AFTER TWO DAYS OF ALMOST NONSTOP FIGHTING ON THE FIERY BARREN PLAINS OF OBLIVION, THE DRAGONBORN AND BRIANNA ENTERED DAGON'S PALACE. The two were exhausted and were running on pure willpower. Two days of killing Daedra, Stormcloaks, Nilfgaardian mercenaries, Uruks had taken a physical toll on the two Nords. Their armor and exposed skin were completely soaked in their enemies' blood. And their weapons were beginning to dull and the Dragonborn doubted they would find a grindstone. Brianna believed that their battle against Ulfric and the Witch-King would be determined by their knowledge of the mystical arts. Her father was the undisputed Master of the Voice and she wondered how the Thu'um would fare against a Nazgul. Legend said no man could kill him, but Brianna knew her father was no ordinary man. Born with the blood and soul of a dragon, he was a demigod who also wielded mastery of restoration and destruction magic. Yet for all of his power, she knew he could still be slain. And the Dragonborn was concerned that despite his daughter's newfound Istari powers, she would be bested by Ulfric. The Dragonborn knew his daughter was the greatest swordsman in Tamriel and one of the best in the world. Brianna knew battle, but she did not know war and that was Ulfric's greatest strength. Ulfric was a veteran of The Great War and the Stormcloak War. He had lost close friends and family members in both conflicts and knew how to accept loss. The Dragonborn worried that his daughter might not accept the fact she would have to guide her younger brother with her father. As they entered the deepest part of the palace, they found Ulfric and the Witch-King standing before Dagon's throne. Ulfric turned to them, his eyes turning yellow in rage at the two intruders.
"So, you enter my palace uninvited and with no way to return. You came to your deaths" Ulfric confidently stated.
"The Hero of Kvatch returned to Tamriel using a Sigil Crystal. I know you have one Ulfric" the Dragonborn retorted. "And it will be your deaths not ours."
"It's time you answer for your crimes" Brianna angrily said wiping black Daedra blood from her eyelashes preparing for combat. "Time for you to answer for the murder of my mother."
"Ah, so that is why you're so driven to kill me" Ulfric said. "I'm sorry that your mother fell, but in war, sacrifices are necessary."
Brianna took a step forward enraged at Ulfric's callous remark. "Sacrifice? Ysolda wasn't a soldier you fool. My mother was an innocent merchant, housewife and mother! She gave her life saving me and my brother from a fire started by a Stormcloak shell that crashed into our home on your orders. You robbed me and Kellian of a normal childhood. Your lust for power makes you a slave. Nothing more. Always have been since you became a Thalmor agent. You've done more damage doing the Thalmor's bidding than the White Gold Concordant!" The taunt had the desired effect as Ulfric shifted into black armor and drew the Black Hand's sword. The Witch-King too drew his weapons – a massive sword and morning star.
"How dare you speak to me that way. I am Ulfric Stormcloak, Dark Lord and High King of Skyrim! You shall taste my wrath and experience the power of Mordor. You came to avenge your mother, but all you shall get is your death" he roared charging while unleashing a telekinetic against the Dragonborn. Caught unprepared for the mystical assault, the Dovahkiin was violently thrown against the wall. Quickly rising and drawing Bolar's Oathblade and the Daedric war axe, he barely had time to parry a strike from the Witch-King who capitalized on Ulfric's assault. For several seconds, the Witch-King had the Dragonborn completely on the defensive. The Dragonborn knew the Witch-King's weapons were likely of Morgul make and did not want to have its deadly poison go through his system. The Dovahkiin fired a volley of lightning at the Witch-King and took several steps backward and opened his mouth.
"FUS RO DAH!"
The impact of the Shout at such close range sent the Witch-King crashing through the wall of the palace and buried the Lord of the Nazgul under a pile of rubble. Looking at his Brianna who rolled under the attack of Ulfric, she rose to feet with her ebony katana in her hands and the Dragonborn watched in amazement and pride as her weapon turned to white flame.
"Go papa" Brianna told her father "I can handle this false king. Come now Ulfric. Behold the power of the Eldar."
Ulfric roared in the Black Speech and struck at Brianna with a variety of spells, but with no success. He tried dominating her mind and when then too failed, Ulfric had to admit that the Psijic's had trained her well. The Eldar blood that flowed in her was proving too much for the Dark Lord of Tamriel as she countered his every mystical attack. But Ulfric had one last card to play and it was one that the young Akaviri had no defense against.
"It seems that your knowledge of the magic of Arda is equal to that of mine, but you forget young knight that I was once of student of the Greybeards and that's why I'm king." Ulfric said with a sinister laugh. "FUS RO!"
Unprepared for the Shout, Brianna was violently thrown through a stone pillar and crashed against the wall, her head spinning. Her vision blurred, but she could make out Ulfric's shape advancing on her, expecting an easy kill. Using her telekinetic powers, she hurled the ruined stones from the pillar at Ulfric as she regained her vision. Ulfric with a wave of his hand sent the stones in another direction as Brianna engaged him with her flaming sword. Ulfric had once fought the young Akaviri at High Hrothgar when she was untested and had bested her. But now she was more cunning in her attacks, patient and skilled. As the fight dragged on, Ulfric realized that the girl was his superior and it enraged him. Ulfric, drew a Morgul blade and attempted to stab Brianna in the abdomen when their blades crossed, but the blade only met air as she spun around and kicked him savagely in the small of his back. Seizing on the opportunity, Brianna then cut off his sword hand. Ulfric, screamed in agony and fell to his knees. Looking up at his victorious foe, Ulfric knew what was coming.
"If you expect me to beg, you're wrong" he said to Brianna holding his stump.
"Nay. Vokul Fen Mah (Evil Will Fall) Brianna replied as she lifted her katana to decapitate Ulfric.
"Kill me and you'll never leave Oblivion and your brother Talion will never sit on the throne" Ulfric said, desperate to stay alive.
"What did you say? What do you know of my brother" Brianna asked her eyes wide in shock.
"I've seen his future and it is a very dark road" Ulfric answered cryptically. "You strike me down and young Talion never becomes Emperor."
"What have you seen" Brianna demanded pressing the blade of her katana against Ulfric's throat drawing blood. "Your answer determines whether you live or die."
"The Psijic's prophesied that your brother will ascend to the throne during the time of 'Three Dark Lord's'. I am one of those Dark Lord's. I die, your brother never becomes Emperor."
"So be it" Brianna replied. "For my mother" Brianna said as she picked up the Black Hand's sword and with a scissor like cut, decapitated Ulfric. As his head rolled on the floor, Brianna noticed the Ring of Power on his hand and removed it. She could sense and feel its dark power and it whispered to her in the Black Speech. Brianna could feel its seductive power attempting to turn her. From her history lessons, only the fires of Mt Doom can unmake the One Ring. Her father joined her and began rifling through Ulfric's lifeless corpse. Finding the Sigil crystal, he looked at Brianna and opened an Oblivion.
"Let's go home" the Dragonborn said.
"What about the Witch-King" Brianna questioned.
"When you struck down Ulfric, the Witch-King disappeared. I don't know where he went. Aragorn must be warned in case he returned to Middle-earth."
Brianna hugged her father and the two entered the Oblivion gate and returned to Tamriel.