A/N: all previous chapters were taking place at more or less the same time. This is the last one to take place around the same time as the others. Also, I like to think the cities are not really as small as the game shows them. A few hundred in the small cities, maybe one to two thousand in places like Windhelm, Solitude, Whiterun, the bigger ones.

Thorin II

Three weeks. Three weeks of living in a cave, sleeping in hay, and eating whatever meats the Reachmen brought me. We were staying in some cave named after Madanachs ancestor Druadach Redoubt. It had been a safe house for the Reachmen for generations. A forge was installed, a fully equipped cooking pit and plenty of hay to sleep on was kept stocked.

It was here that I learned of Madanach's build-up of Forsworn forces. Bretons, Nords, Orcs, people of all races were coming out of the hills to stand and fight. Not onlt for the Bretons to have their ancestral land, but to get rid of the Empire or expand the Orcish land. Madanach had worked very efficiently in gaining alliances. These people were willing to die in order to see the Reach an independent kingdom.

I had bargained for my life. I would not kill the people of Markarth and I had a few people loyal to me. Argis, for example, could not die for nothing other than being in the city at the wrong time and place. In the end Madanach saw reason with me and allowed me to return to the city in time to warn the people I cared for. I would have two weeks until the Forsworn were taking their city back. On that day I was to kill a goat and spread its blood over the door to my home and the armies of Madanach would pass over my home. It was risky and I would be trusting my life to Madanach, but it would be the only way I would keep my things and help those loyal to me.

When I got back to Markarth, I returned home immediately to find Argis had continued to take care of my home as if I never left. I began to explain to him what had happened and what would happen.

"So who all do we save?" The Nordic man scratched his head.

"Well I would say you, any spy of mine that isn't a possible Forsworn, Raerek, and potentially someone for you. We also need to stockpile food and anything else we can use. I don't know how long the siege will last. We also can't let Jarl Igmund know about this. It's nothing against the Jarl, but if he knows Madanach may not can get in. If Madanach loses an assassin will be coming for me, and it's not that I doubt you or your abilities to protect me. I would just rather not deal with crazed murders." I grabbed another glass of mead. I would need it tonight.

"Could we save everybody?" Argis asked.

"How would we do that without the Jarl finding out?" I looked at my friend.

"Well we could throw a party here, for everyone with food and supplies stockpiled. That could be our excuse to have all that food and stuff."

"Okay, but how do we keep the Jarl away?" I pointed out his major hole in the plan.

"Two weeks from now we will have a reason, but we can't let all of these people die." He pleaded. His dog barking from its place by the fire. Vigilance he had named it. He was named Argis the Bulwark because nothing gets past him and that requires constant vigilance. I guess it was meant to be a joke, but I found no humor in it.

For two weeks we prepared for the party. Invitations, food, drinks, anything that would help us with the siege of Markarth that we could find. In that two weeks we never found a way as to how we would keep the Jarl from attending when it fell into our laps. The Jarl came down with some stomach bug the night before the attack. He apparently ate some bad food bought at a stall in the market place. The meat had given him the shakes and he was vomiting violently.

A bard was playing in the corner loudly singing of Ragnar the Red when the first firebolt hit. Many people began to panic when I stood on a table and shouted.

"Peace, people of Markarth! I gathered you here today to keep you protected. We have enough food and drink to last for days. We have medical supplies and bed rolls as well."

A woman screamed out, "Who is attacking?"

The man form the inn, Kleppr, shouted, "It's the Forsworn woman. Don't be stupid." Oh so it was his wife that asked. Their fights were infamous in the city.

"But you… How did you know about to bring us here?" Raerek asked. He stood up on a stool in order to see over the people.

"When I was thrown into Cidna Mine by the Thonar Silver-Blood, I was allowed to escape if I helped Madanach. I had killed his main informant so I owed him in the least, but he asked for more in exchange for me leaving with them. My task proved to be easy. After I killed the informant in Cidna Mine we were met by Thonar and several of his men. All corrupt city guards by the way. In the fight I killed Thonar, and escaped with the Reachmen."

Thongvor bellowed out then, "What right did you have to kill my brother?" He stepped forward, drawing his sword.

"By right of debt. Thonar had no right to throw me into prison. Thongvor, you're brother had a deal with Madanach. He kept the King in Rags alive and in turn Forsworn killed anyone who opposed your brother. He worked with Forsworn agents and killed innocent men. I killed your brother because he was a shame on all of Markarth, and he lacked the honor to fight for a just cause!" I answered. Several people in the crowd began to agree with me. Many shaking their heads or actually audibly agreeing.

"Now then, I have given you hospitality rights. You have ate and drank in my hall and I will defend in you with my life, but I am going to ask you to put your sword away. If Madanach breaks his deal with me then we will all need to fight them, not each other.

The siege lasted for three days. Other than the occasional blast of some unknown magicka, my house was left untouched. When the fighting was finally over a knock came at the door. Argis peeked out to see that it was Madanach with a handful of Forsworn warriors.

"Thongvor Silver-Blood, where is he?" Madanach asked, his voice barely audible.

"You said those within my house would be safe." I began to make my way towards the King of the Forsworn.

"Yes, when you told me it was those you cared for. I did not mean for the Silver-Blood to remain here." Madanach growled.

I began to look at the twenty people crammed into my home. I knew I could not save the entire city. Hundreds of people, if not thousands, inhabited the city. I had around twenty or thirty. "You see that man over there, holding his wife. They serve me wine and mead at the inn, I get a lot of information from the inn. That man there, my housecarl bought our dog from him. Speaking of him, he is the Nord with the face tattoo playing with a dog. Those are the Priestesses of Dibella." I chuckled and exchanged a look with Madanach. "You can imagine why I want to keep them around. Look you get the idea. These people here are all assets or friends."

"And Thongvor?"

"Competition. If I don't have him, who else would I compete to be the richest bastard in this city?" I laughed. Madanach looked at me, started laughing, and just when I thought it was about to go my way he motioned for Thongvor to come through the crowd.

"Thongvor Silver-Blood, you are guilty of crimes against the Reach and her people. What say you in your defense?" Madanach growled.

"I say nothing. I have done no wrong but defend my family and way of life. Damn Forsworn. You wish to accuse me of my brother's crime?" Thongvor shouted. His sword in his hand he charged for Madanach. An ice spear appeared out of the back end of his chest and the Nord collapsed.

"Come on then." He motioned for his men. "His head can be mounted on a spike beside Igmund's." Upon hearing that Raerek began to scream man people drew their weapon to attack the new King of the Reach. His hand turned green with a spell.

A flash of emerald light and we were all on the ground no one able to move as the Forsworn walked among us.