DISCLAIMER: all publicly recognizable characters are owned by their respective authors and I do not take credit for their creation and I make no $$$ off of the story.

All characters recognized from Bethesda's The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, JRR Tolkien's "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" books, Peter Jackson's filmography, TURN: Washington's Spies (Akinbode), The Underworld Saga, Blizzard's Warcraft III and Warcraft III: Frozen Throne, Dracula: Untold (Mirena, and certain quotes), The Count of Monte Cristo (Za'Tara name and joke only.) and Dragonheart.

After the Inquisitor had been killed, the group left the keep and headed into the courtyard. As soon as they saw Johann in the light, they wished they had arrived sooner. He had a large black eye, many cuts and bruises on his torso, and a series of burn marks along his neck and chest. Sarthinias silently vowed to make sure that Johann would survive this encounter with the Thalmor. He knew that the best healers in Skyrim were the priests of Kynareth, so he asked Kodlak and the Grey-Manes if they could take him to Whiterun and the Temple of Kynareth, they agreed.

"Sarthinias, thank you." rasped Johann in a barely audible tone.

" You would do the same for me my friend." replied Sarthinias somberly; a tear present in his eye.

"After I heal I think I'll head to Windhelm and enlist as a Stormcloak. Ulfric needs more men to take down the Empire in Skyrim and later repel the Aldmeri Dominion. If you ever need sanctuary from the Thalmor or the Imperials head to Windhelm." replied Sarthinias.

"We will, now I believe it's time we part ways my friends." said Shaylan.

"Yes, we'll see to it that Johann gets to the Temple and to Windhelm safely." Vignar told the group.

"Well then, we pray...

...That you all get back safely." said Shaylar and Shaylan. And with that they all parted ways Johann, Kodlak, and the Grey-Manes going to Whiterun and Sarthinias, Arkaras, and the Wood Elves headed towards Dawnstar. The group arrived a few weeks later in the Dawnstar colony, Arkaras told the group that he would need to check in on his grandfather soon. But, before he could leave Shaylar insisted on dressing his wounds. He somewhat reluctantly agreed.

About an hour after Shaylar cleaned and bandaged his wounds the sound of marching came to the village. The scent of burning torches soon filled the night air, and the clanking of armor was heard by the Wood Elven colony. War-Claw came running out of the forest frantically towards the village.

"Intruders! The Thalmor have brought a full platoon of Elves and Imperial legionaries! We must flee and those who can must prepare for battle, for they are surely armed for war."roared War-Claw to the village.

"War-Claw are you certain of this?" asked Tak-Galborn in a grandfatherly tone.

"More than certain, old friend. They have a scent filled with malice and malignant expressions upon their faces. They are marching towards us. Led by a Thalmor Justiciar with a hate-filled aura about him." said War-Claw.

"Shaylan, Talim, War-Claw with me. We must slow them down!" ordered Sarthinias. "Father, have everyone flee deeper into the forest, tell them to head into Eastmarch to Windhelm. There is not much love from the Nords for Elfkind in Windhelm, but the Dunmer there could shelter their cousins. It's risky but staying in Dawnstar is certain doom for our people." And then Sarthinias, War-Claw, Shaylan, and Talim ran towards the advancing foes...

"Shaylan, Talim go up the trees with as many arrows as you can carry. Pick your targets wisely, we must hold them here. War-Claw and I shall hold the center, aim for the wings of the ranks, make them cluster" ordered Sarthinias in a commanding tone.

Within twenty minutes the army came to a fork in the road.

"You may go no further. You will not enter the colony." barked Sarthinias.

The army laughed and one foolish elf shouted, "Who are you to deny us passage!?"

"I am Sarthinias of the Dawnstar Bosmer Colony, you shall not pass!" With that Sarthinias nodded and Talim shot an arrow right between the elf's eyes and he fell dead before anyone could see.

"That was but a warning, there is no more need for more bloodshed between us, leave now or perish! If you have families go home, should you wish to live leave now, if you have a sweetheart go and tell her you love her! I have no need of a guilty conscious in robbing you of a happy life. ALL life is sacred and I pray that I need not defile that blessing upon an innocent being! Please leave if you want to LIVE!" shouted Sarthinias poetically to the offenders. Some did indeed leave, but not enough as Sarthinias had hoped he let out a deep sigh as a tall Thalmor on horseback rode to the front with a disarming smirk upon his face.

"Ha ha ha! Cowards will run as cowards will, and warriors will fight to the death! All of you owe allegiance to me! I am the Justiciar Sletholan, I have come to avenge the death of the Inquisitor of Northwatch Keep, my cousin and apprehend those responsible! Sarthinias, Talim, Shaylan, Shaylar, the Savage, Vignar Greymane, Kodlak Whitemane, and Eorlund Greymane. All of whom are under sentence of Death!" said the Justiciar with menace.

"Then come and get me you bastard! I'm right here!" yelled Sarthinias coldly. Sletholan looked upon him with fear and hate he retreated into the ranks shouting orders.

"First and second ranks, charge bring me that insolent dog's head! Archers make ready to fire at my command!" yelled Sletholan.

The soldiers hesitated at first then charged toward Sarthinias. As they picked up speed Sarthinias bowed his head, put his hands together and prayed. Then he let loose a single tear as he grabbed his bow and fired off multiple arrows at a rapid rate felling a great deal of the soldiers. He then sheathed his bow and grasped his twin blades and unsheathed them. At this signal Talim and Shaylan let their bows sing and shot the archers on the left and right side of their formation causing them to gather into the center. The barrage of arrows kept the Imperial and Elven archers from accurately firing a shot. Sarthinias parried most attacks and used his agility to dodge the rest of the strikes. Sarthinias then became lethal. He began to slit the throats of the attackers and slashing the chests of the heavy armored soldiers. After no less than one-hundred bodies piled around him Sarthinias began to feel his strength wane. He shouted "War-Claw NOW!"

And from the inner forest War-Claw and six large snow bears descended upon the archers and Talim and Shaylan went to their blades as their arrows were spent. Sarthinias' plan was working until a Snow Bear roared in anguish as it was seared and electrocuted by Sletholan. "I have had enough of this charade. Thalmor, ATTACK!" shouted the enraged Justiciar.

Out of the darkness Thalmor attacked with their magic and spelled weapons. The bears' courage and fury could not stand before their magic. "War-Claw you and your warriors fall back, I will not risk your lives for this my old friend!" yelled Sarthinias with a soldier in a headlock.

War-Claw had no choice but to leave his friends, but the Thalmor were relentless and did not let the bears retreat. Sarthinias shook a small group of soldiers off of him and felt his heart drop in despair of his friends' plight. "Shaylan, Talim escort the bears to their home I'll hold them off!" ordered Sarthinias.

"Sarthinias we can't follow this order!"cried Talim.

"We're your family Sarthinias we cannot abandon you! NEVER!" declared Shaylan.

"GO! NOW! Please I ask you this as my friends, save the bears. I will gladly give my life for theirs and yours GO!" Shouted Sarthinias with finality.

Talim and Shaylan had no choice but to leave their friend behind and save more lives. As they looked at Sarthinias fighting the good fight, Shaylan fought back tears and Talim wept a trail of tears as they guided the bears to their cave.

Sarthinias smiled as he saw his friends listened to him and thought to himself Live to fight another day my family. He drove off the final soldiers in fear as the Thalmor surrounded him, Now I'll show you my power you cowards. Sarthinias sheathed a blade as he summoned forth his inner power and raised his magic to his palms. One fist with a frosty aura the other still had blade present and it had a windy aura about it. "Come on cowards I'll fight to my last breath to defend my home!" taunted Sarthinias. The Thalmor backed away in fear then charged on Sletholan's orders. Sarthinias did not wait for the Thalmor to reach him he countered the nearest Thalmor and stabbed him straight through the heart. A windy howl was heard every time Sarthinias moved his blade. He parried and gave the Thalmor a taste of frosty magic. His spirit was near all that was keeping him fighting, he was battered and bruised with several fractured mixed with a broken rib. A tired Sarthinias shot a spike of ice into the final Thalmor's leg and thrust his blade into the Thalmor's chest. Sarthinias had only enough might to keep himself on his legs.

"You fool. DIE!" said Sletholan as he cast a large fireball at Sarthinias who only raised a small thin wall of ice which collided with the fireball. The impact sent Sarthinias deep into the forest and he hit his head on a tree. The exhaustion both physical and magical mixed with the burns and impact with the tree sent Sarthinias into his subconscious. An hour later he awoke to the smell of fire and burning wood. He became alert and saw that his home was ablaze and it was clear a magical duel was ongoing in the village. Sarthinias ignored his pain and sprinted to the village only to see bandits burning the village and Sletholan dueling with non other than his pseudo father Tak-Galborn.

Tak-Galborn was a formidable foe as he was very wise and learned in the magical arts, but age does take its toll on one. As the youthful Thalmor slung spells of great power towards the old Elf. Tak-Galborn fought with lightning and frost against the -Galborn made one fatal mistake as he paused at Sarthinias' arrival and the state at which his adopted son arrived in. Sletholan noticed this and animated the flames closest to Tak-Galborn and they engulfed him. Tak-Galborn let out a sickening cry of pain as the flames seared his flesh but did not kill him. Sletholan looked to Sarthinias and smirked evilly "This is the fate of all who oppose the Thalmor or the Dominion!" shouted Sletholan. He summoned a sword with an eerie purple glow to it and stabbed Tak-Galborn, as Tak-Galborn drew his last breath his soul was encased in a gem that Sletholan held in his left hand.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! FATHER!" cried a broken Sarthinias. He glared at the Justiciar with hate as Sletholan shot a lightning bolt toward Sarthinias. He didn't even try to block the spell, but instead launched his Wind blade at the Thalmor. Fly straight and true! Sletholan barely could react to the speed of said blade. As he dodged the blade's tip the rest of it sliced a scar into his face from the bottom of his right chin to his left brow. The Thalmor was horrified at having a scar inflicted upon him by a Nord of all races. He vowed to pay Sarthinias back one day if Sarthinias had survived another fall.

As the blade cut Sletholan; Sarthinias went flying through the air, pushed by the lightning bolt spell. He landed in a tree and happened to see his friends with somber looks upon their faces in a clearing next to War-Claw's den. Fate seemed to still have a part for him to play. He yelled out to them "Talim, Shaylar, Shaylan up here!"

The trio of friends looked up in fright, thinking the spirit of their friend was there to haunt them. Shaylar first spotted her friend and yelled out in joy. Talim went into the den to inform War-Claw of the news as Shaylan quickly climbed the tree to get Sarthinias down.

By the time Sarthinias was out of the tree, he had grown weary and blacked out with a smile upon his face. He was glad the rest of his family was still with him and safe.