man Rorster, they shall be safe. I promise you that on my soul." Said Ruigus, his voice shaking.

"Thank you, the…. last I ask of you is that you kill me." The man coughed and wheezed.

"I..I-I can't." Stammered Ruigus, another tear dropped.

"You surpassed me in combat, do you want it in the legends that you cried while killing an enemy?" Noted Rorster.

"That does not matter. I do not want to kill you." Said Ruigus, mourning the state of the warrior who laid in front of him.

"I am from a dying era, it is only fitting that I end here. Do it, I will curse on you from the afterlife if you let me bleed to death." He said. The pain in the man's voice made Ruigus shiver, he had to do it.

"Alright, alright." He replied, shakily and slow.

He readied his sword over Rorster.

"Thank you, for sending me to the bleak lands of Shor. I have waited too long to die." The man closed his eyes. Ruigus took a deep breath and steadied his sword, Rorster had already uncovered his armor where his heart lay.

He plunged it, and the deed was done. He was glad that the others could not see his face.

He stood for a few moments over the deceased's body, staring into those now lifeless eyes. Ruigus recovered himself after a minute and turned to walk towards his companions.

As he began to walk past them Hadvar placed his hand upon Ruigus's shoulder. Taken out of his thoughts he turned to look at Hadvar.

"You did good Ruigus." Said the Nord with a small smile.

"Yeah….Let's head back to Mzark." Said Ruigus, exhausted.

"Will they come back with their army for us?" Questioned Marcus.

"They are intent on taking Whiterun. They will not come for us even if the Dragonborn is here. That will only make them take more casualties than they need." Kober replied cooly, he then turned and looked at the body of Rorster as the other men walked away, he opened up his locket and looked into the face of his father. A moment passed before he joined them.

Overhead two Dragons suddenly popped out of the clouds and were diving straight towards Dunstad. Birds flew from trees and they could hear their men shouting.

"By Kynareth!" Yelled Marcus as the men witnessed this.

"They're going for Dunstad." Reported Kober as he stared at them.

"So, she timed it to now." Ruigus thought as they saw flames erupt from Fort Dunstad.

He stood in place, staring at the two dragons as they burned Dunstad.


Alduin watched the two dragons that were setting Fort Dunstad aflame, the men with her were in shock as they saw firsthand the destruction that was being wrought before them.

"Odahviing and Lokyolkriaan do what they do best. Yet I doubt even they will be able to annihilate all of those Stormcloaks, no matter." She thought to herself.

She was alone with Secantius, leading the army as earlier she told the others to stay with their units, not because she disliked them at all but rather out of the fact she knew when the strike was going to happen. When men see monsters they cower, it takes men that are willing to face them to encourage the rest.

A passing thought on something unrelated to the situation now struck her.

"You know, Secantius. Ruigus repeated something to me yesterday that was once said months ago." Said Alduin suddenly, Secantius was broken out of his shock.

He had been stupefied by what she was now bringing up in conversation when there were dragons flying around burning Dunstad.

"Wh-What about?" He asked, it was so absurd to him.

"He was imprisoned back in that one city…..Markarth I believe it's name was for a short time while he was part of a vigilante investigation for a series of murders. He was wrongfully imprisoned for one of them and put into an accursed dungeon. He lost a good friend of his, I think he said that the man had children that were on the way. I believe the incident has traumatized him." Secantius was still amazed as she told him this story, he listened but his eyes switched around from the dragons to her.

"He is the sort that lets things like that haunt him, it is part of who he is." Said Secantius.

"Would you know of any way of easing that pain?" She questioned, but she suspected the answer was already known to her.

"Time, I'm afraid nothing else works." Stated Secantius. The sadness in that man's voice spoke from experience she figured. She nodded.

Time was the one thing that fixed many wounds and brought many changes. In a mere moment all those years ago a series of events occurred that changed her completely. It was strange, it was though she had been newly reborn when she emerged that day she met Ruigus. With a rage and near childish behavior and ambition. She would change again, sooner or later. The question was what would she be?
Then at that moment, she saw Odahviing and Lokyolkriaan ascend once more. Heading towards a range of mountains. They had completed their task.

"Secantius, tell the others we will make camp here. Fort Dunstad is weak. We shall besiege it tommorow." Announced Alduin.

"And what if Ruigus is not close enough?" Questioned Secantius.

"He will be there first if we do not hurry, do not underestimate him." She said.

With that Secantius nodded and turned away on his horse towards the others.

Soon after Aethan and Hans approached.

"Your decisiveness is a blessing." Said Hans.

"Thank you, only a fool would not act on such a fortune." Said Alduin, grateful.

"Do you want us to do something?" Asked Aethan. Alduin shook her head.

"Do what you must in the meantime. Our course of action is clear ahead. If there are any issues bring them to me. They shall be dealt with." Said Alduin. The two men smiled, and trotted away.

She then turned and looked behind her, her army following her with that Stendarrite Hall of Vigilants in the background. They had been welcoming to her, but unable to give out aid because of their neutrality in the war. She could care less about that, but she made a note of it's location nonetheless.

There was not much for her to contemplate about. All there was to do was to congratulate her two loyal dragons for doing their duty.

There was one other thing that did nag at her. It was the concept of love.

She had been completely direct with Ruigus and he in turn accepted it. But she knew there were issues, of her own fault. She had made it so that the relationship was initially based around physicality. Which as she knew from the old times as she observed among her mortal followers as unhealthy and unstable.

Was what that was felt between the two love? Or was it just some disgusting carnal desire?

If it was the latter, she would fix it. Ironically it seemed time as well would make that clear.

Her eyes scanned around the land. There were distant memories of an old battle that happened right in this field, it was a meaningless battle. It was only the person that caught her attention after that was meaningful.
Whatever the case was she would discuss more with her followers in order to gain some more knowledge about the state of the Empire and more of this land that she once ruled.

She could grow to appreciate the new world she lived in, her thoughts turned to her words of chaos from the other day, when she spoke to Ruigus before leaving.
Could she be content with the order and peace this new era would bring in the end? Ruigus was a chaotic individual, that much to be sure as he was a soldier. Though was it the peace of conquering Tamriel that they sought? The odd thought repeated through her throughout the day.

That night as she slept, she saw a great black moon. An omen, she recognized. But what did such a thing mean?

She would find her answer soon.


Ruigus awoke the next morning. He felt strangely at peace during the last night. And he did indeed sleep well. It was only the spirits of the two that had died that day that he felt lingering on his soul.

Vulthuryol had made him realize that he needed to have a drive if he was ever going to accomplish anything, a lesson that others tried to teach him but he never caught on until it was directly told to him the way the words and soul of a dragon did.

Rorster, he fought against the Empire with the full knowledge that he would one day lose. Who dutifully stood by his people until the bitter end. Ruigus knew that he too would stand by his people until that same end, but he would want to only achieve victory. Anything else other than that would be a shame on his father and the man from his time that he had slain.
If he was going to win, he would need far more tenacity and bravery. He decided that today he would embrace it.

What next was to gather his men and give the order.

"What if those dragons did barely any damage? I do not mean to be a pessimist but I want to know if we are prepared to face an army comparable to ours." Said Cocus. The Nibeean man stood straight as a blade.

"Then we shall make use of those barrels we took with us." Informed Ruigus. They had taken those explosive barrels that the navy had given them. Ruigus then turned his gaze over to the man standing with the rest of them. The siege officer who commanded their catapult that had been issued with Ruigus's group.

"So you said that we need to light their powder and run as quickly as one can away from the walls?" He asked to clarify with the siege sergeant.

"Yes, it'll be difficult as well know with their arrows and divines know what else raining upon us but yes that is how it's done. It'll create a massive hole in the wall." The man said.

"It can be done. We can use a couple men to do that, I will see to it myself they are protected." Said Ruigus.

"For our sakes I pray you can." The man replied.

"What about Alavia? Should we not wait for her?" Asked Hadvar cautiously.

"I believe she will attack as well, I shall give her a signal if she has not noticed the attack of those dragons. Surely she will want to attack as well." Said Ruigus.

"It helps to have two aggressive commanders." Remarked Marcus.

"Heh it will have to be compensated with defense very soon, I have a feeling of that." Mused Ruigus.

"Now men, unless there is anything else you have to say let us commence." He announced fervently. The men all saluted him and begun to move out. Kober, Marcus, and Hadvar remained with him.

"Use your shouts to protect your men." Kober suggested to him. He reminded Ruigus of a Dwemer automaton.

"I am a fair fighter, but if their lives are in danger then be rest assured that I will not hesitate to use my abilities." Replied Ruigus dutifully.

Rolf Kober acknowledged the statement, he eyed Malborn for a moment, who stood behind Ruigus.

"Malborn, I have heard it said by some that you worked at the Thalmor Embassy." He stated as the men rode on. Malborn looked rather frightened.

"Where did you hear this from?" The bosmer asked.

"The Thalmor know that they are watched as well." Kober smirked.

"I am not part of them anymore." He replied.

"That is obvious, one who's family was killed by them does not desire to ever work alongside their murderers without planning revenge." He said, smirking. Then the man turned away.

Ruigus had seen that exchange happen before his eyes, Kober was too perceptive, too knowledgeable. An unofficial member of the Oculatus essentially. He was terrifying in a way, he was not sure what point Kober had made through his conversation with Malborn. Perhaps he truly knew of the Blades. He would have to see.

That would have to wait, he had a siege to fight and win. He took the chance to check over his gear. His armor, had been damaged by Rorster, but a few quick fixes would be enough to continue on. His sword was beginning to become damaged as well, but his shield remained in perfect condition. His horse was happy as well, he'd leave it in the care of Malborn for the sake of the siege.

It was only two hours before he and his men emerged out of the trees.

"Alright, Calvalry dismount! Archers! Target their own archers and protect the team planting the barrels, Infantry take cover and advance under it until the explosives are detonated! To battle my brothers and sisters!" He yelled to his army. He heard war horns belonging to his men in the background.

Ruigus took out a bandanna that had been issued to him, it had the symbol of the Imperial dragon on it but beyond that laid it's true meaning.

As a Champion of his unit it represented the courageousness and inspiration that one would need in order to lead them to victory. It was a symbol of duty and that of being a valued soldier of the Empire that would carry on it's meaning to those he fought with as a reminder what it was they died and lived for.

He was a soldier foremost, a dragonborn second.

Ruigus tied it around his head while walking towards the fort, he drew his weapons and located the sapper team that would deliver the barrels.

"You're here! Can you use your...words to stop them from killing us with arrows?" Asked the lead man of the group.

"I am able to. Let us move on quickly." Said Ruigus, the man nodded in response.

Ruigus saw a boulder fling from his catapult as it impacted the wall that he had decided to breach, one shot had been enough. After that it's task was to try and hit the smaller watchtowers.

Cocus's worst suspicions were confirmed as many Stormcloaks were spotted on the walls, they began to fire back with their bows.

"Hurry up! Faster! Faster!" Yelled the sergeant, ordering the sapper team. Arrows and bolts whizzed past them as they must have seen what they were trying to do.
Ruigus blocked one with his shield as he began to notice that on their ascent of the hill that the Stormcloaks were aiming not for the men with him, but the barrels themselves.

"Just a little bit more, let's take cover and take a breather." Ruigus said to the sergeant, the man nodded in response.

"Yeah lets take a moment." He replied while panting heavily, placing himself against a boulder the man drank from his jug.

Ruigus, crouching down looked behind him to see that Cario and a unit of heavy armored men with swords and shields were close behind them. He smiled at that, Cario was a good commander.

Two of the sappers was firing their crossbows at the Stormcloaks in front of them on the walls.

Peering over the boulder he saw that the Stormcloaks were beginning to fire in volleys.

"Get a move on sappers, let's get our gifts to the rebels delivered!" The sergeant joked grimly. The men chuckled before picking up their barrels again.

They ran a few meters before one of the Stormcloak volleys fired at them. Ruigus in horror saw the arrows fall down upon he and his men, he acted quick.

"Fus Ro Dah!" Shouted Ruigus as the arrows cracked underneath the force of air, some were sent flying back or off to the sides.

"By Stendarr that was crazy!" A voice belonging to one of the sappers said.

"We're saved! Move!" Said another.

Ruigus repeated this feat when another brutal volley was shot, however this time they timed one right after the last.

Ruigus needed to take a breather soon, but he had managed to ensure that the Sappers reached the walls.

He took cover behind the hill, peeking over he could see them placing their barrels and running back, one man stayed behind and spread out the powder.

Cario reached Ruigus at this moment and he too watched the last remaining man do all the work himself, he was bringing out the torch when an arrow struck him in the chest.

"Damnit!" Cursed Cario.

"Ruigus, I'll go light it myself if I have to." Said Cario as he stared at the wounded man, who was still trying to get the torch lit. Cario stood up to go run towards the kindlepitch barrels. Ruigus grabbed him by his belt and pulled him down.

"I can do it, you stay here you brave man." Said Ruigus as he took a deep breath.

"I'll try to cover you with my bow." Said Cario, as he pulled out a well-crafted Imperial crossbow and placed a bolt in it. Ruigus nodded.

"Don't get yourself hit." He said before quickly sprinting out and making his way towards the fallen man, leaving behind his sword with Cario in the process.

"You too!" Cario yelled back as he fired at the enemy. Hadvar and Marcus coming in to reinforce him and the men fiercely trying to cover their commander.

The Stormcloaks grew wise to Ruigus's shouts and fired one at a time at him, his shield alone was not enough to protect him from the multiple angles the enemy had on him. So he used one Shout he had not often used.

"Feim Zii Gron!" Shouted the Champion as he became by all appearances a ghost.

Ruigus's vision blurred as he felt as though he were being drowned in water. All he could do was run until the effects of the shout ran out in fifteen more seconds.

His timing was just right as he made it to the man and the barrels. Immediately Ruigus summoned a healing spell.

"You alright?" He asked as he crouched over the man to check his wounds. Ruigus also kept looking around to see if a Stormcloak was going to try and lean over the walls to shoot at them. Under pressure he knew he had to hurry.

"It hurts too much, can't stinking move like this." The man cursed.

"This should help with some of it, I'll carry you out of here don't you worry." Said Ruigus as he began to disinfect the wound with the spell, he laid him down once more and went to his torch.
Grabbing the branch the man tried to light it with he managed to eventually use it to light the torch and with it he quickly ran to the powder. He lowered the torch and immediately he saw the spark begin to go to the explosives.

He had to hurry his way out of there as the explosion with all eight of the barrels would be massive. He threw the torch off to the side and picked up the man, grunting a bit at how heavy he was with his armor and own weight as he began to run as fast as possible with him on his shoulders.

Even out of breath he still ran as fast as he could back to where Cario was. The arrows stopped flying by as the Stormcloaks panic-kingly ran off the walls and into their main square.

As soon as he made it to Cario there was a great explosion as the powder went to great effect.

"By goodness they'll be seeing that in Aetherius!" Yelled a man that was laughing hysterically.

"That was absolutely marvelous!" Remarked Marcus as he stared at the ruins of the wall with a spark in his eyes.

There were other laughter and cheers by his men as they celebrated their breach.

"It's not over yet!" Yelled Ruigus moments after the smoke began to pass.

"Next we charge in and show them our strength! I Ruigus, shall lead you to victory!" Standing up he raised his sword to the sky as he looked back at his troops.

The men stood up and cheered. Cario blew his warhorn and the men immediately came to assemble on them.

Soon enough they had gathered all of their men, Ruigus was about to begin his charge when they heard a loud noise in the distance.

"Enemy reinforcements? Or is it Alavia?" Was the unsaid questioned as Ruigus pondered the two possibilities.

If it was Alduin he could potentially wait for her to come and fight with her. But if it was enemy reinforcements who were arriving, he'd have to retreat or…..

"We shall charge! Cario remain with me, all other officers hold your ground with your unit until we are finished in the fort!" Ruigus yelled.

"With me!" With a cheerful disposition he decided that he would test his luck and capture Dunstad before anyone else could join the fight.

With his men Ruigus joined by Cario, Marcus, and Hadvar stormed the Stormcloak stronghold. Stormcloaks with their blades and bows stood ready for the incoming Imperials as they ran moved over the remains of their wall.

A couple of their unique mages stood at the entrance of their main keep, the advancing Imperials right in their sight.

Summoning the powers of the Nordic pantheon they cast a thundering storm in the sky their chanting akin to Daedric cultists as lightning bolts began to rain upon the Imperials.

Immediately all of the Imperials were given orders to take cover.

"Damnit! More of those strange mages, Marcus! Take them out!" Ruigus shouted to his companion, Marcus smirked and readied his bow. Ruigus popped out of the corner to cover him with his Shouts. While powerful his Shouts could only go so far in range.

Marcus managed to strike the first mage in the chest, it seemed that the robed man had died instantly from the well placed shot.
The other mage canceled the storm spell and switched to a ward spell.

"That did it!" Yelled Ruigus, proud of Marcus.

"Zun Haal Viik!" Shouted Ruigus as he used his ability to disarm the Stormcloak infantry, their armaments fell onto the ground in front of them and a many of them cursed the dragonborn's name. Ruigus's throat also burnt, and he felt strain on his voice, rendering him unable to speak for the moment.

Ruigus and the Imperials took this oppurtunity to engage in melee, a vicious clash began. Some of the Stormcloaks were easily cutdown by the Imperials who caught them before they were able to arm themselves but the rest tested the disciplined Imperials who still held their formation for the moment, it would break the further they pushed.

Ruigus heard an audible clank from the helm of Hadvar as he turned to see that an arrow had bounced off the back of his helmet.

"Too close." Said Hadvar, growling in pain as the two turned to see enemy archers up on the walls behind them.

"I will go with some men and kill them." Stated Hadvar. Ruigus nodded.

"Watch your head." He replied. Hadvar gave a quick smirk before turning his expression grim. Hadvar decided to stick with his sword and shield for protection, he still brought his bow with him. He always did.

Ruigus left Hadvar to his own task while he began to hack and slash his way to victory at the side of Lieutenant Cario.

Fortunately for the Imperials it seems that the Stormcloaks had indeed taken severe damage for their defenses and numbers, the Stormcloaks had been beaten all the way back to their main keep in a matter of minutes.

The attackers noticed that there were some makeshift graves, seemingly for the attack that happened the day before. There was no time to ponder, the main hold had to be taken and the rest of their enemies had to die or surrender.

Over the rubble and corpses of friend and foe alike Ruigus fought through the stairs and managed to get to the walls with a few allies. He quickly scanned to see that there were Imperial reinforcements coming.
A sense of gratitude washed over him as he joined back into the fighting.

His sword and shield were used excessively as he brawled with the skilled and trained Stormcloak soldiers.

His sword pierced the neck of a Stormcloak about to strike down one of his legionnaires as the man lay wounded, he was pulled out by another as Ruigus and two more of his comrades protected him.

"Let's go in and take Dunstad for the Emperor and the Empire!" Yelled Ruigus fervently.

Joined by Cario, the two stormed into the officer's hold.

A few Stormcloaks were in their view.

"Surrender! Your fight is over and is now hopeless. Live another day or die!" Said Ruigus, ordering his own enemy to surrender to he and Cario.

"We will never bow to the likes of you Imperial." Growled one as he readied his warhammer.

He charged the pair, Ruigus blocked the blow and allowed Cario to kill the man. Ruigus shook his head sadly.

"Do you wish to join him? I promise that I shall let you free after this battle." Said Ruigus.

One of the nords, a younger man was shaking. His war axe and shield fell to the floor. Another Stormcloak looked at the younger soldier. He too dropped his weapon. Soon after so did the rest.

"Where is your commander?" Asked Ruigus. One of the Stormcloaks looked at him in a strange manner.

"Through the door." The Stormcloak said, a solemn tone graced his voice.
Ruigus nodded.
Cario eyed the surrendering Stormcloaks as Ruigus opened the door and proceeded through.

Inside he saw a dead Stormcloak, blood was pouring from his neck and a bloodied war axe laid on the floor. Ruigus stared at the dead commander.

"He killed himself to not risk capture, he burned all information you could have wanted." Said the Stormcloak from before, standing in the doorway. Cario stood close to him, his eyes shifting between Ruigus and him. There was a silence for a few moments as then a few Imperial soldiers barged through, the faces of Hadvar and Marcus were two of them.

"They've surrendered!" Yelled Cario through the door. Hadvar and Marcus recognized it, and sheathed their weapons.

"This one didn't." Mumbled Marcus who was inspecting the first dead rebel.

The rebels were apprehended and taken outside. All that was left was the four men of the Empire.

"Ruigus?" Asked Cario.

"Huh?" Ruigus questioned as he was taken out of his thought as he stared at the dead man.

"Commander Alavia is here, you should go see her. I will clean this up myself." He looked at Marcus and Hadvar. "Can you two search around to see if he forgot something in his suicidal haste?" He asked. The two looked at Ruigus who nodded.

Turning around he started walking out. He paused for a moment.

"Cario, how do you handle fighting?" Cario halted at the question.

"I learned to enjoy the fighting, just not the killing." He said simply.

"How so?" Asked Ruigus.

"Heh, it comes natural to men like me. One day you may get the same aptitude or you may not. It's a strange thing Ruigus." The man said.
"I see." Was all the dragonborn said before he left.

"He really needs to take it easy sometime." Said Marcus, upon hearing the door close.

"He does have a sensitive soul." Mused Hadvar.

"Eh he's a Colovian man from Kvatch. They have it kinda hard and all. Ever hear the Battle of the Gold Road?" Asked Cario, pausing once more.

"I think I have." Said Hadvar as he checked a cupboard by the commander's bed.

"You won't find a happy Colovian after that battle, their pride and joy was crushed and they were left defenseless. The poor warlike braves, it was because of that did their Kingdom fall up until Mede came to the rescue." Cario said, and then sighed.

"I might be overthinking it, anyways. I think you two should get yourselves ready to go for Dawnstar after this. Rikke's going to come and give us the order to join her. It'll be fun." Cario smiled dryly.

"At least it's a quick campaign." Grumbled the Nibeean archer.

"Continue saying that and you'll know what will happen." Responded Hadvar.

"Oh shut it." Sighed Marcus.


Ruigus stepped outside and a great ray of light shined upon him, he covered his face as his eyes adjusted to it. Legionaries greeted him as he passed, he replied by giving small smiles to them.

Looking down into the main courtyard he saw Alduin flanked by her two captains as well as Aethan and Hans. All but Alduin seemed to be heading off. She stared back at him as he went down the stone stairs of the fort. He approached her steadily.
She could see his eyes visibly brighten.

"You fought hard." She greeted. Ruigus looked off to the side, he chuckled for a second.

"I did." He replied, he was smiling.

"You're covered in blood. I can tell you have taken the soul of a dragon, and by your eyes you are exhausted. You should take a rest for the day Ruigus, even you will be worn down eventually." Said she. Her tone was so warm to his ears, and so was it's intention.

"I will ask of you what you have done when you are fully rested, do not strain yourself." She added. Her eyes were full of that nearly terrifying understanding.

"I shall, you are too kind Alduin." He whispered.
"You are wrong. I have missed you, I will catch up with you soon." She said with a small smile.

"Rest Ruigus, you need it." She added

"I shall, I think I will go find some place to take a nap though I think I'll stay away from the beds." He said, he then thought of the dead Stormcloak Commander. He would not sleep in the room of a recently deceased man like him. Not willingly for the moment.

"Of course." She replied. At that moment Ruigus saw Kober approaching.

"Greetings Tribune Alavia I am Captain Rolf von Kober, Ruigus aided me the yesterday when my legate's army was defeated and I led a force that was escaping." Greeted Kober. Alduin stared at the Colovian man before her and Ruigus, he was a cold figure that was for sure.

"Good to have you. What is the matter?" Questioned Alduin, reading more into the man she felt a wave of dislike towards this man, coincidentally and unbeknownst to her the same dislike Ruigus shared. Yet she saw this man was trying to prove himself.

"We have spotted a proportional enemy army, 900 are advancing on us slowly. They must not know we have taken Dunstad." He reported. Alduin pondered this. Ruigus had a spark of light in his eyes.

"I shall fight." He said.

"You must rest, let everyone else handle the fighting for this battle. Anymore for you and your fate could be bleak." She said.

"I never was one to bet on fate." He retorted. Then sighed.

"Captain Kober go find the other officers and inform them immediately, we shall gather here. Spread the word." With that order from Alduin Kober saluted her and walked off at a fast pace.

"At haste." Had said Kober.

Alduin then turned to face Ruigus, a small look of concern.
"Then do it for me." She said. She gave him a quick kiss on the lips.

"Please." She added a second later. Ruigus smiled.

"Don't let everyone perish." He said as he began walking away.

"You say that as though it is my intention to." She said to herself.

Moments after the exchange Kober arrived with the command staff. Alduin noted that he was a quick worker.

Alduin quickly briefed them on the situation.

"Captain Hilvette shall lead the left flank, D'lliers shall lead the right, and I shall lead the center. Captain Rolf von Kober as you all have met him shall hold Dunstad while we engage with the Stormcloaks. He shall hold it in the event the Stormcloaks attempt to use trickery. Yet when they come upon Fort Dunstad they shall find that it is we who hold it. We shall use what they were prepared to defend against them." She stated as she addressed the gathering of men and women.

"We shall give them a surprise when they see our banners on the walls." She added, smirking.

"Men and women of the Empire, marshal and defend Dunstad, we shall fight them on the field!" She ordered. A cheer echoed out through the more younger and energetic Imperials that stood in that courtyard.

They took to it to marshaling their men and preparing in formations outside of the fort. They would be resting until the Stormcloaks came close enough to initiate combat.

The Stormcloak prisoners were to be left inside the fort under the watch of the garrison.

Their fate was still under the judgement of Alduin.

The prisoners complied, but they hoped that their brothers and sisters who had come to reinforce them would survive.

Hadvar, Marcus, Aethan, and Hans stood as bodyguards for Alduin. They were patiently waiting, anxious.

"Hey Hadvar did you hear, they're saying that they split off from that main army that routed that Captain." Said Marcus to Hadvar, who was a bit deep in thought.

"Makes sense." He replied simply. Marcus looked dissatisfied.

"Ach! What about you old man?" Marcus annoyingly asked Hans.

"More for us to kill." He said. Marcus grinned.

"Hah you said it for once." He said, quite happy.

"Say Aethan, what do you think?" Marcus asked.

"It's a fight Marcus, same as ever. We'll kill our brothers for what we differently believe in." Aethan said to the impetuous nibeean next to him.

"Yeah yeah. I'll be using this battle to prove myself, you'll see!" He grinned.

"Wasn't what you pulled with the mages enough for you?" Hadvar asked.

"It was nothing." He replied.

"Still going on about being the best archer in the Empire aren't you." Remarked Aethan.

"You know it, you gotta prove yourself too Aethan. You're an heir to Riften and all." He replied.

"It doesn't work like that." Aethan said.

"Hey it just might." Marcus said optimistically.

Then at that moment they heard warhorns in the distance.

"Wartime." Marcus announced. Alduin stood up out of a chair that had been carried by some soldiers to provide comfort to their commander in the battle, such an act was typical of most armies.

"It has begun! Let us begin the fight. Archers, force them to come to us!" She ordered.

"Shall we go with them?" Hadvar asked Alduin she gave it a momentary thought.

"Go along, if you are in danger pull back." She said. However she did not expect them to listen. Her voice almost betrayed that.

"Good. We'll go." Hadvar replied. He motioned his three fellows to come with him. Alduin watched them march off along with most of the other troops. Her rearguard remained with her.

They soon approached the front line where the majority of their brothers and sisters had been posted.

As ordered the skirmishers were sent in front of the infantry and the whole formation moved forward with them.
Stormcloak soldiers appeared out of the trees at all sides.
"A trap!?" Yelled Marcus. Hans, who readied his long halberd shook his head.

"No, this is just the front of the fighting. They have decided to close the distance before we can." The old man said quickly.

"Damnit, hold your ground!" Yelled a voice belonging to the Imperials.

"Draw swords!" Yelled Lieutenant Casto Aiello. As he decided to help make a stand at this location.

"We're letting a smaller force get the better of us?" Marcus complained.

"Patience, our cavalry will back us up very soon." Aethan reassured.

"What if they have their own though?" Marcus mumbled to himself as he took an arrow from his quiver.

With a series of furious war cries the blue clad Stormcloaks charged through the snow at the Imperial lines. Their cries were terrorizing and caused some to panic.

Hadvar gave one of them a reassuring pat, the man shook as he was brought out of his senses.

"Don't worry, no big bad easterner is going to make it through us. Besides, they're easy to hit." He said to the man.

"R-Right." The younger nord said, re-composing himself.

The first row became victim to the wrath of the rebels. They dared not give an inch but they were being cut down.
Hadvar and Aethan rushed into the fray, the two fought side by side as Stormcloak after Stormcloaks decided to test their mettle against the trusted retainers of Ruigus and Alduin.

It was not long before Cario's cavalry showed up and plowed into the enemy lines. They left the enemy frightened, but not with many casualties. Cario's Calvalry quickly retreated so they could use their spears and lances effectively once more.

As Hadvar shed enemy blood on his blade he couldn't help but think there was too few of the enemy here. He knew this was just one section of the large fight that was going on but he had a suspect of something.
He quickly backed out of the fighting and was stopped by Marcus.

"Hey what's wrong? You injured?" He asked.

"No. I think something...Strange is happening." Marcus blinked a few times at what Hadvar was saying.

"Eh?" He said.

"I think we should head back, quickly." Said Hadvar.

"Ah alright, what about the others?" He asked Hadvar.

"Let them be, just in case I'm wrong but..." He paused. "Let's go." He added.

"Alright." With that said Marcus began to follow Hadvar. The two ran back towards Fort Dunstad. Nearly out of breath the pair stopped. And then they heard the sound of hooves.
"Hide!" Hadvar said to Marcus.

The two jumped behind a large boulder the width of a sload. They were still and slient as men in blue clad horses rode past them, they were going to Fort Dunstad.

In a moment beyond all normal coincidences Hadvar saw one of the riders with his long blonde hair let loose ride past him. He did not even need to look at the man's face to know who he was. The man he once knew who he had written off to die was still alive.

A minute past and the riders stopped coming. Hadvar collected himself.

"We need to chase after them." He said. Marcus looked at him as if he were insane for a split second, before he grinned.

"Let's do it." He said. With that the two men ran after those who threatened the lives of their friend, Ruigus.

Ruigus was sitting on the wall when he saw a rather big group of men begin to charge up the hill, bypassing Alduin's camp which was situated to the far right.

"Alarm!" He yelled as loud as he could. Instantly his allies rushed to the walls.

"Kober, Kober! I will go down there and fight them!" He yelled to the Captain.

"Do what you must." He replied cooly, his spear was drawn at his side.

Unfortunately for the men inside Fort Dunstad the rubble that they had caused through the Kindlepitch barrels had been cleared out when Alduin's forces marched in. The Stormcloak Cavalry could ride straight in if they so desired.

Yet, smartly they dismounted outside and charged the garrison before they could let loose a volley.

Ruigus and a few men decided to hold the courtyard. The Stormcloak prisoners ran to their brethren to be freed. Their bindings were quickly cut loose and they hanged back, unarmed.

Ruigus was about to lead the charged against them when he heard a ferocious yell from one of them.
"Dragonborn!" A distinct voice had cried one. One that Ruigus barely could remember the sound of.

He looked and saw a fierce nord with long blonde hair and blue eyes.

Ralof.

The two men charged the other, Ralof's two handed battle axe came into contact with Ruigus's shield, Ruigus could have landed a blow yet he was shocked from seeing him this close.

"Ralof you're alive!" Ruigus exclaimed, visibly confused. Ralof grinned.

"That I am Ruigus, but make no mistake! You are my enemy, and I shall kill you honorably!" He said.

With that Ralof began a series of devastating heavy blows all aiming to kill the man he acquainted with back on a prisoner cart in Helgen. Ruigus dodged away from him.

"Ralof, if is your intention to kill me than I shall fight you equally as hard!" Said Ruigus.
The fighting around the pair was chaotic at best. The Imperial archers were firing but refusing to aim their bows in the huge mix of friend and enemy and were instead running to join the melee. The men in the courtyard were being slowly whittled down by the very strong nordic men who wielded similar two handed weapons.

Ruigus's warcry was heard throughout as he clashed with Ralof. The two shared expressions of struggle as the strife of having to kill each other rained heavily upon them.

Ruigus's previous exhaustion was catching up to him as his second wind was failing him, yet he refused to use shouts even if it could help him win. He believed in the ability of the man whom he was fighting, pure and simple.

"Ralof!" The pair heard a voice. There appeared Hadvar, his armor covered in blood as he approached, his eyes watching the fighting around them.

"You!" Ralof pushed Ruigus to the side, stunned. He could only watch.

"Ralof, I am happy to see you still live." Said Hadvar as he stared at Ralof.

"Shut up. There is no point in talking when I have to kill you." Ralof replied. Hadvar's expression dropped.

"I suppose so but..." Hadvar was interrupted as Ralof took up his axe and ran at him.

Gritting his teeth Hadvar parried and promptly struck at the plated armor of Ralof, it was too strong to penetrate like this. Yet Hadvar himself was horrified that he tried to strike the down his old friend.

He stared at the blue eyes of the man in front of him, how they had changed so much and yet so little was beyond him.

The times they had spent in Riverwood had long since passed, it was now a time of war and death, but…..

The two's weapons struck each other once more. Hadvar was still on the defensive, but he had an idea.

Surprising Ralof, Hadvar showed an unexpected amount of aggressiveness when he slammed himself into him. The two let go of their weapons and began beating each other with their fists. Ralof dragged Hadvar into the ground, bloodied and covered in dirt the two friends persisted.

Ralof managed to get himself on top of Hadvar and was continuing to beat when in a single moment a swift kick forced him off and onto the ground.

Ruigus stood over Ralof with his longsword pointed at the neck of Ralof.

"Ralof, stop." He said.

Ralof in response was silent, a sad, if not shameful look was on his face.

"Why?" He asked. Ruigus smiled.

"You advocated for me. Were it not for you I would not have been able to have lived like I do now." Said Ruigus kindly, he then paused.

"I want to return that favor as best I can. You should retreat Ralof. There is not much time for you left." Said Ruigus. He drew his sword away, and allowed Ralof to stand.
Ralof grabbed his weapon and remained slient for a moment.

"Retreat!" Yelled Ralof over the battleground. His men, still blessed with good ears began to run back to the breach where their horses dutifully still stood.

He wore a sad expression as he glanced at Ruigus and Hadvar.

"Farewell." He then said and began to run away with his comrades.

The two watched him go.

Ruigus placed a hand on Hadvar's back.

"You alright?" He asked. Hadvar nodded with effort.

"Yeah." He croaked. Marcus came running up, he too had been bloodied. He was silent as a mouse.

The trio had survived.

Soon after the battle ended, the Stormcloaks escaped quickly and there were no orders to pursue them. The casualties on both sides were nearly even. The Stormcloaks may have lost strategically, but they killed more of their enemy.

That night, Ruigus and Alduin walked into the commander's quarters.

"I should have come after them." Said Alduin as she rubbed her eyes.

"There was not much that could be done." He replied softly.

Unarmored, he put himself into the covers that had been cleaned by Malborn. He had already thanked him for being a big help and attentive at his duties.

"My experiment almost got you killed." She said.

"Death is always a possibility." Ruigus replied.
"But I can handle myself. Anyways, you should get yourself more acquainted with modern tactics. The world truly has changed since your times Alduin." He added.

"Speaking of, I have to hand you my punishment." She replied.

"Oh?"

"You shall listen to my stories of the past. You will find them to be endless." Said Alduin, a smug expression written on her countenance.

To Ruigus, this did not seem to be a punishment at all. Rather, an interesting display of affection.

"I shall hear it." He responded. Her expression was bolstered.

"Very well, now I shall begin with a good one, not in particular for me however. Back when I was in Aetherius during my banishment because of that scroll as you know. Anyways the tale begins in what is now Skyrim the...Atmorans as they're called now; were attempting to expand their life spans, because they wanted to live longer than the Altmer. I could only grasp that it was still a remaining part of my influence on them that made them seek such life but...There was this old god, Orkey who is gone now. Orkey I remember was the god of mortality for their pantheon and a patron of the orcs." Told Alduin.

To Ruigus this was close to rambling in terms of how much he understood, and he had quite a few questions himself, yet he decided to continue listening.

"Now, Orkey called me into action by lending me some of his power so that I could momentarily re-materialize and take down their lifespan. So I did, I wished to show the Atmorans that they should venerate me or suffer consequences. Unfortunately as it would be for all the parties involved. The power that I drew in order to reduce their lifespan made it so that all of them were reduced to the age of six." She explained further.

Ruigus was chuckling at her finish.

"That must have certainly been a predicament." He said.

"It was, in response. One of them, a nord named Wulfharth pleaded to another god by the name of Shor. Who, as you know still exists. Shor happened to listen to the man's pleas and so happened to take this moment to fight me, whilst I will still trapped inside Aetherius." She said, she then let out a sigh.

"I was defeated, another shame upon the dishonor that was the scroll. Shor lived up to his nature as an warmongering opportunistic trickster, as ever." She explained.

"I take it you and Shor fought quite a few times." Said Ruigus. Alduin had a small smile.

"You guessed it right, he is the only one I have fought often besides the Daedra. As a matter of fact I fought his incarnations as well. Wulfharth, who I originally suspected to have been one of them surprised me as he was the one ended up watching the two of us battle. Afterwards Shor managed to use his ridiculous ability to trick to twist the curses of Orkey away. And Wulfharth miraculously learned the words needed to remove the effects of their aging. Needless to say, I am glad that Orkey is gone now. The worthless ingrate." She cursed. Yet she smiled when she turned back to Ruigus, she joined him in the bed.

"I admit that I am surprised you did not destroy Skyrim outright when you were summoned." Said Ruigus.

"Hm, perhaps I would have. Yet...I still had that desire inside me, to take it back." She mused. There was a period of silence. Ruigus could hear the gears that were her thoughts at a quick pace.

"Anyways, what do you think of it? I wish to hear of what you have to say. And I do want to tell you more of these." Said Alduin suddenly.

"I liked it a lot. I have to say it was a bit jarring due to that you were inside Aetherius and was still banished from the physical part, er plane of this world because I don't understand it all that much you know? I am no scholar nor mage or anything else in those fields. Regardless, I still want to hear more of them. They're things for me to think about." He stated. Alduin smiled, and embraced him.

"Thank you. I'll tell you more about Aetherius and the like when we are in a more peaceful and less demanding area.

"Hah, there's many things I still need to ask of you and the Blades alike, there's just been too little time to. With the war and everything else." He said, he sounded rather tired.
Alduin rubbed his muscles with her hands, in order to relax him. He made an audible gasp when she squeezed his shoulder.

"Ah crap, my sword arm." He said.

"Sorry." Said Alduin.

"Not what you did, that felt good it's just that I flailed it around too much." He said. Alduin kissed his neck, he made an audible noise once again as she giggled.

"Damn you." He cursed jokingly. She continued to massage him for a full minute before she decided to speak again.

"Tell me now, what did you do while we were split? I detect the new soul in you. Your arms are tired and your eyes seem different." She questioned.

"Do you know of the one named Vulthuryol?" Ruigus asked. Alduin lips parted slightly at the mention of the name.

"So he did survive." She said.

"What was he up to?" She then asked.

"He had been creating an army of slaves from both man and the Falmer as he seemed to be amassing for an assault on the world above. Or perhaps he sought to continue to expand underground, I do not know. I had been down in the Dwemer ruin known as Mzark, the place where I originally received the scroll that would teach me the Shout made to defeat you and all other dragons. I had gone down there with the Blades, and they seemed intent on expanding down there as well. I decided to check on them and eventually it led to a fight with him. Before he died he told me of things such as ambition. He too had wanted to create what you did. He left me that and some other things when I took his soul. That is all on his fate." Explained the young dragonborn slowly.

"I see. You have well deserved it Ruigus." She said. Her hand running through his hair, which had grown an inch.

"That is not all. There was a man, one who had served in the Great War, same as my father. He was a Stormcloak and he challenged me to a fight when I and my men came to the aid of Kober. He was named Rorster Orc-Hilt, a brave man. A brave man more courageous than any other man that I have seen. He dueled me as to not let his men die in combat. And so I spared them, Rorster was the only one who died. As a child, I had heard of the man's feats back in the war and he, like all of the known warriors of that war was a hero for me. I surpassed and slayed him." Ruigus paused.

"That is all there is to say about it." He finished.

"You can be far too cruel on yourself." She said. Ruigus did not reply. Alduin felt him shake for a moment.

"I suppose I can." He said.

"You are unique Ruigus, despite any negative thoughts of your own self. You will be the man that you want to be if you believe in yourself." Ruigus was speechless in any response to her words.

"How could you know?" He asked himself.

That night went by roughly for Ruigus. He cried, not in sadness. He was happy, he felt better than ever. In the next few days he would show his worth as a man. Not to her, but to his own self.

That night, Alduin dreamed.

Once again she saw a black moon hang over the night sky.


Hello everyone and I want to say that I have finally fixed and added something a little special in the first chapter. I have also made some slight additions in accordance with the fixes but they aren't many and you aren't missing out on anything. I wanted to make the sentences sound better and just ease some things I found wrong.

I have also done some fixes in the other chapters too. And heaven forbid I will get them done by the next chapter.

I have decided to make some drastic changes with the description with the story because I think it represents what it will be more about in the end.

That's actually about it for the moment. I pray you have enjoyed this chapter of the story, there is many more to come.