Inside, there weren't as many people as I expected. There was the wench of a woman that was going to put my head under the axe for no reason and then the general himself. I had seen him only once, maybe twice before. He was older then I remembered. More weathered and grey than any other man in the room. War had hardened this general. That was no excuse for being an Imperial Bastard. Ulfric motioned to Galmar.

"Secure the door."

"Already done."

Galmar twisted his massive axe in his hands, the leather creaking in an otherwise silent room. The woman started forward.

"Ulfric, stop."

I tightened my grip on my ebony blade.

"Stop what? Taking back Skyrim from those who would leave her to rot?"

I could see the fury growing in Ulfric's eyes as he exchanged words with this woman.

"You're wrong. Ulfric. We need the Empire. Without it Skyrim will assuredly fall to the Dominion."

I couldn't help but snort in derision. This woman was truly delusional to think that we couldn't make our land better without the damned Empire. My grip tightened on the ebony blade in my hands. I was anxious. I wanted this fight to be over with fast and quick.

"You were there with us. You saw it. The day the Empire signed that damn treaty was the day the Empire died."

Galmar growled from Ulfric's other side. Ulfric drew his head up high and proud.

"The Empire is weak, obsolete. Look at how far we've come and with so little. When we're done rooting out Imperial influence here at home, then we will take our war to the Aldmeri Dominion."

"You're a damn fool."

"You will not speak to the Jarl as such!"

I growled. Ulfric held up a hand to stop me from running the woman through with my blade. The look on his face told me that it wasn't yet time for that.

"Stand aside woman. We've come for the General."

Galmar tapped the handle of his axe into his hand.

"He has given up. But I have not."

Good, I thought. That was just what I wanted to hear from the woman who would have sent me to the headsman's axe. I swore the moment that Ulfric gave the word, she would die.

"Rikke. Go. You're free to leave."

I almost couldn't believe my ears. Ulfric was going to let her just walk away?

"I'm also free to stay and fight for what I believe in."

Now that was something I wanted to hear. Rikke drew her steel sword. Ulfric mirrored her move, drawing his sword as well.

"You're also free to die for it."

Ulfric spat his words at her with a ferocity.

"This is what you wanted? Shield brothers and sisters killing each other? Families torn apart? This is the Skyrim you want?!"

I could see a vein in Galmar's eye twitch and Ulfric had set his jaw tightly.

"Damnit woman, stand aside."

Galmar shouted, readying his stance with his two handed axe. How he could wield something like that was beyond me.

"That's not the Skyrim I want to live in."

Her voice was confidant, I had to give her that. She had a good spark of fire, even if she wanted to kill me for no reason.

"Rikke. You don't have to do this."

"You've left me no choice... Talos preserve us."

A shout rang out and the three of us charged forward. I parried Rikke's sword and made a slash at her arm. She howled and leapt forward with more ferocity.

"Su Grah Dun!"

I shouted, using one of the shouts I had learned on my travels to imbue my arms with the fury of the wind. Rikke's sword arm was fast, but mine was much faster. I blocked an over head blow and spun under the arm of Rikke, smashing her ribs with my shield and knocking her into a stone wall. She let out a gasp of pain and I leapt on her, taking advantage of her momentary pause in battle. I charged forward and shoved my sword through her ribs and jerked upwards. I spun and wrenched my blade from her midsection, taking her head along with my follow up swing. My attention turned to General Tullius. Once seeing Rikke's head rolling across the stoned floor, he threw his sword aside and surrendered. I saw the look of triumph in Ulfric's eyes as Tullius fell to his knees.

"This is it for you. Any last words before I send you to Oblivion?"

Ulfric raised his blade to the nape of Tullius's neck. I could see the blade draw a small drop of blood at its point. Tullius looked up, staring me in the eyes before looking to Ulfric.

"You realize this is exactly what they wanted."

The old man grumbled, coughing hard.

"What who wanted?"

Galmar sheathed his axe, once again placing that massive thing on his back.

"The Thalmor. They stirred up trouble here. Forced us to divert needed resources and throw away good soldiers quelling this rebellion."

The old man may have been right. Those knife eared bastards would get what was coming to them one of these days. Whether it was wrought by my hand or someone who would come after me, they would pay.

"It's a little more than a rebellion, don't you think?"

Ulfric shook his head, tossing the blond hair out of his sky blue eyes. Galmar snorted a bit of laughter.

"Heh."

"We aren't the bad guys you know."

It was my turn to snort and laugh at Tullius.

"Maybe not, but you certainly aren't the good guys."

Ulfric said as he moved his sword to the back of Tullius' neck.

"Perhaps you're right. But then what does that make you?"

Tullius glared up at Ulfric, his eyes were burning with anger and defeat.

"You just said it yourself."

Ulfric gave a grin as he then looked at me. Galmar stepped up with a dark look on his face.

"It makes us right."

"And if I surrender?"

Tullius asked as he looked up again, blood dribbling down from his broken nose.

"The Empire I remember never surrendered."

Ulfric stated bluntly.

"That Empire is dead. And so are you."

Galmar shouted triumphantly, shoving his fist into the air.

"So be it."

Tullius growled.

"Just kill him and let's be done with it already."

Galmar said, eager to get things over with. I couldn't help but agree with the old warrior.

"Come, Galmar. Where's your sense of the dramatic moment?"

I rolled my eyes at Ulfric's comment. I should have known his dramatic streak would have kicked in sooner or later. It seemed like Galmar was in the same sort of mindset that I was.

"By the gods! If it's a good ending to some damn story you're after - perhaps the Dragonborn should be the one to do it."

"Good point."

Ulfric turned to me. I sheathed my sword and shield as our eyes met. His blue eyes twinkled in the candle light and sunlight that drove through the window. I blinked and he handed me the hilt of his sword. I nodded as I took it and placed the tip of it on Tullius' neck. With a single blow I cleaved through bone, skin and muscle. His head rolled, knocking into Rikke's and his body fell lifeless to the floor. I wiped Ulfric's blade off with a rag. I flipped it and caught it easily. I made a motion to give it to Ulfric.

"No, Brenna. I want you to have my sword, a token of my appreciation. Now then, The men will expect a speech . Will you stand by my side? I wish to honor you, Dragonborn and the truest of Stormcloaks."

I took the sword and looked at it. Elven make and it glowed red, redder then the river of blood that flowed from the general's neck. I looked up at him as I gently sheathed the sword into a scabbard on my hip. It was the scabbard of a broken steel blade I had lost long ago.

"I will always be at your side, Ulfric."

His gloved hand gently tipped my chin upwards so I could truly look him in the eye. It was almost like how they had first met. The bumpy carriage ride, no exchange of words, it was just the meeting of their eyes.

"Brenna Stormblade, you truly have made quite a place for yourself here with me."

"I will go find Elisif."

Galmar said in a pointed manner as he stalked off towards the Blue Palace. I gave a nod as I then took my ebony helmet off. My bunched up braid fell down my back, a dark brown color I had inherited from my mother and my father's deep blue green eyes were more easily seen. My tattoo of green streaked across my left eye. I turned to glance in the mirror, I looked disheveled. I was in need of a hot bath and a good rest. I was grimy and covered in blood and bruises, some of the blood was not my own.

"Ulfric, your speech."

Galmar reminded him, coughing loudly as he interrupted the brief moment of peace that we finally had after all of these long few years of war. That man was quick in his tasks, But the Blue Palace wasn't too far from Castle Dour. Ulfric gave a small laugh before turning to me once more. He blinked, staring at the nape of my neck for a moment. I blushed deeply.

"An amulet of Mara?"

Before Ulfric finished his sentence, the two of us were shoved out of Castle Dour in front of the men and women of Skyrim. The true daughters and sons of Skyrim gave a shout of victory and triumph. Ulfric's hand left my shoulder as I stood at his side. The power radiating from him was amazing and I felt calm, serene and tranquil even. Galmar pushed from between us and turned to address the mass of Stormcloaks.

"And now, I present to you, Ulfric Stormcloak, hero of the people, liberator and High King of Skyrim!"

The roar of the crows was more powerful then any Thu'um I possessed in my arsenal of the dragon language. I was nearly knocked back by the sheer power of the people. These were the people that I worked to protect. Ulfric and I locked eyes again. He stepped forward, the crowd went silent as they waited for him to speak. I knew of the power of the voice, having studied it briefly myself, but the power of Ulfric's voice was much different from my power. He and I had the same teachers but his vocal power was more motivating and charismatic. He began to speak and it seemed that the entire world was listening. There was no sound of birds, no sound of wind whipping through the buildings of Solitude and it even seemed as if the water in the sewers were quite out of respect for the victor.

"I am indeed Ulfric Stormcloak, and at my side the woman we know as Brenna Stormblade, and the world knows as the Dragonborn. And indeed, there are many that call us heroes. But it is all of you who are the true heroes! It was you who fought a dying Empire who sunk its claws into our land, trying to drag us down with it. It was you who fought the Thalmor and their puppets who would have us deny our gods and our heritage. It was you who fought your kin who didn't understand our cause, who weren't willing to pay the price of our freedom. But more than that, it was you who fought for Skyrim, for our right to fight our own battles... To return to our glory and traditions, to determine our own future!"

Once again the cheer was deafening. The ground rumbled and it seemed that the sky rejoiced for our victory. I raised my blade in a cheer. I felt the energy coursing through my body as if someone had thrown a lightening spell at me.

"And it is for these reasons that I cannot accept the mantle of "High King." Not until the Moot declares that title should adorn my shoulders will I accept it."

Everyone froze, I turned to look at Ulfric. Was he mad? This was what he wanted, what he worked for, what we worked for. But I knew that he would make a great High King. He was a strong leader and a strong man. I knew he would be a king I could follow, that I could serve without question.

"What about Jarl Elisif?"

There was a loud rumble of laughter. Ulfric raised his hands and everyone went silent.

"Yes, what about the Lady Elisif? Will she put aside her personal hatred for me, and her misplaced love for the Emperor and his coin, so that the suffering of our people will end? Will she acknowledge that it is we Nord's who will determine Skyrim's future? Will she swear fealty to me, so all may know that we are at peace, and a new day has dawned?"

Jarl Elisif's answer was fast and rather quick. I almost didn't catch it.

"I do!"

"Then it is settled. The Jarl will continue to rule Solitude, I will garrison armies here to ward off Imperial attempts to reclaim the city. And in due time, the Moot will meet, and settle the claim to High King once and for all. There is much to do, and I need every able bodied man and woman committed to rebuilding Skyrim. A great darkness is growing, and soon we will be called to fight it, on these shores or abroad. The Aldmeri Dominion may have defeated the Empire, but it has not defeated Skyrim!"

The soldiers started to cheer once more. Galmar and I turned as Ulfric turned away from the other soldiers. Ulfric was first to say something amongst the three of us.

"How'd I do?"

"Eh, not so bad. Nice touch about the High King."

Galmar grumped as he pat Ulfric on the back with a large, paw like hand.

"Thank you, I thought so, too"

Ulfric laughed hard. His blue eyes were full of laughter. It was the first time I had ever seen them not hard and cold.

"It's a foregone conclusion, you know."

"Oh, I know."

Ulfric nodded darkly. The mood had grown dark in a matter of moments.

"The Imperials aren't going to leave us alone. They still have camps in the hills. They'll continue to strike out at us, whenever and wherever they can.

Galmar reminded Ulfric. Once again Ulfric nodded. It was true, the Imperials didn't know how to lie down and take their defeat like it was. Ulfric spoke once more.

"I'm not afraid of the remnants of the Legion, in time they'll all give up and go home. What I fear, is that the Thalmor will see our victory here and turn greater attention to our shores. We must be prepared to face them."

"Aye."

I nodded in agreement with Galmar. The Thalmor would target us for sure and we needed to be strong and ready if we were to fight them. Ulfric turned his gaze upon me. It softened to almost a slight smile. He placed his hand upon my shoulder and I smiled at him. I took a spare rag and wiped some of the grime and blood off of my face.

"And of course, we couldn't have done it without you, Brenna. May the gods preserve you."

"May the gods preserve us all."

Galmar added. I touched the amulet of Talos that had been wrapped around the hilt of my ebony blade. I would need the strength of Talos to help me get through these next few days. I was exhausted and I could bet that once I fell into a bed I wouldn't be up for days.

"I'm going to ready the horses."

Galmar walked off through the carnage and bits of smoke. The soldiers dispersed, many of the officers would be staying there to work on the rebuilding and cleanup of Solitude. It was wise of Ulfric to leave a garrison of troops here. I didn't much trust Elisif here by herself. But my opinion wasn't what mattered here.

"Will you accompany me back to Windhelm?"

The question surprised me slightly. I had expected to go back to Windhelm at some point, but I didn't expect it to be so soon.

"I would be honored my King."

I said with a grin. Ulfric roared with laughter.

"Am I going to have to hear that all the way back to Windhelm?"

His laughter was infectious and I couldn't help but let out a laugh myself.

"You know Brenna, when you say it, It doesn't sound so bad."

I gave a whistle and my black stallion came trotting, scattering a few soldiers as they were already working hard to restore Solitude.

"Thorn and I shall meet you with the horses Ulfric."