LATER THAT EVENING, DAENERYS, BRIANNA AND JON QUESTIONED THE DRAGONBORN ABOUT THE PSIJIC'S VISIT. They each had a thousand questions about his ancestry and why the Dovahkiin rarely spoke his past history. Brianna was thrilled that the Septim bloodline flowed in her and her siblings veins, but the Dragonborn warned her not to reveal it to anyone. He cautioned that if the Dark Brotherhood learned that if a Septim survived, they would attempt to finish what they started during the Oblivion Crisis. Jon had a vague understanding of the Oblivion Crisis – only that during that period, a group of assassins murdered Uriel Septim and made an attempt on the life of his hidden heir Martin. After Martin sacrificed himself to save the world from Mehrunes Dagon, it was assumed that the Septim bloodline had gone extinct.
"How is it that you're a Septim" Daenerys asked her husband.
"Uriel had a secret affair with the wife of one of his advisors who interpreted the astrological signs for him. She gave birth to a son who had the ability to read the Elder Scrolls. That man was my great-great-great grandfather."
"It doesn't explain why the Dark Brotherhood wants the Septim's dead" Jon opinioned.
"Someone powerful didn't want a Dragonborn as emperor. If Martin Septim lived and had children, do you think that the Aldermi Dominion would have attacked the Empire" the Dragonborn explained. "Martin Septim changed into a dragon to defeat Dagon, Jon. I suspect that the Thalmor were actually behind his murder and provided the Mythic Dawn with the proper motivation. Unfortunately, this can't be proven."
"So our son has a claim to the throne of both Westeros and Tamriel and has a death warrant" Daenerys said with annoyance in her voice "Why didn't you tell me? I would have kept your secret."
"My father who interpreted the Elder Scrolls for Emperor Titus Meade warned me never to tell anyone of my history. It was he who foresaw me as the Dragonborn and told me to go to Skyrim to fulfill my destiny as the Dovahkiin. He later died under mysterious circumstances. I assumed the emperor had him killed and also why I was arrested crossing the border from Cyrodiil into Skyrim."
"What of the Psijic offer papa? Did you know mother had the blood of a Maia in her" Brianna asked changing the subject. "Or is the Psijic lying to try to get me to question my loyalties."
"Your mother was very wise and a skilled merchant. I always thought she was hiding something from me, but I believed she would tell me in time" the Dragonborn replied softly "as to their offer to train you, that is your choice."
"I wrote to Yennefer for her advice and sent it carrier pigeon. With luck it will arrive in a few days."
"That's good that you asked for her advice. She's a powerful mage and has decades of experience of providing excellent counsel in the Northern Kingdoms." Brianna opened her mouth to ask another question when there was a knock on the door. "I wonder who could be here at this hour" she said opening the door and finding Arya standing in doorway in the pouring rain. Jon rushed to Arya happy to see his friend alive and well, but was surprised when tears began streaming from eyes. And Jon could see the guilt and shame that poured from her and he knew she had done something terrible. Daenerys stood up and wrapped a blanket around Arya's shoulders and sat her by the fire and served her a bowl of soup.
"What is it Arya" Jon asked his friend. "Where have you been?"
Between the tears and sobs, Arya confessed that she had been communicating with Ulfric in Westeros and had been staying with him at Skuldafn. That she and not Bran had been plotting to kill Daenerys. All she wanted was for her brother to have a peaceful reign, free from war and those trying to overthrow him. She told the Dragonborn about Ancalagon and his legions of Draugr, Whitewalkers and Stormcloaks. But Arya saved the most dreaded news for last. When she revealed to Jon that Ulfric had resurrected the Night King, he gasped audibly.
"How dangerous is the Night King and White Walkers" the Dragonborn asked Jon and Daenerys.
"I killed him with a Valyrian dagger, but Ulfric used his mastery of the black magic of Mordor to bring him back to life" Arya explained.
"White Walkers are mindless beasts that kill without any regard for life. But they also try to turn you into one of them"Daenerys added. Jon and I fought them and were nearly defeated. They make a perfect army." Looking at Arya, Daenerys's voice softened "I made a mistake when I accepted a ring of power from Sauron, but I learned from it and eventually made peace with it. You have to do the same."
"But how do I make this right? Ulfric is a dark lord with training from Sauron and learning the forbidden magic of the Mythic Dawn . . ."
"Did you say Mythic Dawn" the Dragonborn cut her off.
"He has all of their tomes and scrolls concerning magic. He is very interested in Oblivion Gates because he believes the lost Silmarils are located in Oblivion."
The Dragonborn leaned back in his seat and rubbed his beard "he has two paths and I think that Ulfric believes that he is above the Aedra and Daedra. Even more than the divines."
"You're right that Ulfric believes himself to be as powerful as Maiar and Valar" Arya told the Dragonborn "but like Sauron and Melkor he seeks the Silmarils."
"If the lost stones of Feanor are found, it brings about the end of the world and the return of Morgoth" Jon added. "The final battle between good and evil."
"At least Ulfric hasn't learned how to create rings of power" Daenerys said with relief. "You don't know the corrupting power of them."
"I would have thought you would have been more angry with my plotting against you and your family."
"Only disappointed, but fight beside my husband and you'll have earned redemption" Daenerys said smiling. "Do you think Geralt would be willing to join us?"
"He lost his memory. Yennefer is helping him through his amnesia. Poor Ciri" the Dragonborn said with pain in his voice. "The girl sees him as her adopted father."
"How is it that you survived an encounter with a Witcher" Jon asked.
"That is a story for another day my friend" the Dragonborn said with a chuckle.
ULFRIC HAD KNOWN THAT ARYA WOULD BETRAY HIM AS SOON AS THE NIGHT KING JOINED HIM. The Night King was the boogeyman of Westeros and was barely defeated at the hands of Arya. Ulfric shook off her treason with barely a thought for the Stark girl was nothing more than an assassin and he had no need for assassins. He had heard of her fight with the Akaviri Knight and how soundly she was routed. Ulfric knew that the his Draugr and Stormcloaks were no match against a trained Akaviri and assaulting Sky Haven Temple would be futile. But the Night King had suggested a tempting targeting that lay outside Tamriel. The Night King suggested an assault on the Akaviri fortress in Middle-earth named Rivendell. No longer protected by the power of the Eldar, it was vulnerable. And the Akaviri were not equipped with weapons forged by Valyrian metal. Ulfric knew the commander of the fortress was the Dragonborn's son and like his father, he would not surrender. Instead he had a more insidious plan for young Kellian. Turning to the Night King, Ulfric's eyes flared yellow with glee and he explained his thoughts.
"Assaulting Rivendell will be difficult, but it is an acceptable risk. Kill all those present save their young commander. I want you to turn him. Make him one of your thralls."
"You want the son of the Dragonborn to be a White Walker?"
"For the Dragonborn to be forced to kill his son, I can think of no fitter punishment" Ulfric said laughing.
"You have more in common with the people of Westeros than you realize my Lord" the Night King bowed his eyes a brilliant hue of blue.
"Soon I will not be known as Ulfric Stormcloak. Soon I will be King Ulfric, ruler of Tamriel and you will command my armies to victories in Middle-earth, Westeros and the Northern Kingdoms. And when I have the Silmarils, the world will burn and those who do not bow to my rule will be put to the sword."
Ulfric watched as five hundred White Walkers and the Night King enter the portal he opened to Middle-earth. He hoped that the coming battle will signal an end to the rule of Titus Meade and an end to the hero worship of the Dragonborn in Skyrim. The Balrog's attack on Whiterun was only meant as a message. The turning of his son Kellian would be a statement.