Chapter 2: The Awakening
"You know the Dominion will just make puppets out of the Empire," Ulfric Stormcloak glared at the large orc warrior in front of him.
"If the Empire stands together, along with a unified Skyrim, we can win, Ulfric. And better a puppet to the elves than an egotistical, power hungry Nord who can't even tend to his own people," the orc replied.
"And what is that supposed to mean?" Ulfic snarled.
"Look at your own people in the gray quarter! They beg and plea f..."
"Those swine must be sacrificed for their Nord protectors!" Ulfric yelled, cutting the orc off.
"Are Nords the only thing that matter? Am I swine? The Nords alone can not hold off the Dominion."
"Listen to me, and listen to me well, Dragonborn. The Nords are the past, present, and future of men. Our wrath will know no bounds. The mer have not yet faced a true Nord army." The ground shook as Ulfric's Thu'um began to surface.
"Careful how prideful you become, Ulfric. You may live forever in books, but you are not immortal." The ground shook more as the Dragonborn's Thu'um grew as well.
"You have over stayed your welcome here, Burz gro Ka. I will ask you to leave now."
Burz woke with a gasp. His excitement stirred Ghorza. "What is wrong, my love? More nightmares?"
"Yes dear. Just a bad dream." Burz tossed the blankets off of him as he sat on the edge of his bed. He stared at his orcish armor he had crafted himself. The moon shown through the window and cast a dim blue light. The armor made him feel more at ease than his Legate armor. He had gone to a near by orc compound to get the ore needed. He also learned the ritual to ask Malacath's blessing on the armor. He began to think what would be his first assignment. Would he stay in Skyrim for a while? How long would this last? Burz also had little experience fighting mages. Nords didn't typically trust magic or mages. So there was very little magic being cast at him in the war. There were so many unknowns. He felt Ghorza's had rubbing him back.
"You must rest, my love. You have to travel to Solitude tomorrow." She said in a soft voice.
"I know. I just can't believe... It's been 10 years. Why now?" He asked, knowing Ghorza would not have the answer.
"Malacath will guide you home to me Burz. I am sure of this." She said in a reassuring tone. Burz tried to go back to sleep, but thoughts of the coming days kept creeping into his head. Thoughts of the past still haunted him as well. Ghorza gave him a tender kiss goodnight.
"Gro Ka, get up to the palace of Kings! You take Ulfric out!" General Tullius yelled over the clash of steel and iron. It was the final assault on Windhelm. After nearly a year long campaign across Skyrim they had made it. This was it.
"Yes sir!" Burz bellowed. He ran fast up the city steps. Slaying Stormcloak soldiers as he went. He reached the castle gates shouted them open. He walked in on Ulfric and Galmar, his right hand man, standing in the large central hall. Waiting.
"Galmar, how about you go make sure the Dragonborn and I are not disturbed." The self proclaimed High King calmly said. Galmar walked to the gates and closed them behind him. "You know, Burz, it is not too late to join me. The Imperials will fall. You do not have to join them."
"Still so sure of yourself? Where does this arrogance come from?" Burz felt hate welling up inside him. The Graybeards had taught him to conquer his anger and to avoid hate.
"It comes from believing in my cause."
"Even now you use your words like a poison. They have no meaning behind them Ulfric. Your message is empty and hollow. All you strive for is power."
"The Aldmeri will wear the Empire like a glove, and you? You will be in the palm of their hand. The legendary Dragonborn, a true Nord in an Orsimer body, to be used however they see fit."
"Do not disgrace me by saying I am anything but an Orc!" The castle shook terribly. Burz's rage was bubbling up inside of him. He was losing control.
"If there is no way to convince you otherwise, then you are no use to me." Ulfric pulled out his axe and leaped at Burz.
"FUS RO DAH!" Burz let out a mighty Thu'um that blasted his foe back to the other end of the hall. Burz sprinted forward and swung his hammer with all his might. Ulfric dodged the hammer narrowly as it caught is coat.
"YOL TOOR SHUL!" Ulfric let out a blast of fire that singed the fabric in his armor, but he protected his face from the blast.
"FO KRAH DIIN!" Burz retaliated. The frost slammed Ulfric, knocking him back some. Burz used this to his advantage. He swung his hammer and struck Ulfric in the chest. He felt a few ribs shatter from the impact. Ulfric was knocked to his back. Burz jumped on the fallen Jarl's stomach.
"FUS RO DAH!" Ulfric mustered a shout that blasted Burz off of him. Ulfric tried regaining his footing, but his ribs were causing him difficulty. Burz shot up and swung another blow to the Jarl's leg, crushing his knee. The man was down, and could not fight. Burz had defeated Ulfric. It was done.
"ZUN HAAL VIIK!" Burz disarmed him to make sure he could not get a cheap shot in.
"Go ahead... an... and... finish me..." Ulfric coughed up a small amount of blood. Burz's rage was still bubbling over. It would be too easy to end it that quickly.
"KRII LUN AUS!" Burz shouted the curse out. Ulfric writhed in pain. His blood boiled and his skin was searing. His bones started to crack as his very life force was being drained from his body. The Graybeards had forbade him from using the curse. It was a perversion of the Thu'um. It was the worst kind of torture to put a man in. But Burz did not care. The curse died off in Ulfric. Burz knelt down and began to beat Ulfric's face until he was unrecognizable.
"Please... S...stop! P... COUGH please! Just kill me! Gr... grant.. me... a warriors death! I... COUGH deserve... a... an... honorable death..." Ulfric pleaded with Burz.
"The dark elves deserved more than what you gave them. The Argonians DESERVED more! You do not deserve an honorable death! You have no honor! KRII LUN AUS!" Ulfric writhed once more. His screams echoed in the hall. It pierced Burz's very soul. What was he doing? No man deserved this! He watched in horror as Ulfric's life drained from him slowly until he finally died. He took Ulfric's axe and severed his head from the body. Burz took the dead Jarl's head and axe outside where he held it high for all to see. Imperials and Stormcloaks alike began to cease their fighting. General Tullius made his way through the crowd and up to where Burz was standing. He held up his sword and let out a yell of victory. All of the Legion soldiers let out a great yell in triumph. The Stormcloaks began to drop their weapons. There was no need to fight any longer. They had been defeated.
Burz woke with another gasp. The sun was coming through the windows. Bright and shining. Ghorza had made him a good hearty breakfast to help fuel him on his long journey. He couldn't hide his guilt for his wife. She knew him too well. "My love, you do not have to tell me what is troubling you. I know that doesn't take away the weight that is on your heart. But my clan had a saying. 'No orc nor man escapes a conflict without bringing home more than he took.' It is natural to regret things. But you must look at the victory and smile. You did what had to be done."
"But was it a victory, my darling?" He asked as he walked to the large stone table.
"What does that mean? You stopped a madman. You brought peace to the Empire." She answered without a doubt for her husband.
"But what did we gain? All we are is a puppet to the Thalmor. Would it have been better under Ulfric?"
"Ulfric had no love for anything that wasn't a Nord. And he could not stop the Aldmeri with just his Stormcloaks. He needed the Empire, he just did not know it. You did what was right, my love. It was a victory." She assured him as she placed his breakfast on the table. He gave a heavy sigh as he let her words sink in.
"I suppose you are right my dear. It is just... difficult to forget the lives I took." He said this heavily. He narrowed his eyes as he burrowed his gave deep in the eggs that Ghorza had prepared him. He ate quickly. Jarls Igmund was preparing to send him off soon. "Argis!" He called for his housecarl.
"Yes my Thane?" A tall Nord called as he came into the dining room.
"Watch after my Ghorza while I am away," The orc ordered. It would be the first time he had been gone for longer than a day since they wed.
"Yes my Thane. Safe travels." Argis said with the highest respect. At one time he had wished to be a decorated soldier like Burz, but he found he was much better at protecting a life than taking many. Burz gathered his things and embraced his wife with a lasting hug. There were no words. Orcs didn't waste time expressing emotions they felt to be clear. And for the two lovers, this would not be goodbye. They would see each other again. Either in life, or in Malacath's embrace. He made his way out the door giving one lingering look back before closing the door.
Down in the town market place, just outside the Silver-Blood Inn waited nearly half the town. The Jarl and his associates were gathered in a semi-circle to meet him. The young Currier-soldier was waiting with them. Burz saw the Silver-Blood family with their leech friend Nepos. Burz always had a strange feeling about that old man. There was just something not right about the Breton. Burz figured it had something to do with the Silver-Blood bastards.
"Burz gro Ka! It is good to see you, my friend! And it is sad to see that you will be leaving us." Jalr Igmund called out when he saw the orc warrior coming down the city steps to the market place. He walked up to meet him with a handshake. Burz took the weak hand and thought about how frail it seemed for a Jarl of the Reach. He also thought if they were such good friends why he never invited him and Ghorza over for dinner. Or when he came to the Jarl for any help, Igmund never had much to offer his 'most prized thane.'
"Hello Jarl." Burz said very coldly. The Jarl would mistake that as just typical orc emotion when it was really Burz's distaste for the man coming through. The Silver-Bloods came over and feigned kindness.
"Hello, Dragonborn. You have been keeping Kleppr busy, and been supplying me a healthy supply of gold," Thongvor said with sly grin.
"The least you could do is stock him with some Black-Briar instead of that blasted Honningbrew." Burz muttered.
"Yes, well... We don't like the company she keeps. As you can understand." He replied, losing his grin. Just then the court wizard, Calcelmo, approached. Burz was mildly surprised to see him crawl out of his cave, but then again, he and Burz had what they both considered to be a friendship, as unlikely as the pairing seemed to others. Burz couldn't help but let a slight grin escape him.
"Hello Burz. Markarth will be missing a great orc, and a powerful ally." Calcelmo said very plainly. "I know your wife must be sorrowful."
"She is, but she knows my duty. And it is not good bye for us." Burz replied.
"That is good to hear, friend. I am glad you are in good spirts." The two shook hands with slight smiles. The others looked on in slight confusion. They just didn't understand how the two men showed their emotions. Burz saw Kleppr and walked over to him. Over the years Kleppr had become a fierce friend to the orc. He could not leave with out thanking him.
"Kleppr... You have helped me through many trying times in my years here. You have made this grey city a little brighter for this tired warrior. Thank you for all you have done for me." Burz said in earnest. He tried to show the old Nord his his sincerity.
"Why... Thank you Burz. I never knew how much I meant to you. I am honored to count you among my closest friends." Kleppr said in a shocked voice. He grabbed Burz's hand and gave a respectful shake.
Burz turned to face the crowd that had amassed. "My dear people of Markarth, you welcomed me into your keep after a long fight against the Stormcloaks. At a time when I was just wanted for what I had done, you invited me for who I was instead. All the other holds wanted me to do things for them. They expected many things of me. But the Reach... You asked me here for nothing. No expectations, just giving. It has been my honor serving as your Thane and protecting you as the Legion's Legate. I greatly miss you, and your hospitality. Thank you all." Burz said, halfheartedly. It was true that they had welcomed the decorated hero in with open arms, and did not ask anything of him in return. But in his 10 years in the hold, he was not treated with much kindness. Although Markarth had officially sided with the Empire, the citizens had a strong loyalty to the Stormcloaks. They accepted him because the Jarl excepted him.
Burz lifted his hand in a goodbye wave as he turned his back on the city and walked towards the city gates. His future.