It's been a week since Nora has been buried.
In the palace of the kings, Ulfric is still full of sorrow. Mourning the loss of his love. He was on his throne, while a messenger was making report from Cyrodiil moving. Iona took Nora's General rank, and was listening instead of Ulfric, who was only half hearing. Ulfric still had many pictures of Nora in his head, she still occupied his through.
"If Cyrodiil is moving, then we need to prepare. We keep getting report from Hammerfell too, all of Tamriel is moving, either to fight Thalmors, or ally with them." Commented Iona.
"We have little allies, and many enemies... We need to tighten the borders." Added Galmar.
"And close ourselves in our own country?" Began Iona.
Ulfric motioned her to shut it. He rubbed the Talos' amulet he got from Nora's corps with his thumb, thinking to himself "What would you have done?". Before saying out loud, "We will reinforce our borders, and prepare to work on our ancient forts, rebuilding them. A war is coming, and we can count on being alone, cornered by enemies."
"We can't fight alone and think about everyone being enemies!" pleaded Iona.
"Yes we can." said Ulfric.
"That's not what she would have wanted! We can't-" Iona got cut by Ulfric, slamming his fist on his throne's armrest.
"Leave us!" he shouted to the others.
Once the throne room empty. Ulfric approached Iona and took her by the neck. Slamming her against the wall, he yelled at her, "Don't you dare say anything like that again! Don't you dare use her! You only took her place as general because you were her second in command! I can make you be banished from all of Skyrim! Make your life hell! Don't you talk about what she would have wanted in front of me ever again!"
Still in his chokehold, she answered a weak "Understood."
Ulfric let loose of his hold and Iona fell on her knees coughing, and gasping for air.
"I will not repeat myself, ever. You're dismissed." coldly said Ulfric.
Iona made her way to Hjerim, alone in the snow, her neck still aching.
Once in the house, she took her heavy armor off, leaving parts of it on the way to the kitchen.
She took a bottle of mead and took a few gulps. Sighing, she looked at the ceiling and said, "I'm glad you're not here to see the path he's taking Skyrim on... You wanted a free country, where everyone could enter, where the borders could be opened to anyone..." A tear appeared on her cheek and she continued "I can't do that without you... I just can't... I don't even know where your soul have been... Are you even in Sovngarde? Or is a Daedra your keeper?"
The day after, instead of having to listen to reports, she received orders from Ulfric. She had to go with her unit to prepare one of the ancient fort's defenses.
The fort was the closest to the High Rock border : Northwatch keep. Made to look after any naval attacks.
It's been about a month now, that she's been in charge of the fort. She was training with some of her recruit when one of her men shouted. "Ship! I see a ship in the horizon, general!"
Shieldbashing the trainee by surprise, she ran up to the watcher and looked for herself.
In the distance was a ship, it didn't seemed battle ready. "Do you recognize it's origin, watcher?" she asked.
"No, anyway, the orders are to destroy whoever is coming. Nobody in, nobody out."
"We won't attack without information, if it's a civil ship..."
"The order are-"
"To hell with orders! I'm not attacking a ship without knowing if it's a threat! Or I'LL be a threat. Did I made myself clear?"
"Yes."
"Good... Send a messenger to Ulfric, a ship of civilian is heading his way."
"Actually, general... it looks like it changed it's course... it's going right at us now..."
After a small silence, Iona ordered, "Prepare to shout it down if I order so!"
"Are you sure you want to take that risk general, going against orders?"
"Yes, and that's final."
The ship was now close enough to let the watchers see it's origin.
"It's a ship from High Rock!" he shouted.
"Civilian? Or military?"
"I don't know!"
"Then hold fire!"
A couple minutes after, the ship let out a small boats leading people to the land. Seeing that, Iona got out of the fort and began her way to meet them.
She waited with her second in command.
The boats stopped and three men got down from it. One of them, a middle aged, black haired man, presented himself. "I am Arkan Delanou, I hail from Northpoint."
"I'm Iona Northsan, general of the Stormcloaks, what could be happening in High Rock for you to come to Skyrim?"
"I come bearing bad news, and a diplomatic proposition for the Stormcloaks. Our ship is damaged and we ought to know if you could lead us to Ulfric Stromcloak by earth."
"General, our orders-" began her second before she motion for his silence.
"I will lead sir Delanou to Ulfric personally, take command here, and help them to take care of their ship. Prepare four horses!" she finished, screaming to the fort.
While her second in command was irritated by this, he still followed her orders.
Iona, Arkan and his two bodyguards were now riding for Windhelm.
Arkan said to Iona, "Thank you."
"About what?"
"I don't know what they are, but you went against your orders for us."
"Don't get me wrong. I'm kind of using you now. If you're here for what I think, you can be my chance."
"Chance at what?" wondered the Breton.
"Make the country that we all wanted."
"When will we get to Windhelm?"
"Tomorrow morning. Well, that's if-" responded Iona before hearing a saber cat's roar. "If this does not occur too many time." she finished, preparing her axe and shield and getting down her horse.
After slaying the beast, they resumed their way.
They followed the path up to Windhelm, entering the city, the Breton attracted attention. Whispers of how they could be her, of why a Stormcloak general was by their side, began to spread throughout the Nord city.
Finally entering the Palace of the king, the throne room was empty. Hearing voices coming from the war-room, Iona asked the Bretons to wait.
She entered the room, "My Jarl, High Rock's representatives are seeking for you."
"Aren't you supposed to be at Northwatch keep, general?" was his simple answer.
"I left my second in charge. High Rock has send a ship and their representatives asked for an audience."
"So you through that, despite orders, you wouldn't stop them and even bring them here?"
"This is a chance to make a diplomatic way in this conflict."
"Surrounded by enemies... don't you remember me saying that?"
"Yes, but..."
"Then either send them home, or kill them! We have no allies! No diplomatic solution!" snapped Ulfric.
"Skyrim can't be shut down like that! We can't fight a war against everyone on our own!"
"Skyrim will pull through!"
"But will we?! You promised a country at peace! A free country! To all of us!"
"And I will bring it!"
"You're only bringing a useless war! A revenge for her murder! And the death of us all!"
Ulfric have had enough of this general, lousing his temper, he shouted. "Fus Ro Dah!" But to his surprise, Iona managed to withstand it.
"We believed in you! She believed in you! Do you think that she'll like to see the borders shut down? The patrols? The Martial law? All this non-sense?"
"Don't you dare say that you know what she wanted! You were only her shield-bearer! A Housecarl! No more!"
"To Oblivion with it!" through Iona, she took a deep breath and said out loud, "I wasn't... I was also her lover!"
"Look who's talking non-sense now!" tried to mock Ulfric.
"That's the truth! She never loved you! She was forced to marry you! She believed in you, and loved you as a friend! She never saw you differently!" affirmed an all too confident Iona.
Confident enough to trigger something in Ulfric. He remembered all the time she avoided kissing, or simple being presented as his future wife. The bitter smile she had at the wedding... all that infuriated him.
Her confidence had made Iona lost her focus. Ulfric shouted again "Fus Ro Dah!" sending Iona flying up to the Bretons who heard it all and still waited. Seeing the woman on the floor, Arkan ran to her side, lifting her only to see her unconscious.
Ulfric entered the throne room, seeing the three men, he pointed them and ordered the guards. "Kill them!"
Arkan looked at his bodyguards and shouted "Now!"
The three men cast illusion magic. Becoming invisible they began to run for the exit with Iona, still unconscious.
The red-head woke up to the sound of a moving carriage. "Finally up?" asked a voice.
She looked at it's origin and saw Arkan. "You certainly brought up a show." he added.
"Where?" was the only word she could say.
"Where are we? On the road. Ulfric tried to kill us, but we managed to get away. As to where we're heading... We most likely go back to High Rock."
Iona opened her eyes wide.
"We through we could ally with Skyrim to help us against the Thalmors... We were wrong... A Nord like that can't be reasoned." stated Arkan
"I can't..." began Iona. Arkan looked at her. "I can't leave Skyrim." she continued.
"Ulfric will seek you, you're better off in High Rock."
"I have to fight him. I through his sorrow could be calmed... But in those circumstances... we don't have time for sorrow... I wanted to avoid this... but I've decided." Iona got up in the carriage and looked in the direction of Windhelm. "I'll take his place, and will become high queen if I have to... But I'll make the Skyrim we all wanted from the start."
"Taking back Skyrim... killing Ulfric is not something that you simply do... Nords that are at his side will saw him as a martyr... How about you get some help?" asked Arkan.
"I'm all ears." she said, turning over to him, fire in her eyes.
A skipped heartbeat later, Arkan continued, "High Rock is being invaded... Daggerfall is down to Thalmor's control... Half the country is under them... That's why we were here... to seek Skyrim's help... But we have a plan B."
Seeing the eager look in Iona's eyes, Arkan continued. "We have knowledge of certain... people... who could be the start of a rebellion."
"Who might they be?"
"Four factions could join actually... first, the College of Winterhold."
"The mages?"
"Yes, since Ulfric got mad... One of our Breton friend sent us report of mages being hated more than usual. Ask for Morkan Lonar, here. The seconds are the thief guild, the martial law is bad for their business, they have connections everywhere and know how to break in somewhere. Seek for Delvin Mallory. As for the Third... It'll be difficult..."
"Who are we talking about, here?"
"About Cyrodiil, there is rebels, bitter twilight they call themselves. Seek for the Lawhawk in the city of Cheydinhal. Help them and gain their trust to insure they'll be your allies, say you come from me."
"And the last one?"
Arkan smiled "You already have his trust, all you need is to help him gain his country back with the help of the three others. Help me get High rock back, and the Breton knight will storm Ulfric out of his throne and help us both build the country of our dream." He extended his right arm to her, "A free country kind and offering."
She smiled back and took his hand, continuing, "A country where everyone is welcome and at peace."
"For our dream!" they both cheered.
After leaving Iona in the wild, where she could hide. Her mind was set.
For her dream, and her lost love's dream, she will conquer all of Skyrim and liberate High Rock! Eyes on the horizon, she began her way to Winterhold.