So yeah, I have decided to cut Stormcrown in half. It was too big for my taste and only getting bigger. I am splitting it at an appropriate spot. Then writing its sequel Heavy is the Head, although I have thought about doing one of the Guilds plotlines. I have each faction/story arc from the game a story to write. I think this is going to be what I do until TES VI. Anyway the story.

Uther V

Ralof and I entered the Sleeping Giant Inn and saluted the innkeeper, Delphine's partner. I never caught the man's name.

He returned our greeting by tilting his head and nodding it towards their private room. Inside their room was a cabinet with a false back panel. This panel, when pushed, revealed a stairway to an underground room.

Inside this room was essentially any spy's ideal hideout. In the middle of the room a table sits with a large rock and a map of the province. The rock, which I retrieved for Jarl Balgruuf's court wizard years ago, has all of the burial locations of any dragon within Skyrim. The map is the translation of the stone. The Dragonstone is written in the Dragon language.

When we entered the room, I ignored Delphine and walked straight to the weapons rack. Taking a Blades sword, an Akiviri katana, off the rack I handed it to the Nord. I knew the lore. Every blade carried his sword, if he died his sword was put up to honor his memory.

Delphine jumped up, "Just what do you think you are doing?"

"I am recruiting. You need good men. I need men I know I can trust." Maybe I was being too blunt.

"You don't trust Sven?" She gave me a stern glare.

"In battle? He is a bard. I want a seasoned warrior, preferably a Nord who believes in the Dragonborn." I looked at the bard on the corner, he was tuning the strings on his lute. He gave me a sideways glance, but didn't argue.

"What makes you think he is Blades material? He, what, followed a half mad warlord who hates anyone not a Nord?" She became angry.

"Delphine?" Ralof stepped forward.

"Do I know you?" She frowned at my new ally.

"I am Ralof of Riverwood. My sister and her husband own the mill. When I was younger you used to throw me out of here."

"Oh yes, the Stormcloak." Her face turned to one of disgust. "I have dealt with your Ulfric before."

"He is no longer Ulfric's man." I cut her off and told her the story of how Ralof came into my service.

"So again I ask, what makes this man worthy of that katana?" She sneered. "He betrayed his Empire and is accused of betraying Ulfric?" She laughed. It was cruel and cold.

"I can put a lot more damn faith in him than I can in that damn bard. Is he College trained? He is from Riverwood and to the best of my knowledge he has stayed here his whole life. If we are to use him he would need to be a spy. If he is a good spy, then he needs to be able to blend in and travel. Ralof, here, isn't a spy. He is a fighter, and a loyal one at that. He is a man I will need at my side." I slammed my hand down on the table. My thu'um traced through my voice.

"But why him, Uther?" She threw her hands up. "What about that Dunmer in Raven Rock? You know him, you fought with him. This man is a stranger."

"Teldryn is busy in Raven Rock. Ralof is no stranger. I fought against him at the Battle of Whiterun, and even with the Graybeards I heard the stories over the years of what Ralof has done. He led Ulfric's secret soldiers, the men who did all of Ulfric's covert missions. You know better than to mention Teldryn." I shot at her.

"Fine!" She threw her hands up in defeat. "But he is your responsibility!"

"He is not a puppy, Delphine!" I crossed my arms. "What is next on our agenda?"

"Well we need to figure out who is responsible for the dragons coming back. The Thalmor are our best lead. If they aren't involved, they will know who is."

"What makes you think the Thalmor are behind bringing the dragons back?" Ralof asked.

The icy stare he got for a reply told him all he would need to hear. He would not question Delphine's hate for the Thalmor.

"Nothing solid, yet." To both of our surprise, she actually gave an answer. "But my gut tells me it can't be anyone else. The Empire had Ulfric captured. The Rebellion was all but over. Then a dragon destroys Helgen, Ulfric escapes, the war is back to destroying Skyrim and by extension the Empire. Who else wins but the High Elves?"

"So we need to find out what they know?" I asked. "But how?"

"If we could get into their embassy. It is their center of operations. The problem is that place is locked up tighter than a virgin in the Temple. They could teach me a thing about paranoid." Delphine laughed at her own joke.

"How do you expect me to get in? I kind of stand out."

"Their ambassador, Elenwen, regularly throws parties where the rich and connected cozy up to the Thalmor." She began her plan. "I can get you inside. Once you're there find a way to not get caught and get into Elenwen's personal quarters. I have a contact there. A Wood Elf named Malborn. Not the dangerous type, like you two."

"So you recruited him? Just like Sven." I got a glare in reply.

"He hates the Thalmor as badly as I do. Family was killed in Falnesti, during one of their purges we are not supposed to know about."

"Sounds slightly trustworthy." I looked to Ralof.

"You can trust him. I'll get you an invitation. Meet him at the Winking Skeever in Solitude." She ordered.

"Just get in, act like a sellout. Once you are inside get past the guards without setting off an alarm. Ralof, I have something for you as well. It was not part of the plan, but it will help. Sven, go with them to Solitude. Enroll at the Bard's College."

We turned to pack our bags when she spoke next. "Be careful. Malborn will have more for the two of you in Solitude."