Author's Note:

This was originally to be the last chapter of this arc. When it was posted, the website had a problem and only one or two people were able to access it before it disappeared. Since it was a long chapter, I decided to split it rather than taking it down and reposting after the issue was resolved. That means there's still one more chapter to go!

Arc 3—Uncivil War—Chapter 15:

We departed Dawnguard, marching south, the next morning. Serana and I traveled side by side, so I said softly to her, "I'm so sorry, Serana. I had no idea."

"Don't be. I'm not. And I didn't have any idea either," she replied with a satisfied grin. "But let's not mention it again, though, to anyone. Please?"

Respecting her wishes, I let it drop, but was secretly happy for her.

We thought our detachment would be to Anga's Mill by nightfall, but Shondar ordered us to stop at the Winterhold Road intersection. A fairly large force was already camped just north of there.

"Praefect Aerik," called a legionnaire. "Legate Rikke requires your presence in the command tent. She said to bring your 'aide.'"

Rikke was looking over the map with Shondar and several other tribunes when we arrived. Serana and Shondar stood well apart; I don't know if they ever made eye contact because Rikke had me come forward.

"Praefect, Tribune Shondar has informed me that you will not use your dragons to attack the enemy fortifications. Is that correct?"

Dreading what was to come, I replied. "Yes, Legate."

Surprisingly, she just nodded before turning back to her officers. "A force landed east of Winterhold, came up the draw, and hit the town from the south, surprising the defenders. It was a short battle and Winterhold itself and the jarldom are ours. However, the hold's military might is concentrated in Fort Kastav, a short distance north of here, and having the new jarl in charge means nothing without it. Holding it, they can be, at minimum, a thorn in our rear, and a worst, a dagger in our back. Therefore, we've been ordered to take it."

"Why can't the Dragonborn talk them into surrendering or throwing down their weapons like at Fort Dunstad?" asked someone.

"Without the threat of the dragon," replied the legate, "there's little chance they would do it and we would lose the element of surprise. There are also Imperial prisoners being held there, so it's vital that we take it intact and rescue them before the Stormcloaks have the opportunity to dispose of them." She went over the plan and we attacked the next morning at dawn.

~ESV~

Battles are often a blur, with fighting and dying all around, so I remember relatively little of the battle of Fort Kastav and less of that of Fort Morvunskar, with its new battlements and war engines on the north side that covered the approaches to Windhelm. At Kastav, we attacked from multiple directions, stormed the walls and the gates, and wiped out numbers of the enemy while taking casualties of our own. Morvunskar, protected by the surrounding terrain, was much worse; we lost troops as we passed it and then many more in actually taking the stronghold. There was another promotion for me and Serana was finally given a rank for her contributions.

"Does that mean I can quit now?" she joked, meriting a frown from General Rikke (fresh off of her own new promotion).

The loss of Morvunskar forced the Stormcloaks to fall back across the White, destroying the center span of the old stone bridge as they did. With the bridge out, Imperial forces could ford the river for Windhelm, but everyone knew we would suffer huge losses due to the Stormcloak defenses on the east bank. We could try fording somewhere to the south, but there was no way of knowing what we might face in the river's dark waters or on the opposite bank, so General Rikke decided to swing many miles to the south to the Darkwater Crossing bridge. However, to cross there, we had to deal with Fort Amol, the Stormcloaks' strongest fortress other than Windhelm itself.

Figuring they would expect us at dawn as in our two previous attacks, General Rikke had us attack at midnight. Parts of Amol's walls were higher, making scaling ladders less effective, but their gates were in disrepair and their barricades added to help protect the gates were less effective than they probably hoped. My squad, consisting of Quaestar Serana, Sarge, Corporal Sela, and four legionnaires, sneaked through the barricades, killed a few guards, and opened the way for the main attack force. Our catapults fired a few flaming spheres into the fort, as much for their light as their effect in confusing and frightening the enemy.

Once we were within the main courtyard, we were surrounded by Stormcloak soldiers for a time as the battle raged about us. We lost two of our legionnaires, and most of the rest of us seemed to be wounded at least once. With flames casting gruesome lights and shadows, we hobbled up a stair to take on another group coming out of the tower. I hit them with a full blast of Unrelenting Force and Serana sent a chain lightning spell into their midst, finishing our part of the battle even as other parts were winding down.

Being well after midnight, after a long day of marching, and after an excruciating battle, I could barely move, so I slumped against the wall for a moment. Serana did the same next to me.

"Sarge? Report," I called out, seeing him and the others leaning or sitting against the wall similar to me.

"We lost Legionnaires Tavek and Vlod in the courtyard. Einer took an arrow in the throat on the stairs and pitched off. No way he survived that. Peilmar?"

"Hurting like hell but I'll survive, Sarge."

"Corporal?"

When Sela didn't respond to Sarge's query, I looked around to see her sitting against the wall at the end of our group. She was resting with her knees pulled up, elbows on the knees, and head in her hands. "Sela?" I called. "Wake up!"

When she didn't answer again, I forced myself off the wall and moved down to her only then, with the help of a candlelight spell, to spot the blood at her side and pooled around where she sat. Fighting the tears in my eyes, I tried using Healing Hands to save her, but it was too late. Sela was already gone. While not a Nord, I hoped she would find peace in Sovngarde, or wherever her kind spent the afterlife, and that all those she fought for would be able to live peacefully in Skyrim in the future.

We buried my friend Sela and the rest of our late comrades the next morning.

~ESV~

We moved north over the next couple of days and were soon arrayed opposite Ulfric's forces. There were skirmishes as our forces tried to envelop Ulfric's troops, but no major battles. We also heard that the Imperial fleet had moved into the mouth of the White River, just downstream of Windhelm, effectively blockading the city. This was supposedly possible due to our capture of Dawnstar; the rebels held no other ports so only their ships at sea or hidden in coastal inlets were still available to them. More of our troops continued to stream into the area.

Word came that Fort Greenwall had fallen in the south, but rather than trying to capture the city of Riften, the Imperial commander had his troops set siege to the city. "When Ulfric is taken, Riften won't matter," explained Shondar. "The jarl will either surrender or the city will starve."

General Tullius arrived in the Imperial camp about that time, bringing word that several isolated Stormcloak strongholds had been taken or cut off in the west, leaving Ulfric, once supposedly ruler of almost half of Skyrim, with only Windhelm and the immediately surrounding territory in his charge. Over the next few days, Imperial siege engines battled those of the Stormcloaks, firing rocks and balls of flames while our men trenched closer and closer to the rebels. There were more fights daily, but when it happened, it was totally unexpected. A little fight turned into a rout and some of the Stormcloaks fled, leading to a chase and then a charge by the rest of our forces, who'd been waiting for just such an opportunity.

It was a running battle across the causeway bridge into the city. Soldiers were fighting all along the way, but I kept my focus on my goal: reaching Ulfric Stormcloak. Serana ran behind me, with Legate Shondar, Sarge, and the remainder of our squad following somewhere behind us.

When we entered the city, we found that they'd barricaded the streets. Progress slowed to a standstill, as each barricade became a battleground.

Knowing that citizens would have had to have access to the marketplace, I suspected that Market Street stretching toward Market Square might not be as heavily fortified as Main Street, so Serana and I cut west, battling our way past several Stormcloaks who tried to stand in our way. I later learned that Generals Tullius and Rikke drove our main force directly up Main Street, using large rams and the lives of several hundred of our troops to clear the way.

We cut down the two guards at the entrance to the Palace of the Kings, thinking it sad that the situation had grown so dire for Ulfric that he barely had any guards left. I was about to enter when a cheer went up among Imperial troops because many of the outnumbered Stormcloaks were surrendering. Looking back, I saw Tullius and Rikke, surrounded by a group of legionnaires, walk through the opening in the last barricade toward us. They ordered their troops inside and we went in with them.

General Tullius ordered the door be secured, before saying, "Ulfric Stormcloak! You are guilty of insurrection, murder of Imperial citizens, the assassination of King Torygg, and high treason against the Empire. It's over. Surrender!"

The few palace guards, on seeing they were outnumbered, threw down their arms and put up their hands in surrender, even though Tullius hadn't really been speaking to them.

"Mangy curs! You won't fight and give your lives for your country?" shouted Ulfric.

"They have fought, Ulfric," I replied. "They've all done their best, but it's over. Drop your weapons and end this."

"Not while I'm alive," roared General Stone-Fist, being intercepted by Tullius and Rikke. Ulfric shouted, "No!" and came charging toward me.

"Serana, stay back!" I called. "This is between us."

Ulfric Stormcloak scowled at me but nodded, a hint of respect, before he used his Thu'um against me. I'd faced numerous draughr, deathlords, and Dragon Priests who used the power against me, but it was rare to face a man. Because of that, despite knowing his skills, I was surprised when the raw power of his shout hit me. I flew backward, seeing Ulfric charge at me, intent on finishing me off before I could get up. I'd managed to hang onto my sword, but my shield was lost to me and time was short.

"FEIM ZII!" I shouted, immediately feeling the world dissolve around me just a moment before Ulfric's sword cut through me. Or rather, where I lay. I moved on that ethereal plane, got to my fee, and prepared so when I materialized again within our world, I would be ready for him. Ulfric tried his shout again, but I sidestepped, and when the power returned to me, I sent him flying.

"It's over, Ulfric," I said, standing over him with my sword to his throat, after kicking his sword from his hand. "If you reach for that dagger, I'll cut off your hand," I warned. "Surrender and let's put an end to this war."

"Kill me, Dragonborn! Be done with it."

"No," I replied. "It's not my place."

"But it will make a better song," laughed Ulfric, "if the Dragonborn does the dead."

"You deserve no songs, Ulfric," growled Tullius, wiping Galmar Stone-Fist's blood from his blade. "Only death."

A moment later, the general was wiping his blade again, this time of Ulfric's blood. For some reason, I felt sad for the man who loved his country so much but who spent far too much effort putting himself first.

~ESV~

Once we exited the Palace of the Kings, word quickly got out that Ulfric was dead and that the Dragonborn had refused to kill him. I spent years telling people that it wasn't my place, but most seem to think that it was because I had some great and mysterious connection with him.

Stormcloak soldiers, who'd surrendered in mass, started shouting my name, pledging allegiance to me as I walked by, but I shook my head.

"No, people of Skyrim, you owe me nothing! Your allegiance must be to Elisif, as high queen, until a new moot can be held to name the rightful leader of Skyrim. This will be a free and fair election, with no interference from the Empire. Any jarls who accept payment from the Empire or the Emperor in return for their vote will face my wrath as well as that of the people of Skyrim!

I raised my hands to quieten the applause before continuing.

"When you are paroled, go to your homes, your families! Love your wife or husband, and your children. Make Skyrim a better place! Be friends with your neighbors, no matter where they're from. If they choose to make Skyrim their home and they work with us to make our land that better place, then accept them as fellow Nords, no matter their race or creed. This, my friends, is the best way to fulfill Ulfric Stormcloak's worthy goal of improving and strengthening our land." I stopped before admitting that was true even if Ulfric himself had been too blind by hate to realize it.

Another cheer went up from the Stormcloak soldiers, showing that they would, at least try, to do as I said. Many of the Nords in Imperial garb were clapping or even cheering, too.

General Tullius wasn't clapping. He frowned at me, but he knew the deal we'd struck when I agreed to join his forces. He also knew that I had just gotten a big following from his enemies of just minutes earlier, and from some of his own troops, too. Thinking to defuse that and undermine any ambitions I might have, he walked up and raised his hands.

"Everyone! Aerik, son of Bjorn, the Dragonborn, or dovakiin as called by some, has done much to assist the Empire in our victory, in putting an end to this long, cruel insurrection."

Just as I suspect Tullius had figured, much of the acclaim I'd been receiving just moments before now turned to murmuring as doubts built within the former Stormcloaks.

"For his efforts, I am promoting him to Legate in the Imperial Legion!" he removed the only recently added tribune rank from the tab I'd added to my armor for display of rank, and added the legate pin in turn.

Imperial soldiers within hearing range applauded and celebrated, while those in Stormcloak livery booed. Tullius wasn't done yet, though. Again, he raised his hands to eventually calm the crowd, at which time he added, "Furthermore, the Dragonborn is being awarded the Imperial—"

I never knew the award Tullius was holding up as he said it. The shouts from the crowd drowned him out so effectively I couldn't hear. He proceeded to pin it at the bottom of the rank tab and then tried to get the crowd to clap for me.

I stood fuming as I watched him divide our people further, but only for a few seconds. I held up my hands and eventually achieved silence.

Turning to Tullius, I said, "General, I thank you for the rank and for your award, but you know from our discussions what I required for my services in this war. I don't want the rank—I resign," I said, making it official, "and I sure don't want an award for only doing what needed to be done. Here," I added, ripping the tab, not carefully, off of my armor. "I want and expect you to keep your word. If that doesn't happen, the Empire, and you personally, will come to greatly regret it."

I handed it back to him and walked away to applause from Stormcloaks and Imperials alike.

~ESV~

With all of the ensuing commotion, Serana and I escaped to The White Phial and spent the night with Quintus before leaving very early the next morning. Understanding that some of the Stormcloaks were still active in the Rift and the we might not be welcome, we decided to take the White River Road past Whiterun and Riverwood before cutting south. We'd only gone a little way before Serana asked, "Aerik, just what did General Tullius promise you?"

"Not much, really. I put it in the document he signed, but don't know if he'll hold to it. Basically, we're free to select anyone we wish as ruler...as long as they don't actively oppose the Empire."

"So it's still elect 'our candidate' or else?"

"Not quite. In the past, it's always been rumored that the Empire bought off all of the other candidates when it came to election of High King or Queen, or else greased enough palms that their preferred candidate had plenty of votes among the jarls not running to win. He didn't quite admit that had happened, but he agreed that it wouldn't happen in the future."

"Sounds like they thought they had a good thing going. Why would they stop?"

"Because if word got out among the common people, Ulfric's rebellion would look small compared to what would happen next. Can you imagine if Ulfric had been a true leader, one who could have united our people rather than fracturing them? With the problems the Empire has, we could—no, make that would—have defeated them."

She nodded. "I don't know if it's true throughout the Legion, but the records I saw in the quartermaster's tent showed that over half of the troops in General Rikke's army were from Skyrim."

"It's true for most Imperial units in Skyrim, and many of those from the south would have preferred to have been somewhere else."

"Why couldn't Ulfric see this?"

"I don't know. Blind ambition? Bigotry or even outright racism? Thalmor finagling? Or, if it's as I suspect, a combination of all of them."

"You think the Thalmor had something to do with it?"

I told her about the file on Ulfric that I'd found in the Thalmor embassy a few years earlier. "I don't believe he was an active agent of the Thalmor, but they knew enough about him to effectively make him their pawn, at least part of the time. By knowing him so well, they could predict how he'd react to their little nudges. That allowed them to keep animosity, and later fighting, going between the Stormcloaks and the Empire while they sat by snickering."

"That sounds like something my father would have done," she said. "What else did Tullius promise? Anything about Talos? Ulfric made that sound like a big deal."

"It is a big deal to those who worship him," I replied. "Tiber Septim was a man, elevated to become the god Talos, so that threatens the Thalmor claim that the elves are superior to men. They outlawed Talos worship in the White-Gold Concordant and the Empire has stood by and allowed the Thalmor to enforce that. That's going to change."

"How? If the Imperials don't stand by the agreement, won't the Thalmor attack?"

"Possibly, but think about this. 'Somebody,'" I said with a grin, "put their Khaddakan Hills mines out of business within the past few days. Imperial Intelligence said it was their biggest source of funding for their outside ventures in Skyrim and the Empire. The Empire and Skyrim are no longer warring with each other, so that levels the balance of power between the two sides. That allows the Empire to ignore any activities at shrines to Talos and claim to be abiding by the terms while quietly ignoring anything anything that might happen to the Thalmor enforcers."

Serana gave me a look of disbelief. "Just what are you saying? Something's going to happen to the Thalmor thugs running around the country taking worshipers of Talos prisoner?"

I shrugged. "I don't know about in Cyrodiil and the rest of the Empire, but in Skyrim? I'd almost guarantee it."

~ESV~